Insulating your loft conversion is necessary for energy efficiency and keeping down the cost of your energy bills. Heat rises, but as you want to keep that warmth in-house, you must stop it from escaping through your loft. Plus, insulating your loft conversion makes it a cosier, usable area.
DIY Or Professional Installers
Who does your loft conversion insulation depends on the extent of the job, how difficult it can be, and how skilled you are. There are two types of insulation: cold loft and warm loft.
A warm loft is the more complicated type of insulation but the ideal one for a loft conversion. The whole space should be warm, meaning the roof also requires insulation.
A cold loft is where you insulate the flooring of the conversion to keep the rooms below warm, whereas the loft itself will be cold in winter and warm in summer.
When planning your loft conversion, a discussion regarding insulation should happen with the professionals involved. As the whole point of a loft conversion is to make a functional room, warm loft insulation is necessary.
The installation will include laying the floor insulation first, followed by the roof insulation. An amateur can do it, but they need to be skilled. Otherwise, it can get very costly and time-consuming if mistakes occur.
Choosing The Material For Your Loft Insulation
Getting the correct thermal value for the insulation material you choose is essential. The measurement of the thermal conductivity is known as the K value. It is recommended not to go below 0.16 W/㎡/K. The lower the K value, the more heat it contains.
Materials such as,
- Wood-wool – 0.038 W/mK.
- Hemp quilts – 0.039 W/mK
- Sheep’s wool – 0.038 W/mK
- Recycled newspapers – 0.038 W/mK
While the K value does not meet the above recommendation, remember that insulation materials need layering for the best results.
The Process Of Insulating Your Loft Conversion
- Remove anything stored within the loft space.
- Pipes and water tanks in the loft space need to be lagged or insulated.
- Have an electrician check any electricals in the space to know if anything extra is required.
- The loft needs measuring to ensure you purchase the most suitable insulation material. Remember, the layers must have a minimum depth of 270mm.
- Layer between the joists.
Other considerations you must be aware of include using the proper clothing and protective gear and meeting all building specs and regulations. Turning your loft into a functional, warm space takes experience and expertise. Plus, the construction of a loft conversion is a significant outlay that involves architects, builders, electricians, and insulation installers. Installing your insulation yourself in your loft conversion is not practical or cost-effective.
Have a chat with us about loft conversions and insulation. We can undertake complete project management of all aspects of a loft conversion, from design to technical specs that meet building regulations to construction, insulation, and decoration that meet your requirements.