With gas prices set to soar, it’s more important than ever to ensure loft conversions are have sufficient insulation installed correctly to retain as much heat as possible during the frigid winter months. In this article, we’ll give the lowdown on what you need to know.
The regulations for insulating loft conversions
The current regulations stipulate that the roof value for a loft conversion should be 0.18W/m². In practical terms, this converts to 270mm deep layers of fibre or wood insulation, 175mm of board insulation and 125mm of spray foam.
Cold roof insulation
If you have a shared roof or insulating a flat roof property, it’s advisable to use the cold roof insulation method. This process comprises placing insulation between and beneath the rafters to counteract the thermal bridging effect. The rafters don’t form part of the insulated whole with cold roof insulation, meaning they conduct more cold air.
Warm roof insulation
With most properties, warm roof insulation is the ideal choice. By placing insulation between and above the rafters, the entire roof structure becomes well insulated and retains valuable heat. Another advantage to this approach is it affords more headroom within loft conversions as the insulation is above and not below the rafters.
Which areas of the roof need insulating?
There are three main areas of a roof that require insulation to keep your loft conversion warm – the residual loft space around the joists, the stud walls and the sloping roofs. The residual loft space and stud walls are relatively cheap and straightforward to insulate, and in some houses may be enough to retain heat. Sloping roofs are more difficult and expensive to insulate due to the surface area that requires covering, but they will be worth the financial outlay over time.
Contact us for more information if you live and would like to know how Acute Homes can help transform your home with a loft conversion.
