Loft Conversion Insulation

Insulating a loft conversion can sometimes be tricky, so make sure that insulation requirements are considered throughout the process of planning your loft conversion. As loft conversions are normally being converted into a habitable room, the converted space will have to satisfy building regulations for thermal efficiency, which define 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 having to meet a different value to pitched ones. As with insulating many areas, it is typically cost effective to insulate past the building regulations requirement as it’ll help save on your energy bills. The hardest aspect of insulating a loft conversion is usually the restrained space. Space saving insulation methods are in many cases utilised in loft conversions as these should provide good insulation despite being very thin. When planning a loft conversion, ensure that there is a sufficient amount of space available for both the conversion itself and the mandatory insulation, as the insulation will impact the ceiling height of the converted room. Dormer windows and rooflights should be insulated sufficiently. These areas require extra care when planning insulation, especially with flat roofed dormer windows, as these may have to satisfy a different U-value than the surrounding pitched roof.