We have been very busy with loft insulation work over the past month or so – upgrading existing loft insulation, fitting new loft hatches and generally clearing and cleaning loft areas to make them more efficient.

The government’s current guidance is to have a minimum of 270mm of glass fibre type insulation throughout your loft. This should be laid in two layers; the first 100mm between the ceiling rafters and the second laid crossways over this. This helps to avoid gaps between the insulation and prevents cold spots forming. We expect the advice to soon change to a minimum of 300mm, and we  normally fit this for clients now.

For those who like DIY, as well as closing the gaps between layers being important, the avoidance of blocking soffit vents is a must if you want to avoid your roof “sweating” and subsequent roof timber rot.

We often find there has been a build up of old carpets and other unwanted belongings in the loft.  Removal of these prevents compaction of the insulation and subsequent loss of efficiency.

Most people use their loft for additional storage and many of us have loft boards fitted to allow for this.  These boards should be on stilts to avoid compression of the insulation beneath. Latest guidance is to also put a vapour proof membrane (VPM) beneath the insulation under loft boards to prevent moisture entering the loft through the ceiling plasterwork and being trapped under the boards leading to timber rot.

Another area often forgotten about is the loft hatch itself. These are not insulated in many older houses and it is estimated that about 10% of household heat is lost through old loft hatches. We supply and fit fully insulated and draft proof loft hatches. Correct fitting of these hatches is a very important part of the process as failure to do so can negate their effectiveness. 

Fitting new hatches and loft insulation can be a messy job.  We use carpet protectors and dust sheets to cover everything before we start work and our clients agree that it is well worth the effort.

Fitting loft insulation is the most cost effective thing you can do to lower your fuel bills, with payback time of only 3-5 years.  Some people will want to tackle the job themselves but, if you are unsure what to do or simply do not want to deal with the mess, then please do give us a call.