Loft insulation can reduce our utility bills as much as around 20 percent when added in right methods. There are several methods in which we can insulate our loft space depending upon the materials selected to be used. Since heat moves upwards and escapes through loft area, adding layer of insulation in the standard thickness will be effective to block heat transfer. Though the recommended thickness for roof insulation is 270mm, older houses with shallow space between joists limit such loft insulation depth. Different insulation materials come with different attributes and show different scale of effectiveness and claim different safety measures. For example, it is imperative to remember that mineral fibre or rock fibre materials can resist rotting, damp or vermin and they are also non-flammable.
Blanket Insulation – Glass fibre, rock fibre, foil-backed felt or mineral fibre materials are used as blanket loft insulation. These materials are sold as rolls and these rolls fit to space between the joists snugly. Blanket insulation is the most prevalent form of loft insulation. The rolls are sold in 100mm (4 inches) and 75mm (3inches) thickness. The width of these rolls can vary between 300mm (1 foot) and 1200mm (4 feet), whereas lengths vary between 5m (16 feet) and 9.4m (30 feet).
Granular and loose fill insulation – Cork granules, mineral wool, exfoliated vermiculite and cellulose fibre are diverse types of loose fill loft insulation materials. Loose fill insulation materials are not much suggested for insulating loft space as draughts in the area may blow these loose fill materials in the winds. Nevertheless, loose fill insulation is an easy operation and especially most effective to the space where joists are irregularly positioned and there where pipes and other elements create obstructions and difficulties to apply blanket insulation.
Sheet insulation – If you chose sheet insulation materials, use it to insulate the sloping attic area instead of the floor of the roof. This form of loft insulation is mostly likely to be fixed in the space between the rafters. Sheet insulation materials include semi rigid batts of mineral fibre or fibre glass, lightweight rolls. If the finish is coated with plasterboard, then just a thin sheet is sufficient for loft insulation. Keep sufficient gap between the roof slates or tiles and the insulator to allow ventilation and prevent condensation.
Another common form of insulation is blown fibre insulation that must be applied by professional contractors. They blow fibrous materials between joists using an insulation hose. Take contractors’ advice to employ blown
loft insulation to avoid risks and ensure utmost effectiveness of the method.
