Enhancing household insulation enhances home warmth, improves energy efficiency, and swells the bank account.
Diving into home renovations? You gotta tackle insulation, especially if you're living in an older property. While contemporary builds follow strict insulation standards, older homes might be lacking in this department. But, don't sweat! Combining budget-friendly tips from energy experts and those in the renovation biz, we'll show you how to insulate your home efficiently without breaking the bank.
Insulating your home: To reap rewards, follow these benefits
So, we get it: we gotta know how to insulate our homes. But, why's that?
- Energy saving: Insulation curbs heat loss, resulting in less energy used and slashed energy bills
- Cozy living: Well-installed insulation maintains consistent temperatures, banishing cold spots and drafts for a delightful living environment
- Quieter living: Insulation functions as a sound barrier, reducing noise pollution from noisy neighbors or traffic
- Better air quality: By sealing gaps, insulation prevents pollutants and allergens from entering, improving indoor air quality (with proper ventilation)
- Environmental impact: Slashing energy consumption through insulation equals fewer greenhouse gas emissions, helping combat climate change
- Property value boost: Properties with high Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) ratings, often due to great insulation, may see increased property value and appeal to potential buyers
New build or retrofit: A game of two halves
For new builds, Building Regulations establish minimum insulation standards by element (roof, walls, floor). Your architect or house designer handles where and what insulation to install to comply with these standards. However, savvy builders tap into eco-homes or Passivhaus standards for future-proofing.
Retrofitting presents challenges but is not impossible. Projects like this derelict barn-turned-Passivhaus demonstrate this. With careful planning and the right approach, you can transform a cold, drafty property into an airtight haven.
Where to start insulating your home
When renovating a house, factors like the home's age, construction type, and available budget will affect your insulation approach. Here are top recommendations to get started:
- Attic/Loft
- Walls
- Floors
- Pipes or hot water tanks
These areas have the biggest impact on your home's energy efficiency.
Insulating the structure
The proper materials for insulating your home depend on the area to be insulated, the home's construction type, and budget. Commonly used insulation types include:
- Cavity wall insulation: Often with beaded material, though mineral wool is still popular.
- Loft insulation: Usually filled with fibreglass insulation.
- Solid wall insulation: A specific system consisting of multiple layers for solid walls.
- Eco-friendly insulation: New, eco-friendly insulation materials are increasingly available, so carefully plan before you decide.
Roof insulation
Insulating a roof is crucial. Options may depend on your roof type and budget. Here's a quick rundown of roof insulation methods:
- Insulating loft space: In most cases, insulating this space results in energy savings by reducing heat loss. Exceptions include vaulted ceilings or loft spaces becoming living rooms, where dropping the ceiling may be necessary for proper insulation.
- Insulating a loft hatch: Be sure to insulate the loft hatch to prevent heat loss.
Wall insulation
Insulating walls presents unique challenges:
- External wall insulation: Effective for solid walls, as it provides extra insulation and a new waterproof barrier. However, this might not be possible if maintaining the original wall look is essential.
- Internal wall insulation: This may be the only option in old period properties with solid brick or stone walls, but it requires accepting the loss of some internal space.
- Cavity wall insulation: If the cavity isn't clean or wide enough, installing insulation there increases the risk of introducing damp patches. Consult a reputable insulation installer to inspect the cavity first.
Floor insulation
Floors are another heat escape route. While insulating them can improve comfort, it's often challenging, especially with solid concrete floors in existing homes.
Consider the following options for insulating suspended floors:
- Insulating sheets between joists
- Rigid foam insulation installed in joists
- Robot-applied sprayed foam
Insulation continuity
Once you choose where and how to insulate, and what material to use, such as mineral wool, wood fibre, or eco insulation, ensure there are no gaps between elements, as these can leave cold bridges, reducing insulation effectiveness.
Small measures that make a difference
Though less effective than the main structure, these affordable measures can contribute to enhancing your home's thermal efficiency and comfort:
- Weatherstripping for windows and doors
- Secondary glazing for windows
- Draught excluders for doors
- Insulating pipes
- Insulating hot water tanks
- Radiator reflectors
- Thermal, lined curtains or thermal blinds
If budget is tight, focus on insulating one key area of your home fully, like the attic, before moving on to other areas. Seal air leaks before installing full insulation. For additional advice, consult with an energy expert. Happy insulating!
- Budget limitations can be overcome with tips from energy experts and the renovation industry to insulate your home affordably
- Insulating your home can save energy, reduce energy bills, and create a cozy living environment
- Proper insulation acts as a sound barrier, reducing noise pollution from neighbors or traffic
- Efficient insulation improves indoor air quality by sealing gaps and preventing pollutants from entering (with proper ventilation)
- Slashing energy consumption through insulation helps combat climate change by reducing greenhouse gas emissions
- Properties with great insulation may see increased property value due to high Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) ratings
- In contemporary builds, Building Regulations establish minimum insulation standards by element (roof, walls, floor)
- Architects or house designers ensure compliance with these Building Regulations in new builds
- Savvy builders consider eco-homes or Passivhaus standards for future-proofing new builds
- Retrofitting older homes can present challenges, but transforming a cold, drafty property into an airtight haven is possible with careful planning and the right approach
- When renovating an older home, consider insulating the attic, walls, floors, pipes, and hot water tanks
- Attic and loft insulation is often filled with fibreglass insulation
- Cavity wall insulation methods may involve beaded material or mineral wool
- Eco-friendly insulation materials are increasing in availability, so it's essential to plan carefully before deciding
- Insulating the roof can prevent heat loss and reduce energy costs, with options like insulating the loft space, insulating the loft hatch, and external wall insulation
- Wall insulation can be a challenge, with opportunities to use external wall insulation, internal wall insulation, or cavity wall insulation (depending on the wall type)
- Floors can be insulated using options like insulating sheets between joists or rigid foam insulation installed in joists, but it can be difficult with solid concrete floors in existing homes.
- Focus on insulating one key area of your home fully, like the attic, before moving on to other areas if budget is tight
- Seal air leaks before installing full insulation for optimal effectiveness.
