Loft Conversion Insulation

Insulating a loft conversion can often be complicated, so be sure that insulation requirements are considered throughout the process of planning your loft conversion. As loft conversions are normally being changed into a habitable room, the converted space must fulfil building regulations for thermal efficiency, which identify 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 having to meet a different value to pitched ones. As with insulating many areas, it is normally cost effective to insulate past the building regulations requirement as it will save on your energy bills. The trickiest facet of insulating a loft conversion is typically the constrained space. Space saving insulation materials are in many cases found in loft conversions as these will 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 have an effect on the ceiling height of the converted room. Dormer windows and rooflights need to be insulated adequately. These areas require extra care when planning insulation, particularly with flat roofed dormer windows, as these might have to satisfy a different U-value than the surrounding pitched roof.