After such a warm summer the impending cold winter is probably the last thing on your mind. However, now is the ideal time to ensure your insulation is up to current standards.
Acording to the National Insulation Association up to a third of the heat in your home could be lost through your loft. The current recommended depth of loft insulation is 270mm (10.5inches).
Don’t worry if you want to use your loft for storage once it has been insulation because Access4Lofts can ensure any storage solution is fitted above your loft insulation.
The following table is taken from the National Insulation Association and illustrates the potential savings you could make by ensuring your insulation is up to current standards:
| Building |
Potential Saving Per Year |
Installation Cost* |
Carbon Dioxide Saving Per Year |
| Detached House |
£225 |
£395 |
990KG |
| Semi Detached House |
£135 |
£300 |
590KG |
| Mid Terraced House |
£120 |
£285 |
530KG |
| Detached Bungalow |
£195 |
£375 |
850KG |
* Average unsubsidised professional installation costs, although these will vary.
Below are some frequently asked questions regarding loft insulation:
What is the recommended thickness for loft insulation?
The current regulations under the EEC programme states that a minimum 270mm of loft insulation is required.
I use my loft for storage but need to get it insulated, can I do this?
Once the loft has been insulated to a minimum 270mm thickness the ceiling joists will no longer be visible making the roof space hazardous to anyone attempting to enter. However it is possible to arrange for additional joists and floor boarding to be fixed to help maintain your storage area. If you already have a boarded area in your loft we can often raise it so this can also be insulated.
I have electrical cables in loft. Will these be a hazard in anyway?
Apart from any cables feeding a shower unit they will not. A cable, which feeds a shower unit, is usually a 30amp. The installers will identify this and make sure this cable is not covered by the insulation by either laying the cable on top if there is enough flex or leaving a gap in the insulation around the cable to ensure it does not overheat.
I have sloping areas and flat roof areas within my property. Can these be insulated?
It is not always possible to do these areas. The reason being is that the timbers within these areas need to breathe and if loft insulation is fitted in these areas it can block the airflow off altogether. Access to these areas is usually minimal if at all existent. However every property has to be treated on an individual basis and we will make an assessment when visiting the property and advise accordingly.
My roof space is not big enough for an installer to stand up in. Will this be a problem?
It is very common that roof spaces are not big enough for anyone to stand up in. This is not usually a problem as we are usually working in a kneeling position on walkboards.
I already have some insulation in the loft but it is not very thick, will this have to be removed or can it be topped up?
Any existing insulation can be left in the loft and an additional layer added to it to bring it up to the required minimum thickness. It does not matter how long the existing insulation has been in the loft it still retains its insulant value.
I have halogen lights in my upstairs ceilings. Can these be covered by insulation?
No, even though our insulation is fire retardant any halogen lighting should have a gap of 200mm from the insulation. We suggest you either change the lights to LED with fireproof covers or we can supply and fit loft light covers which will allow insulation to be laid over the area.
If you would like us to check your insulation depths before winter hits us then please contact us on 0800 909 8967 to arrange a no obligation, free survey.
