Insulating your loft space is incredibly important, as it helps to keep your home warm in the winter, reducing your heating bills and reducing the environmental impact of having to heat your home. In recent years the government have encouraged homeowners to insulate their lofts, with different insulation schemes that save you money and are discounted by the government. When you have your loft conversion you will need to have your conversion insulated, included in the shell cost of your quotation.
If you are conscious on the environmental impact of your home and loft conversion, loft insulation is a great area to improve your environmental impact. Any loft insulation is better than none, as it traps the heat generated in your home in the daytime, heating your home throughout the night. However, there are several different types of insulation you can have in your loft conversion which all have different environmental ratings. The main measure to look out for is the R value of a material, which shows how well it works at insulating. The higher the R value, the better the material is at insulating.
Most commonly your loft will be insulated with Celotex or Rockwool insulation. In environmental terms, rockwool is better than Celotex, as Celotex releases toxic cyanide fumes if caught alight. Rockwool contains a minimum of 75% recycled materials which makes it one of the most environmentally friendly types of insulation. The R value, which measures how well a material insulates, when dry is 4.0, compared to the lower R value of Celotex around 2.0. Rockwool is also hydrophobic, meaning it repels water, making it resistant to damp and mould.
Another popular option for loft insulation is fibreglass. It has an R value around 3.0 and is made from 20% recycled materials. It is sensitive to moisture so should be kept away from concrete walls or foundations, as this can create the perfect environment for mould. It can be difficult to work with due to the irritation it can cause if touched or breathed in, so it is recommended to keep exposure to a minimum. Fibreglass does not perform as well when compressed, so it is wise to board on top of fibreglass to spread weight evenly in your loft.
Your building team will decide upon the best insulation for your home, but if you want to choose an eco-friendlier insulating material, request this from your surveyor and they will include it in your quote. Some eco-friendly insulation costs more than the cheapest insulating materials, but it is worth paying the extra money to have an eco-friendly home. You will find that the better insulation you have in your home, the cheaper your heating bills are too, so you will save money in the long-term too!
If you are interested in having a loft conversion, contact the Simply Loft team on 0800 917 7571 to arrange your free site survey. Our surveyors can talk you through all of the eco-friendly building options for your new loft space.
