Loft Conversion Insulation

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