Position the crawling boards in the furthest corner of the loft. Maintain this gap along two opposite sides of the loft. Make sure that the wall plate is covered, then roll out the insulation, moving backwards so you are working towards the centre of the loft to avoid putting your weight directly onto the insulation. Gently push the insulation so it fits snuggly between the joists, but don't compress it as that will reduce its efficiency.
When you reach a cross beam, use a straight edge or metal ruler and a snap off knife to cut the insulation to fit.
Continue to lay until the first layer is in position, cutting the insulation as required to fit any awkward spaces. To reach the recommended loft insulation depth of between mm, a second layer can be added. Simply unwrap the insulation and lay at degrees to the first layer and ceiling joists. As before, when joining two lengths, make sure the butt joint is a snug fit. Stagger the joints to avoid them all meeting in the same place. Begin by removing any stored items so the space is clear from clutter and use good lighting where possible.
Top tip: You may need to use a hammer to lightly tap in the infill pieces before screwing them in. Can you have too much loft insulation?
The optimal amount of loft insulation is mm deep. This ensures there is adequate ventilation. Over-insulate and you risk moisture and condensation getting trapped, which encourages mould to grow, which is a big no-no.
Should a loft be hot or cold? A warm loft is required for a loft conversion. If your loft is going to be a living space it needs to be warm, so you insulate immediately under the roof, between the rafters.
A cold loft can be used as a storage area or left alone. In this case, to save energy and money, you insulate immediately above the ceiling of the top storey of your home, so no heat from your bedrooms escapes into the loft and through the roof. Should I remove old loft insulation? Topping up your existing insulation is perfectly adequate, making sure you reach the required depth of mm to get all the cost-saving benefits. Take a look at our boiler and plumbing cover options to find what best suits your needs.
Your email address will not be published. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. Living is your place to learn and explore. Whether it's inspiration for your new kitchen, how to bleed a radiator - or even a few things to keep your little one's busy. Living is here to keep your life moving! Contact us. Home How-to Guides. Installing loft insulation by Simone Robinson.
Share on Facebook Share on Twitter. What is loft insulation? How does loft insulation work? The material is either: Laid between the joists the horizontal beams along the floor of your attic , stopping the heat coming into the loft space from your heated rooms below. Benefits of loft insulation Long-lasting- Loft insulation should last you at least 40 years and pay for itself many times over. They provide a flat and secure surface area - great for storage space and for easy access — but not a structural floor finish to make your loft a liveable room.
The top layer could be a combination of the two boards where necessary and rolls elsewhere. Configure and calculate the amounts needed based on your loft requirements. Be sure to check the steps for further detail to avoid buying unnecessary items.
Be sure to read and check you have everything you need to safely start insulating your loft floor. Many homes have some existing insulation, but it may not be very effective. Some older properties can have as little as just 25mm deep on the loft floor. Just add one or more new layers on top of it to reach the recommended amount. More on how much is recommended later in the article.
In the loft, measure the depth of the existing insulation using a tape measure. Measure the spacing between your joists. To do so, start at the mid point of one joist and measure to the mid point of the nearest one. This distance is often or mm. This joist spacing will determine what width of loft roll you can use. The required thermal resistance of the insulation. The depth of loft insulation in mm equates to an R-value rating. This is a unit of thermal resistance and rates the insulating properties of the material.
The higher the R-value, the greater the insulation. A minimum R-value of 6. Use the table below to work out how the depth of your existing loft insulation translates into an R-value. This is just for glass mineral wool insulation - the most common and popular material. Other types have slightly different thermal properties, so check the online product page or product packaging for details. Start with the target R-value of 7 and deduct the R-value of the existing insulation.
This will give you how much more R-value is needed. We offer glass mineral wool insulation with R-values of 2. If using two layers of loft roll — combine loft rolls of different R-values to get as close as possible to the desired R-value.
As a rule, we recommend a base layer of 2. If using a top layer of insulated loft floor boards — aim for a base layer as close as possible to an R-value of 2. On top of this, the boards will provide additional insulation to bring the combined total up to the equivalent R-value of 6.
The Government recommends a minimum insulation depth of mm. This is for glass mineral wool insulation only. We offer glass mineral wool insulation in three different roll thicknesses — , and mm. Deduct the depth of the existing insulation from the target depth of mm. This will give you how much extra depth is needed. If using two layers of loft roll — try to get as close as possible to the desired extra depth by combining rolls of different thicknesses.
If using a top layer of insulated loft floor boards — aim for a base layer of loft roll as close as possible to mm. On top of this, the boards will provide insulation to bring the combined total to the equivalent depth of mm. This is because the insulation is rolled between these joists. There are two options — narrow or wide loft rolls. Narrow rolls work best in small spaces, while wider rolls can be more cost-effective and can be cut to size to fit unusual, or wider joist widths. To calculate how many packs of loft floor insulation are needed, measure the relevant loft space.
Measure the length and width of the loft space to be insulated. Keep all measurements in the same unit — metres m. This may be difficult or not possible in the loft area, so if the floor below is the same size as the loft, measure that instead.
By deducting this amount, it calculates a more accurate area to be insulated for the base layer. Divide the area by the coverage per pack, this will be on the packaging and the online product description. This will confirm how many packs are required. Round up to the nearest whole number. Repeat Steps 2 and 4 to calculate how many packs of your chosen top layer of loft insulation are required. Again, head to our article on loft safety as this includes essential information on how to move safely in the loft.
Check for any existing insulation under the cold water tank if you have one. Planning on using insulation boards? This may not be an option if the space is tight because it will eat into the available headroom.
Using your nail gun, fix them to the underside of the rafters. Using multifoil insulation is even easier although it does provide less thermal insulation. Starting on one side of the loft, simply staple the foil to the underside of the rafters, unrolling and stapling as you go. Putting insulation between the rafters is slightly more tricky, as you need to leave a gap of about 50mm between the insulating material and the membrane of the roof.
To make sure you leave enough of a gap, fix wooden battens to the rafters using a nail gun. The depth of your insulation will be dictated by the depth of your rafters.
Fixing wooden extensions could help you achieve the recommended mm depth. If you plan to insulate with wool rolls, put on your protective clothing and lay out your material. Starting from the top, staple the insulation to the sides of the rafters until the whole space is covered, using the battens as your guide to your 50mm gap. Using insulation boards? Cut the boards to fit the gap between the rafters, then staple down the edges.
Condensation can be a problem in both warm and cold lofts. Whenever the warm vapour hits a cold surface, it turns back into water, forming droplets. There are several ways you can help reduce this.
Another good option is to install a breather membrane between the roof and the rafters which allow the air to flow, reducing the risk of condensation.
For advice on anything covered in this installation guide, contact us on or use our live chat in the bottom right corner. Speak to our Super team on Speak to our Super team today on DIY Difficulty Level 5. When it comes to insulating a conservatory, there are a few ways to do so Insulation boards by Celotex can be installed in pitched roofs, flat roofs, solid masonry walls Loft ladders and hatches can provide many benefits.
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