Loft Conversion Insulation

Insulating a loft conversion can often be tricky, so make sure that insulation requirements are taken into account throughout the process of planning your loft conversion. As loft conversions are typically being changed into a habitable room, the new space must fulfil building regulations for thermal efficiency, which stipulate a U-value for the speed of heat loss through an area. These values are set differently for walls, floors, windows and roofs, with flat roofs being required to satisfy a different value to pitched ones. Just like insulating many areas, it is normally cost effective to insulate beyond the building regulations requirement as it can save on your energy bills. The most difficult element of insulating a loft conversion is often the restrained space. Space saving insulation materials are in many cases used in loft conversions as these should provide good insulation despite being very thin. When planning a loft conversion, ensure that there is plenty of space available for both the conversion itself and the required insulation, as the insulation will influence the ceiling height of the converted room. Dormer windows and rooflights need to be insulated adequately. These areas require extra attention when planning insulation, especially with flat roofed dormer windows, as these might have to meet a different U-value than the surrounding pitched roof.