An Introduction to Roof Insulation
Posted on December 17, 2009 by Samuel Cheeseman
Roof insulation is an important consideration for all homeowners as it can have a dramatic effect on your levels of energy consumption. If your home is uninsulated then on average around 25% of your heat will ultimately be lost as it passes through the roofing materials of the property. This will of course increase your energy bills as well as contribute to the main cause of climate change which is excessive CO2 emissions. Contrary to popular opinion insulating roof areas of your property does not need to become a lengthy or time consuming project and in many cases can be taken care of by the homeowner themselves. In the majority of cases the process involves installing the insulation in the flooring of your loft and is a relatively simple task.
Retaining Heat
Loft and attic roof insulation works by creating a barrier which heat must penetrate before leaving your property. This barrier is generally good at trapping heat and keeping it inside your home because the roofing insulation will contain many small air pockets which retain a large proportion of the heat energy. This effect will insulate roof areas well and dramatically reduce the speed with which the loft will lose heat. As heat typically rises and will travel to cooler areas from warmer areas the loft becomes a place where a lot of heat provided by your Central heating service will tend to leave your home through the roofing material if insulation is not installed.
The speed with which heat is lost from an area in your home is referred to as the U value and the lower this number is then the more effective an area is at reducing the rate of heat loss. In the UK the Energy Saving Trust estimate that effective loft insulation can reduce the U Value by up to 95%. Many insulation products will reference a number which is the inverse of the U Value, the R value. This number is measured in Km2/W and values between 6.1 and 7 are recommended by the UK’s National Insulation Association. These values can be used to work out which insulation is most appropriate for your home and in what quantities. Insulation suppliers will be able to help you with this.
Insulation Options
Roof insulation installed in a loft is a sensible option for the vast majority of homes. It is however important to inspect the current state of your loft before beginning installation or even making any purchases. There are some properties which will require more specialised insulation which is tailored to them. These are generally homes which experience problems with condensation or damp conditions in their lofts. Additionally a lack of accessibility to the loft area can affect the type of insulation which would best suit your property as can a flat roof. In any of these situations it is best to contact a local contractor who will inspect the loft for you. In many cases they will recommend the installation of blown insulation which will need to be carried out by a professional. Foam roof insulation will also be another alternative.
Roof insulation materials can often be installed in a loft by the average homeowner who has some DIY experience. Unlike in other areas of your home spray foam insulation is not used that often to insulate the loft areas of average residential properties and insulation blankets are much more common. The work will need to be completed to a high standard but this is not too difficult as generally the floor space of the loft will just need to be covered with the blankets. As long as care is taken to make sure that the blankets are a snug fit and that no obvious gaps are left then DIY roof insulation should prove to be effective at preventing heat from leaving your home. If you would like to use your loft as a living area then the roof of the loft rather than the floor will need to be insulated. Roof insulation board or semi rigid roof insulation sheets are installed to achieve this.
Saving Energy
Many people would like to know how much they will be able to save in monetary terms by installing roof insulation products in their home. It is difficult to give a figure that will be anywhere near accurate for everyone. In general you can expect your loft insulation to pay for itself by way of energy savings in around 5 years and sometimes considerably less. Of course for some homes it may take a little longer. Most good quality loft insulation will remain effective for in excess of 40 years and sometimes a lot longer. During this period it will pay for itself many times over. You should remember that you are also helping to save the environment and not just your money by reducing your energy consumption with the installation of effective roof insulation.
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