A Complete Guide For Attic Insulation

An attic is a space in the home which is often neglected. It’s common for homeowners to only think about their attic when it’s time to clean up years of the accumulated mess as a result of use and neglect. Attics however are vitally important rooms that require attention all year-round, not just during the spring-cleaning season! Not only will insulating your attic help you to save on your energy costs regarding the heating and cooling of your home, but it can also prevent roof leaks which lead to expensive repairs in the future. This blog post discusses types of insulation, the benefits of insulation, how to install insulation in an attic and the amount it costs.

Common Types of Attic Insulation

Spray Foam Insulation

This has become an extremely popular insulation option in the UK, and spray foam is widely used in the loft and attic space. Spray foam is applied by using a foaming agent, which expands and becomes more solid as the mixture sets. It covers all the nooks and crannies in your attic space and creates an airtight barrier that stops heat from escaping from your attic. Spray foam insulation is a permanent solution for thermal performance and water tightness. In addition, it has the benefits of being easy to install, there are low maintenance costs as well as having a small environmental impact compared to other options.

Fibreglass insulation

Fibreglass is a popular type of attic insulation but it is also one of the oldest types of insulation as it was used in the prewar era to delay heat escaping from your house while not completely preventing heat loss. It’s made from spun glass fibres that are then saturated with a plastic or resinous binder to make it more durable but it also makes it a health risk if your insulation deteriorates.

It can be installed in batten form (where bundles of fibreglass are held together by paper) or blown-in form, which involves blowing the material into an attic through narrow pipes. Fibreglass insulation fails in providing proper airflow in the summers due to its inability to fight condensation which makes it difficult to maintain a comfortable temperature in your home. It provides poor sound insulation, which is especially important for those who live close to flight paths or busy streets.

Blown-in Cellulose

Blown-in types have a higher density than batts because they are not compressed as much before installation; this means that you will need less space per square foot when installing interior blown-ins compared to exterior types. One of the major disadvantages of blown-in cellulose is that it can form pockets above some areas and cause thermal bridges once it is settled, which will later transmit cold or warm air into your home.

Benefits of Attic Insulation

Insulating the walls and ceiling around your home will reduce heat transfer through these surfaces, which means that you will need to spend less on heating and cooling during the winter and summer. In turn, this leads to lower utility costs year-round and a more comfortable living environment, especially in areas with cold winters where it’s essential for homes to stay warm without incurring substantial costs.

Effective attic insulation also keeps dust mites out of bedrooms by blocking their access through the ceiling vents inside attics. These types of allergens have been linked with air born allergies and asthma attacks so eliminating them can help alleviate any symptoms you may be having.

Furthermore, insulating your attic will help to prevent leaks in your roof from causing water damage to your home which lead to costly repairs in the future. It also provides a sound barrier between living spaces and lofts, which are often used for storage space. In addition, attic insulation also eliminates condensation created by warm air meeting cold surfaces such as pipes going into an attic, and it also reduces hot flashes during periods of extremely warm weather.

An insulated attic will also create a more comfortable living space below. Attic insulation is equally important during both the summer and winter periods. Attics without insulation fail to prevent the cool air inside your home from mixing with the warm air outside during the summer months which leads to condensation. Similarly, during winters a lack of insulation will mean that you will fail to keep the warm air inside your home from mixing with the cool air from outside which also leads to condensation and mould.

If you are considering selling your home at some point, spray foam insulation is also something you should consider as it is also beneficial regarding your home’s value. This is because attic insulation often leads to an increase in the sale price of your home while providing you with a significant return on your investment.

Costs of Installing Attic Insulation

If you are wondering how to calculate attic insulation, the answer depends heavily on the type of insulation you decide on. The cost of installing spray foam insulation will be a little higher than other forms of traditional insulation but in the long term this cost will be offset by the long-term benefits in terms of more effective thermal insulation, saving on your energy bills, having more comfort in your home, better sound insulation while extending the lifespan of your roof.

Another factor to take into consideration when calculating the cost of insulation is how environmentally friendly the type of insulation is. Taking this into consideration spray foam insulation is a better option as it does not release any air pollutant within your home when compared to fibre glass or cellulose insulation. If you’d like to have a more precise idea of what it would cost to insulate your attic, please contact us to get a professional certified surveyor to provide you with a no-obligation-free quote for your attic insulation cost.

Whether you want to save energy costs on heating and cooling, prevent roof leaks that lead to expensive repairs down the line, or even reduce noise levels by minimizing drafts, roof insulation is a fantastic solution. In addition, roof insulation will protect your household items stored in the attic and it will provide an improved living environment all year round! Insulating your attic will help you to deal with all of the factors discussed and it will ensure that you never have to worry about these problems again!