Loft insulation dos and don'ts
Do you know if your home has adequate home insulation? If your home doesn’t have the correct type of Insulation or any insulation, you could lose up to a quarter of your home’s energy through your roof and throw your money away.
Loft insulation creates a barrier in your home to keep the warm air in and stop cold air from entering.
Efficient loft insulation can save you up to 50% on your heating bills each year, so it’s essential to ensure you are getting the proper insulation and paying attention to Loft Insulation Dos and don’ts.
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Loft Insulation Dos
So now you know the importance of good loft insulation, you need to know some good loft insulation dos and don’ts to help ensure your insulation works as it should be.
Do Use An Accredited Installation Company
Do Meet Thickness Guidelines
Your insulation needs to be of a certain thickness for efficiency; otherwise, it isn’t up to the correct standard and is essentially useless.
If you’re using mineral or glass wool insulation, you need a minimum thickness of 270mm, whereas spray foam insulation expands when applied, and its density means you can have a minimum of 100mm.
This should be a guideline as a minimum, not maximum, and this thickness can vary depending on the requirement of your home.
Do Check Your Current Insulation
Do Consider Spray Foam Insulation
Spray foam insulation is increasingly popular in UK homes as it can expand to up to 100 times its original size and fill every corner of a room or building to ensure it is tightly sealed.
By filling all cavities and voids, it can deliver up to 50% greater energy savings compared to other insulation products.
Spray foam insulation can also provide exceptional insulation for decades. The ability of spray foam insulation to last a very long time is one of its main advantages.
Despite being one of the most popular options available, traditional insulation like Fibreglass is not a long-term answer because it deteriorates with time.
Loft Insulation Don'ts
Here are the loft insulation don’ts you should be paying attention to avoid any costly mistakes and damage to your home.
Don't Ignore Regulations
Loft insulation regulations are there for a reason, and failing to adhere to minimum guidelines for loft insulation thickness can be a big mistake.
There are minimum recommended thicknesses for different insulation materials to ensure they provide the correct insulation level for your home to be effective.
If you cut corners on this, then you are simply wasting your money.
Don't Use Unapproved Insulation Materials
Again, much like ignoring the required insulation thickness guidelines, using unapproved materials can not only waste your money and be ineffective but also become a fire hazard.
You can risk your home and your life by using materials not cleared for use as loft insulation.
Loft insulation materials are chosen on many factors, including their fire resistance capabilities, moisture protection and durability, to name a few.
Don't Do it Yourself
How hard can it be to install insulation? For your loft insulation to be effective, you need to ensure it is not only covering all the space properly but isn’t blocking anything vital or compromising the safety and structural integrity of your roof.
At Spray Foam Tech, we provide a complete survey of your loft and roof to recommend the type of insulation you need and to ensure you are doing more harm than good.
Removing old insulation can put you at risk of coming into contact with dangerous materials if removed incorrectly, including but not limited to asbestos.
Don't Cover Electrical Cables
Insulation is to trap warm air in the home and reduce it escaping through the roof while reducing the ability of cold air to penetrate the house.
Another important thing when installing insulation is to ensure you do not cover electrical cables. This means it needs to be applied only to those areas, not the whole roof, especially if electrical cables run across beams or joists.
This is because the insulation can cause the cables to heat up and put you at risk of an electrical fire.
Don't Overlook The Savings you Can Make
With energy prices on the rise again, lowering your energy bills is vital, and part of this is having an adequate level of insulation in your home.
Up to 25% of your home’s heat can be lost through your roof, and insulation reduces that figure.
Investing in loft insulation can be costly; however, not more costly than a poorly insulated home.
So if you’re looking for a way to reduce your energy bills in the long term, then you need to assess your level of roof insulation and look into newer, more energy-efficient styles of loft insulation, such as spray foam insulation, which can last for around 40 years once installed correctly.
Learning The Loft Insulation Dos and Don'ts
Home insulation is an important topic and can offer homes an added layer of protection from elements when done correctly.
Choosing newer applications and materials such as spray foam loft insulation can help you maximise the benefits of loft insulation for the long term but also allow you to avoid making costly mistakes.
You should always ensure you are working with experienced and qualified insulation companies to ensure you are using the correct level of insulation for your home and are meeting all the guidelines for thickness and installation for increased efficiency.
Suppose you want to improve or replace your home insulation. In that case, you should first contact professionals who can help you to assess your home and current level of insulation and talk you through your options for updated loft insulation.
If you would like to learn more about Loft Insulation or arrange a quotation, get in touch with Spray Foam Tech today.
get started with your insulation project today.
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