How To Better Insulate Your Home

When looking for a way of insulating your home to stay warm in winter and reduce energy bills, choosing the insulation that offers the most benefits for your specific property is paramount. Different homes often have their own unique requirements to account for, and you might even have certain budget constraints which affect the insulation you add to your property.

Knowing the different kinds of home insulation, including the advantages and disadvantages of each, you can figure out the best option. Here are five forms of home insulation that could benefit you and your property:

1. Cavity wall insulation

Cavity wall insulation is where mineral wool or polystyrene fills a hollow space in the property’s walls, reducing the amount of heat that leaves the property during winter and lessening the need for central heating. Most homes built within the past century already have cavity walls and the relevant insulation – but make sure to check this, so you can arrange an installation if there aren’t any. You can benefit from this insulation if the home has spacious cavity walls and no heavy rainfall.

Installing cavity wall insulation is relatively cheap and quick compared to other types, with the savings allowing you to make back the money you spend on insulation in just a few years. It also suppresses the spread of mould by blocking moisture from entering the building. However, the insulation’s effectiveness depends on the amount of space available in the cavity, with at least 50mm of space required for this insulation to have a noticeable impact.

2. Loft insulation

Loft insulation focuses on trapping heat in your roof space, often going between the joists or rafters to provide the greatest possible impact. If you want to keep the loft space as warm as the rest of the home, installing insulation in the rafters might be best. The larger your loft, the more insulation is required to heat it and the rest of the home; this is usually in mineral wool, sheep’s wool, or spray insulation.

Spray insulation could be the material that offers the highest savings, especially since it doesn’t shift over time, but it is more expensive than traditional wool and other forms of insulation. Loft insulation also lowers the amount of noise you’re likely to hear throughout the building. Even if you don’t choose the spray option, loft insulation is typically more expensive than many other types and can cost about £900 on average for detached houses.

3. Room in roof insulation

If you have converted the loft into a room, this affects the type of insulation it can receive, especially since the usual options may not mesh with someone occupying the room full-time. Room-in roof insulation helps you to insulate the roof space in a way that’s convenient for any occupant – especially as they might have to contend with the cold otherwise. If someone occupies your loft space, this insulation can easily be essential for keeping them comfortable.

The main benefit of this insulation is that it helps you insulate the roof against draughts and low temperatures while not forming an eyesore for any potential occupants. On top of this, it makes sure that anyone sleeping in the loft space has enough heating for themselves. However, this insulation might be less effective overall than general loft insulation, with an occupant limiting the amount of actual insulation they can add to the room.

4. External wall insulation

External wall insulation is a thick layer of insulation that attaches to an existing wall and serves as a substitute for cavity wall insulation when the property isn’t eligible. This protects the home from the outside by ensuring the heat within the building can’t easily leave while also saving on indoor space by attaching to the outside of the property. As a result, the installation doesn’t disrupt the house – and could improve the building’s appearance by covering up any cracks.

This insulation type is particularly useful for creating a green home, and stopping emissions from leaking out. It also increases the home’s overall resistance to weather and sound, contributing to a much more comfortable standard of living across the board, even outside the context of heat transfer. Whilst this insulation has various benefits, you may require planning permission as it changes the home’s appearance, and listed buildings are often ineligible for the same reason.

5. Internal wall insulation

Internal wall insulation is similar but instead applies the insulation on the property’s interior, which may result in the need to build a new stud wall or otherwise rearrange the home. This is typically a complex process but can reduce heat loss by up to 50% with ease. The exact method of installation varies, with the installer working to assess your property’s needs. This helps to make sure that your property gets the exact form of internal wall insulation that offers the most benefits.

This insulation comes with many of the usual benefits, including reducing your bills while warming the home – and it also helps you to avoid any significant changes to the building’s internal or external design. As a result, it’s a good alternative to cavity walls and external wall insulation, but only certain properties can install this type of insulation. For example, most of the homes eligible for this are solid wall buildings built before the 20th century with brick or stone.

The right insulation can make sure you’re as comfortable as possible within your home, and you might even be eligible for government grant to help with this. Advanced Eco understands the unique needs of your property and is able to work with you to determine the insulation that best suits your home.

We have over 30 years of energy efficiency experience, and this helps us deliver the best service possible to our customers. If you’d like to inquire about our many insulation options, you’re welcome to contact us today.

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