Loft Conversion Insulation

Insulating a loft conversion can sometimes be tricky, so ensure that insulation requirements are considered throughout the process of planning your loft conversion. As loft conversions are commonly being changed into a usable room, the converted space will need to satisfy building regulations for thermal efficiency, which establish 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 meet a different value to pitched ones. As with insulating many areas, it is normally cost effective to insulate beyond the building regulations requirement as it’ll save on your energy bills. The trickiest element of insulating a loft conversion is often the restrained space. Space saving insulation materials tend to be utilised in loft conversions as these should provide good insulation despite being very thin. When planning a loft conversion, check that there is plenty of space available for both the conversion itself and the mandatory insulation, as the insulation will influence the ceiling height of the converted room. Dormer windows and rooflights will need to be insulated adequately. These areas require extra care when planning insulation, particularly with flat roofed dormer windows, as these may have to meet a different U-value than the surrounding pitched roof.