- Call: 0808 1697086
- All of Scotland
Insulation Scotland Ltd
"John was a really nice person to deal with, really easy to arrange a time and came promptly. Knew what he was talking about and very efficient job done on our attic insulation. Would definitely recommend!"
Loft Insulation Edinburgh
5* Edinburgh Trusted Trader Review, August 2026
"Recently had loft insulation work carried out by Insulation Scotland and I'm very pleased with the service. The team was professional, the job was completed to a high standard, and the overall experience was excellent. I would definitely recommend them."
Loft Insulation Edinburgh
5* Edinburgh Trusted Trader Review, August 2025
Customer Testimonials
75% Funded Loft Insulation
- Grants Up To £1500.
- Anyone Can Qualify.
- 5 Star Rated Insulation Installers.
- Quick Turnaround and Installation.
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.
Loft and Floor Insulation for st John's Colinton Mains Church, Edinburgh
St John’s Colinton Mains Church located in Oxgangs, Edinburgh is currently undergoing a large renovation. Insulation Scotland Ltd fitted loft and floor insulation in early 2026, with the industry standard of 300mm of loft insulation and 150mm of underfloor insulation with a breathable floor membrane being installed.
www.stjohnscolintonmains.co.uk
Installation was completed during the renovation, whilst the church was a building site, with all works being completed safely and to client specifications.
The loft insulation aspect of the install involved working at height, which required assistance from local rope access company MK Access.
Below are some images of the completed job.
Loft Insulation for St Nicholas Church, Uphall, West Lothian
Another commercial loft insulation installation for St Nicholas Church in Uphall, West Lothian. Again this was completed in early 2026, to help make the building more energy efficient and retain more heat.
This installation had to be completed carefully as working at height, with difficult access to all of the loft above.
The standard 2 layers of 150mm of mineral wool was installed, with goal of helping increase heat retention by up to 15%, due to the height of the roof and number of large windows.
See our gallery of installation pictures below.
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 and sheeps wool loft insulation is more durable and can last for a minimum of 25 years, paying for itself over this time period. The material used is breathable, so also prevents the circulation of air inside the cavity, thereby reducing the loss of heat by convection.
See benefits of mineral wool insulation below.
Best Loft Insulation Scotland
The best loft insulation material for use in Scotland is generally mineral wool also known as earth wool.
This is the most commonly used insulation for lofts and roof eaves, having a nice balance of performance and affordability. Most mineral wool is made from recycled glass, where the glass can be turned into mineral wool insulation through a process that essentially melts the glass and then spins it into extremely fine fibres.
Recycled glass → molten glass → microscopic fibers → binder + trapped air → glass/mineral wool insulation
This makes mineral wool eco-friendly, second only to sheeps wool for being 100% natural and in terms of performance.
As stated, mineral wool is also more affordable, with sheeps wool insulation being around 3 times more expensive.
Both materials are breathable, modern mineral wool is now treated to make it resistant to fires, pests and more suitable for homes where the owners have health problems related to breathing.
Mineral wool is also what Home Energy Scotland award the large majority of their loft insulation grants for.
Insulation Scotland Ltd always installs Knauf mineral wool at different depths, unless you are looking for something specific like sheeps wool, where we can advise on the options and provide numerous quotations for you to consider.
Other 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.
Benefits of Knauf Mineral Wool Loft Insulation
Knauf Loft Roll 44 is a glass mineral wool insulation designed specifically for insulating cold lofts at ceiling level. It has a declared thermal conductivity of 0.044 W/mK and is classified Euroclass A1 for reaction to fire, meaning it is non-combustible.
Installing sufficient loft insulation creates a stronger thermal barrier between the heated rooms below and the colder loft space. Loft Roll 44 has a thermal resistance of 3.40 m²K/W at 150mm thickness and 4.50 m²K/W at 200mm, according to Knauf’s technical data.
Loft Roll 44 is particularly useful where there is sufficient space to install thicker insulation. Multiple layers can be used to build up the overall insulation depth, subject to the requirements of the particular roof construction.
For example, two 150mm layers provide a nominal 300mm total thickness when correctly installed without compression.
One of the significant advantages of mineral wool is its fire performance. Knauf Loft Roll 44 has an A1 Euroclass reaction to fire classification, the highest classification in this system.
The insulation is supplied in different formats, including combi cut and ready cut, making it adaptable to different loft layouts. Knauf also produces long length rolls designed to make installation quicker and more efficient.
The combi cut version can be adapted for use between joists or as a continuous top-up layer. This makes it particularly useful when upgrading existing loft insulation rather than starting from scratch.
When a second layer is installed across the top of the first layer, it can cover the timber joists and reduce the amount of direct heat transfer through the joists. Correct installation is important to achieve the intended performance.
Knauf Loft Roll 44 is manufactured using ECOSE Technology, a bio-based binder used in Knauf’s glass mineral wool products.
Older properties often have considerably less insulation than modern standards call for. Loft Roll 44 can be used as additional insulation over an existing layer, provided the existing material is suitable and the loft is assessed before installation.
Knauf states that its Loft Roll range is Made in Britain and carries a range of environmental and product certifications, including a CCPI assessment mark for the product set.
Loft Insulation Regulations in Scotland
If you’re looking at loft insulation for your Edinburgh home, there are two things to distinguish: the legal requirements under Scottish Building Standards and the insulation level that is commonly recommended for improving an existing properties EPC rating.
For loft insulation projects where approximately 300mm of mineral wool is being installed, two 150mm layers can be a practical arrangement:
First layer: installed between the ceiling joists
Second layer: installed across the joists
Result: approximately 300mm total insulation depth
The cross-layer also helps reduce thermal bridging through the timber joists.
For a loft that is going to be boarded, the important point is that the 300mm insulation should not simply be compressed to fit beneath the flooring. A raised boarding system can provide the necessary clearance while retaining the insulation’s intended thickness.
Note: 300mm is not automatically the legally required insulation depth in Scotland. The appropriate specification depends on the building construction, insulation product and required thermal performance.
Is 270mm of loft insulation a legal requirement?
Not as a simple “270mm everywhere” rule. Scottish Building Standards generally specify the required thermal performance (U-value) of the roof rather than simply prescribing a particular insulation thickness.
The current January 2025 Domestic Technical Handbook gives a maximum area weighted U-value of 0.12 W/m²K for roofs under its relevant insulation envelope provisions. The actual insulation thickness required to achieve a particular U-value depends on the insulation material, its thermal conductivity, the roof construction and thermal bridging.
For conventional mineral wool insulation, 270mm is a widely used benchmark for loft insulation in existing homes and the required amount to improve your EPC rating. Scottish Government material has previously identified 270mm as the recommended level for current Building Standards, while noting that the precise performance depends on the construction.
What if My loft already has insulation?
If you’re upgrading an existing loft, the usual approach is to assess the existing insulation and top it up rather than automatically removing it.
For example:
1. 100mm existing insulation → normally an additional 200mm of insulation will be installed.
2. 150mm existing insulation → normally an additional 150mm of insulation will be installed.
3. Around 270mm already present → additional insulation may provide relatively little benefit compared with other improvements.
The insulation should be installed consistently, avoiding significant gaps and maintaining continuity around the loft.
Loft Boarding and Insulation
Loft boarding is particularly important if you’re installing raised loft flooring.
If 270mm or more of mineral wool is required but the ceiling joists are only around 100 to 150mm deep, putting boards directly onto the joists will compress the insulation.
A raised boarding system can solve this by creating a deeper void:
Roof space → loft boards → raised supports → 270 to 300mm insulation → ceiling.
This allows the insulation to retain its designed thickness while providing a usable storage floor.
Loft Insulation Ventilation and Condensation
Increasing insulation isn’t simply a matter of filling every available space. The roof construction needs to remain appropriately ventilated, particularly around the eaves, to reduce the risk of condensation.
Scottish Building Standards specifically emphasise insulation envelope performance and the need to consider surface and interstitial condensation when designing building elements.
Loft Insulation Cost in Scotland
Depending on the type of Scottish home 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.
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 Scotland
Insulation Scotland Ltd has a small team of dedicated loft insulation installers, exclusively managing installations to ensure our standards remain high. Most loft spaces can be fitted in one day, with large lofts and jobs where removal and disposal of insulation is required taking longer.
Our team has a nice blend of experience and value, offering a reliable yet affordable solution. There are various other services related to the installation of loft insulation which we also offer, including:
Loft Boarding / Flooring → Loft Ladder Installation → Loft Hatch Installation / Replacement → Insulation Removal and Disposal + Water Tank and Rubbish Removal → Certain Ventilation → Installation of Boards, Mineral Wool and Foil
There are a lot of loft insulation installers and companies in Scotland. 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.
Insulation Services We Offer
Insulation Scotland Ltd either directly installs or can provide quotes via our partner installers for every type of insulation measure there is. We strictly don’t use spray foam insulation on domestic properties.
Loft Insulation
Read more on about the loft insulation and government grants available in Scotland.
External Wall Insulation (ewi)
Click the link above for more information on our external wall insulation services.
Internal Wall Insulation
Internal wall insulation with government grants also available.
Cavity Wall Insulation
Click the link above for more information on cavity wall insulation and the government grants available for it.
Underfloor Insulation
Read more on our underfloor and suspended floor insulation solutions.
Roof Insulation
Click the link above for more information on our roof and loft insulation services.