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 frequently being changed into a habitable room, the new space should satisfy building regulations for thermal efficiency, which designate 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 needing to fulfull 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 will save on your energy bills. The hardest element of insulating a loft conversion is often the restrained space. Space saving insulation materials are in many cases utilised in loft conversions as these should offer good insulation despite being very thin. When planning a loft conversion, make sure that there is adequate space designed for both the conversion itself and the mandatory insulation, as the insulation will lower the ceiling height of the converted room. Dormer windows and rooflights must be insulated adequately. These areas require extra care when planning insulation, especially with flat roofed dormer windows, as these may have to fulfl a different U-value than the surrounding pitched roof.