How Does Cavity Wall Insulation Work?

Looking to save money on your energy bills? Whether your company is located in your own home or a business premise, then insulating the loft is one of the most effective ways of reducing the cost of your heating bills and becoming more energy efficient. In fact, a quarter of heat is lost through the roof of an uninsulated building. When installed correctly, loft insulation should enable you to make a profit over its 40-year lifetime.

Want to know more about loft insulation? In this guide, we’ll discuss everything you need to know on how to insulate a loft. From the purpose of insulation to how to fit it, we’ll make sure you have the knowledge and know-how to insulate your property. Plus, we’ll provide some handy tips on how else you can bring those energy bills down.

So how does loft insulation work? Usually, lofts are insulated with rolls of foil-backed felt or mineral fibre. Lofts with hatches that are too small for an adult to fit through are sprayed with polyurethane foam or mineral wool. Loft insulation acts as stuffing or blankets that keep the warmer air inside the property, rather than it escaping through the roof.

For those who use their loft for storage, you will use cold loft insulation. However, for those who have converted their lofts into living or office spaces and need to keep the loft heated, then you’ll need to have warm loft insulation. Since this is more difficult, we advise getting a professional in to install it.

There are some things you need to consider when insulating your loft.

• Storage space: if you’re storing more than just leftover boxes or paperwork in the loft of your business property, then laying down the rolls won’t provide enough insulation. This is because the items will press down and squash the spongey material, reducing its effectiveness. To prevent this, you’ll need to fit loft insulation between the joists, then fit rigid insulation boards across them, with floorboards on top. For a faster and easier job, you can even buy insulation and floorboards bonded together.
• Ventilation: air needs to flow in and out of your property to stay fresh, healthy, and dry. If you’re doing a DIY installation, then you need to ensure that you’re not covering any grilles, airbricks, or vents.
• Flat roofs: if you have a flat roof, then it should be preferably insulated from above. A layer of insulation can be added to the top of the roof’s weatherproof layer or timber roof surface, then a new weatherproof layer added on top.
• Damp lofts: since insulation stops heat escaping from the building, it can make your loft significantly cooler, which will worsen existing damp or condensation problems. If you experience damp issues, then it’s best to seek a professional’s advice first before completing a DIY loft insulation job.

To achieve the best loft insulation, the recommended depth is between 250 to 270mm. If you’ve had loft insulation in the past, then it’s best to check its depth, because if the material becomes squashed over time with the weight of your paperwork and unused office funiture, then its effectiveness will wear off. This would lead to increasing energy bills.

Make sure you check the hatch too as a lot of heat can escape between the cracks. Ensure it fits snugly, and if you notice that the fit is a lot tighter in the winter than in the summer, then you may have a damp problem. As for insulation, another way to save money on your energy bills would be to insulate your walls too. With cavity wall insulation, you can further save on your heating bills by wrapping your property up in a warm, insulating blanket.

The Energy Saving Trust has estimated that for a large domestic or commercial property, loft insulation will cost around £395. Though it may seem deer at the time, using the best loft insulation will ensure that, not only will you make significant savings on your gas and electricity bills,  but you will also help to reduce carbon emissions. If you’d like to improve your carbon footprint even more, then why not switch to green utility providers? We can help with that.

Hopefully we’ve inspired you to insulate your property and see the benefits of better energy bills. But now you’re maybe wondering how to lay loft insulation? Don’t worry, we’ve laid out a plan below. You’ll need to clear out your loft first and purchase the best loft insulation that you can afford, we recommend rolls of blanket loft insulation made of mineral wool or recycled materials.

1. Measure your loft and purchase the best loft insulation in the form of rolls with a depth of at least 270mm.
2. Lag any pipes or water tanks in the roof space. This is to prevent them from freezing because the air will become significantly cooler once you’ve insulated the loft, as it will prevent the warm air from rising.
3. Then check if there’s any electrical wiring. If there is, then it will have to be located above the insulation, however, do not stretch the wiring to achieve this. When in doubt, consult with an electrician.
4. Unroll the insulation and lay it between the joists. Most joists are around 100mm high, so you need 100mm thick wool loft insulation for the first layer. When cutting to fit, make sure you use scissors as cutting or tearing will reduce its effectiveness.
5. Create a second layer with 200mm of wool loft insulation.

And that’s how to insulate a loft for businesses. We hope this has helped you decide if insulating your loft is right for you. If you’d like further ways of lowering your energy bills, then why not speak to one of our friendly expert team who will negotiate better prices on your utility bills.