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Insulation Scotland Ltd
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Fully insured Insulation Contractors with a proven track record!
- Amazing offers and discounts.
- Fully licensed, bonded and insured.
- Proven track record across Scotland.
- Best insulation materials with guarantees.
- TrustMark approved for government funded grants.
What is Loft Insulation?
Loft insulation is a material you place as a barrier between your roof spaces. It is either placed between the rafters (the L shaped beams used to support the roof) or the joists (the horizontal beams fitted along the floor of your attic).
Loft insulation is done in order to slow down and prevent the heat transfer happening between the outside world and your living space. This creates a warmer environment inside the house during winter and a cooler environment during the summer.
The use of loft insulation will retain up to 45% more heat in your home. Spending your money on new central heating and double glazing could be wasted if your loft is not properly insulated, all of our customers report reductions in heating bills and an overall improved temperature in their homes after having loft insulation installed.
How does it Work?
A quarter of the heat is passed out through the roof if your home is not insulated. Insulating your roof can reduce the use of an air conditioner to great extent and hence reduce your electricity bills.
The thicker the loft insulation is, the more effective will be for reducing heat transfer. A minimum insulation thickness of 270 mm is always recommended.
When your home is heated, a large portion of that heat escapes through the roof. An insulated loft reduces the amount of heat passing through the ceiling and traps that heat inside the space below the loft. This means that the warm air from your heater stays in the rooms for a longer period of time. This means you can reduce the time your heater is run at your home, save energy, and in turn, you’re hard-earned money.
Modern mineral wool, earthwork and sheets wool loft insulation is very durable and can last for a minimum of 25 years and pay for itself over and over. The insulating materials used are very bad conductors and hence reduces the loss of heat through conduction. The material used also prevents the circulation of air inside the cavity, thereby reducing the loss of heat by convection.
Types of Loft Insulation
Sheet Insulation
Sheet insulation consists of firm boards of natural or synthetic material that are the best solution for insulating the down part of the roof. These boards provide very effective insulation for your loft and can be decorated for aesthetics.
Blown Fibreglass Insulation
With this type of insulation different kinds of loose materials are blown between the joists. This is an insulating technique for lofts that are very difficult to be accessed physically and is not a perfect solution, especially in a draughty loft. Also, the cost of insulation is very high and the installation can only be done by a professional. There are different materials that can be used for loft insulation. The material type and thickness of the insulation determines how much heat can be trapped inside your living space
Blown Fibreglass Insulation
Blanket insulation is the most common form of loft insulation and is composed of mineral fibre, rolls of glass, rock, or sometimes foil-backed felt. It is one of the cheapest options and is an all-purpose insulation material, especially between joists. It is the easiest material to fit, but cannot be used for the roof.
Blanket Insulation
Loose-fill insulation usually consists of lightweight loose materials like cellulose fibre, granules, recycled newspaper, or even mineral wool. It can be used as a separate insulating material or used to top up the existing one. One drawback of this type of insulation is, it can be very messy and isn’t always very secure.
Other Foam And Wool Loft Insulation
Insulation materials range from bulky materials such as rock, fibreglass, and cellulose, slag wool, and natural fibres to foam boards that are rigid. Bulky materials resist convective and conductive heat flow to a lesser degree. Foam boards trap air or any other gas to prevent airflow to an extent. Less common materials like phenolic and cementitious foams are also available.
Some of the loft insulating materials used are
- Fibreglass
- Mineral wool
- Cellulose
- Natural fibres
- Polystyrene
- Polyisocyanurate
- Phenolic foam
- Insulation facings
- Vermiculite and perlite
- Urea-formaldehyde foam
- Cementitious foam
- Urea-formaldehyde foam
Urea-Formaldehyde Foam Insulation Materials
Urea-formaldehyde (UF) foam was something that was used as an insulating material in the very early days. It was later decided that UF was not fit for residential use and has been discredited for its shrinkage and formaldehyde emissions. It is still used as an insulating material in industrial buildings. UF foam insulation makes use of compressed air for forming. The Nitrogen-based UF foam is known to take more than a week to fully cure. UF doesn’t expand while curing, unlike the polyurethane insulation. It is very easy for water vapor to pass through it and at prolonged temperatures, it starts to break down.
Cementitious Foam Insulation Material
The cementitious insulation material is used as formed-in-place insulation or sprayed foam, and as the name indicates is a cement-based foam. There are different types of cementitious spray insulation, one being the air krete. The spray foam, air krete has magnesium silicate in it with the initial consistency of shaving cream. This foam is sprayed into closed cavities and costs about as much as polyurethane.
Phenolic Foam Insulation Material
Phenolic foam or phenol-formaldehyde foam was something that was very popular years ago as a foam board insulation that is rigid. It is currently used as foam in place insulation for lofts. The phenolic foam uses air as its foaming agent. A major disadvantage of this foam is that it can shrink up to two percent, after curing, which has made it less popular nowadays.
Benefits of Loft Insulation
Loft insulation can be seen as an added protective barrier between your living space and the outer environment. Apart from reducing the transfer of heat to the outer environment, there a lot of benefits to insulating your loft including:
Property installed loft insulation using quality material is the most effective type of home insulation with an up to 45% improvement in your homes heat retention.
Loft insulation is one of the leading measures of insulation for improving your homes Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) rating.
Loft insulation can reduce and even prevent moisture condensation in your loft and roof area.
Loft insulation is quick and easy to install, meaning no upheaval or disturbance to your daily life.
Loft insulation can reduce your need to use your central heating, therefore contributing to lower carbon emissions from your home. This is another reason it will provide a return on investment.
A well insulated home with a higher EPC rating is a strong selling point in the property market.
In Scotland, there are Government grants available to help reduce the installation costs of your loft insulation. Grants are available through Home Energy Scotland, the Governments ECO 4 Scheme and The Great British Insulation scheme. Our partner installers can advise on grants and provide installation when funding is awarded.
Although loft insulation is not specifically a soundproofing measure, all types of home insulation to provide some soundproofing benefits.
Loft Insulation Cost in West Lothian
Depending on the type of space you are living in, installing a loft could help you reduce your bills by several hundred pounds each year (on average).
The houses you live in can be divided into three types, terraced, semi-detached, and detached.
According to the data provided by the Energy Saving Trust, the normal cost of loft insulation varies, the cost of a small semi-detached house if obviously a lot different to the a large detached property.
Depending on the size of the space, loft insulation can be costly for some properties, however the long term savings are significant especially if it’s installed properly. Normally it will only take several years for your loft insulation to pay for itself, and after that it’s all 100% savings.
If you are a DIY enthusiast, you may be tempted to insulate your loft on your own. This is not recommended, all areas of lofts are often not freely accessible and insulation must be installed between joists. You should always let a professional approved loft insulation installer complete the job.
Loft Insulation Grants and Government Scheme
A new grant has been introduced by the UK government that allows to save two-thirds of the cost of some energy-efficient home improvements. These values can be up to £5,000, or the total cost up to
£10,000 if you are eligible for certain benefits.
The long-running Energy Company Obligation (ECO) scheme helps people in the UK on some selected benefits to reduce their energy costs by carrying out some home improvements. The benefits covered are not the same as Green Homes Grant, so it is always recommended to check it out and see if you qualify.
For more information on loft insulation grants click here.
Loft Insulation Installers West Lothian
There are a lot of loft insulation installers and companies spread across the UK. You should always carry out your own research to make sure you select the best installer for insulating your home. Also, you should always check for ratings and reviews on the web and choose a well established loft insulation company.
Fully insured Insulation Contractors with a proven track record!
- Amazing offers and discounts.
- Fully licensed, bonded and insured.
- Proven track record across Scotland.
- Best insulation materials with guarantees.
- TrustMark approved for government funded grants.
Get a Loft Insulation Quote
Please fill out the contact form below so we can arrange a no obligation loft insulation survey. Please allow up to 48 hours for one of our representatives to contact you to discuss on the telephone.
Other Insulation Services We Offer
Insulation Scotland offer every single type of sustainable insulation product available in the UK marketplace, we cater for both domestic and commercial properties.
Underfloor Insulation
Read more on eco friendly underfloor insulation solutions.
Roof Insulation
Click on the link above to visit our page on our roof insulation options.