Loft Conversion Insulation

Insulating a loft conversion can sometimes be complicated, so ensure that insulation requirements are taken into consideration throughout the process of planning your loft conversion. As loft conversions are commonly being converted into a usable room, the new space will have to fulfil building regulations for thermal efficiency, which define 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 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 help save on your energy bills. The most challenging aspect of insulating a loft conversion is generally the limited space. Space saving insulation materials tend to be found 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 designed for both the conversion itself and the specified insulation, as the insulation will lower the ceiling height of the converted room. Dormer windows and rooflights will have to be insulated adequately. 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.