Loft Conversion Insulation

Insulating a loft conversion can often be difficult, so be sure that insulation requirements are considered throughout the process of planning your loft conversion. As loft conversions are generally being converted into a habitable room, the new space will have to meet building regulations for thermal efficiency, which establish a U-value for the amount of heat loss through an area. These values are set differently for walls, floors, windows and roofs, with flat roofs being required to meet a different value to pitched ones. As with insulating many areas, it is generally cost effective to insulate beyond the building regulations requirement as it’ll save on your energy bills. The hardest part of insulating a loft conversion is usually the restrained space. Space saving insulation methods tend to be used in loft conversions as these should offer good insulation despite being very thin. When planning a loft conversion, be sure that there is sufficient space available for both the conversion itself and the specified insulation, as the insulation will impact the ceiling height of the converted room. Dormer windows and rooflights will need to be insulated sufficiently. These areas require extra attention when planning insulation, particularly with flat roofed dormer windows, as these may well have to comply with a different U-value than the surrounding pitched roof.