GLASS WOOL know the benefits, types and maintenance of Insulation cut energy bills
With energy prices through the roof, quite literally, now is an opportune time to invest in the GLASS WOOL PAKISTAN fabric of your home by installing loft insulation. While the energy price cap is set to lower utility bills are still very high, and many of us are struggling. Now’s the right time to investigate how to insulate your home.
According to the Energy Saving Trust, if installed correctly roof insulation GLASS WOOL PAKISTAN will, on average, cost £590 to insulate the loft of a mid-terrace house. However that initial outlay should pay for itself many times over in its 40-year lifetime. in fact, in that same housing type you’d be saving an average of in energy bills per year.
The government has offered loft insulation grants to help cover the cost of installing loft insulation .As heat from our heating systems rises, it escapes through the roof,’ explains Matthew Jenkins, heating and insulation expert at insulation can retain this heat, helping to significantly lower heating bills.
What are the benefits of roof and GLASS WOOL insulation?
Installing loft insulation helps with keeping your home warm and reduces overall energy usage. It can also protect your home from damage, too.
‘As well as keeping the warmth in, loft insulation helps to combat the build-up of condensation and dampness that typically follows,’ says Gian-Carlo Grossi, managing director at Roofing Megastore. ‘This is crucial if you want to protect the framework of your roof as well as the items you may store within it.’
You’ll also be doing your bit for the environment, currently 14% of all carbon emissions come from heating draughty houses. Plus, installing loft insulation will help to reduce noise pollution in your home – great if you have noisy neighbours or your home is next to a busy road.
What’s more, installing loft insulation will boost your home’s Energy Performance Certificate and potential value. That’s a huge plus for potential buyers if you are thinking of selling your home in the future. It’s also worth weighing up loft insulation cost and if it is worth it.
What types of roof and loft insulation are there?
We give you the low-down on what’s available:
1. Glass mineral wool
This type of insulation is made from fibreglass and used for blanket insulation. Glass is heated to a high temperature and then, once melted, is spun quickly to create fibres. It’s great for fitting between the flooring joists in a loft.
2. Mineral wool
Made from a selection of raw materials, such as stone and glass, they’re treated in the same way as glass mineral wool, in that they are heated to high temperatures and once melted are spun to form fibres. Like glass mineral, it’s used to form blanket insulation and ideal for fitting between the flooring joists in a loft.
3. Cellulose fibre
This is made from recycled paper fibres and is a type of loose-fill insulation and one of its benefits is it is light-weight. It’s typically blown into position – great for getting into nooks and crannies. It’s great for topping up existing blanket insulation in a loft.
4. Sheet insulation
A form of rigid insulation, there are three main types PIR/PUR boards, Phenolic boards and EPS boards. What’s great is that it comes in sheets of various sizes and depths. These are ideal for insulating the sloping roofs of a loft – perfect for loft conversions.
5. Reflective foil insulation
Sold in sheets or rolls, this is made up of thin rolls of aluminium foil alternated with layers of foam padding. It offers good insulation levels even though the material’s depth is thinner than other material options.
‘As well as serving as a thermal insulator and a barrier to radiant heat, the foil also reflects heat, so warm air stays inside (or outside in the summer),’ says William Bown, director at SuperFoil Insulation. ‘It’s also resistant to water vapour, which can ruin the performance of other insulation types by either acting as a thermal conductor or enabling the growth of mould and fungus which reduces lifespan,’ he says.
6. Sheep wool
Sheep’s wool insulation is free of nasty chemicals whilst still providing superb thermal efficiency. ‘It’s made from natural materials which prevents chemicals entering the environment during or after its use,’ says Gian-Carlo from Roofing Megastore. ‘Plus it’s far less itchy to handle during installation compared with man-made fibres.’
Sheep wool is ideal for insulating between joists in a roof or between the sloping timbers in a roof space.
7. Natural products
There are other insulation materials, such as Thermo-Hemp, on the market. Thermo-hemp is made from hemp and manufactured in an environmentally sensitive way using no pesticides or chemicals and can be installed between the rafters and joists to insulate roofs and lofts.
How much loft insulation you need will depend on the loft space and the type of insulation you choose to fit. A rule of thumb is that the thicker the insulation, the bigger the energy savings. Building Regulations state that blanket loft insulation in new-builds must meet a minimum depth of 270mm.
If you’re upgrading an older home’s roof insulation, you don’t technically have to conform to the rules, but it makes sense to increase it to 270mm, too. Whereas, a material such as multi-foil can achieve the same insulation benefits as blanket insulation but with a reduced depth of insulation. Always check with the manufacturer as to what depth of insulation you need to install.