Loft Conversion Insulation

Insulating a loft conversion can often be complicated, so be sure that insulation requirements are taken into account throughout the process of planning your loft conversion. As loft conversions are normally being converted into a habitable room, the modified space must meet building regulations for thermal efficiency, which identify a U-value for the rate 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 help save on your energy bills. The trickiest aspect of insulating a loft conversion is often the constrained space. Space saving insulation materials are in many cases employed in loft conversions as these should provide good insulation despite being very thin. When planning a loft conversion, make sure that there is sufficient space available for both the conversion itself and the required insulation, as the insulation will have an impact on the ceiling height of the converted room. Dormer windows and rooflights need to be insulated sufficiently. These areas require extra care when planning insulation, particularly with flat roofed dormer windows, as these may well have to satisfy a different U-value than the surrounding pitched roof.