Attic Insulation
According to SEAI, homes lose 20-30% of their heat through the roof (if not properly insulated).
They also state that attic insulation is the most cost effective energy upgrade you can make to a house, as it creates a thermal boundary between your home and the outside environment, just like a blanket, to keep out the cold.
Attic insulation is a simple and fast way to reduce your energy bills and carbon emissions long term with very little upfront cost.
Do I need attic insulation?
If you have a BER certificate, check the advisory report that comes with it to see if attic insulation is recommended. Alternatively, check the thickness of the insulation in your attic. If it is less than 300mm thick, you need more insulation to meet SEAI recommendations.
If you can’t access your attic to check, but you have high energy bills or a cold house, you may well need more insulation. Other tell tale signs include birds gathering on your roof in winter or less snow gathering on your roof than other roofs in the area.
Benefits
There’s a long list of benefits to installing attic insulation. The biggest bonus is that your house will become instantly warmer! Attic insulation allows the house to maintain a more stable temperature, preventing cooling in the winter but also preventing overheating in summer.
You’ll also see your energy bills drop and stay low for years to come – attic insulation is long lasting, with a lifespan between 15-40 years. Upgrading your attic insulation gives you the opportunity to insulate pipes, the water tank, and the loft hatch for maximum impact on your bills. And along with this you’ll be reducing your carbon footprint and doing your bit for the environment.
Attic insulation helps to prevent condensation, damp, and mould, problems that create significant health issues and can be costly to fix.
Added extras also include reduced noise from the surrounding neighbourhood, increased value of your home, and using your boiler less, which extends the lifespan of the boiler.
Types of insulation
There are various types of insulation that can be used in the attic. Each one has its own pros and cons:
Fibreglass – This is glass wool insulation which comes in rolls which lie in between the joists in the attic. It requires a vapour barrier to prevent excess moisture and mould. This insulation is less commonly used these days due to health concerns.
Rockwool – This is mineral wool / stone wool insulation. It is more expensive but also more fire resistant and soundproof, so good for attic conversions.
Spray Foam – This is a foam that is sprayed between rafters. It is great for unusually shaped attics and hard to reach spaces. Application is very fast and it is effective at preventing damp, but must be professionally fitted. Usually this is a more expensive option. For more information visit our Spray Form Page
Sheep’s Wool – This is insulation made from a blend of sheep’s wool and recycled polyester. It is relatively fire resistant, breathable, and helps to regulate humidity. It is a great insulator but more expensive than other options.
Insulation Boards – these are fixed to the rafters and are usually used with attic conversions rather than insulating the attic floor.
Cost Savings
According to bonkers.ie, the average household gas bill in Ireland is €1578 per year. If 25% of this is due to insufficient attic insulation, that’s nearly €400 a year you’re spending on heat that’s going straight out of the roof!
When you install attic insulation, you’ll feel the difference straight away and with reduced usage of your heating, your bills will start to fall immediately. Most homes can recoup the cost of attic insulation in less than 4 years. With a lifespan of 15-40 years, attic insulation is a cost effective choice.
Grants
The SEAI offers a grant towards the cost of your attic insulation. With years of experience installing insulation for satisfied customers, we’re confident that our work is high enough quality to get grant approval every time. That’s why we discount the value of the grant from our work upfront so you’re not stuck waiting for a refund from SEAI. We’ll also help you submit the application form.
What is a warm loft vs cold loft?
Most attics in Ireland are cold lofts. This means that insulation is laid on the floor of the attic, insulating the house but not insulating the attic. It’s also possible to insulate the inside of the roof, which would insulate the attic space as well as the house.
Installing insulation in the attic floor, with a cold loft, is a more cost effective option, not only because the installation is easier and materials cheaper, but also because it allows greater cost savings on your energy bills in the long run.
Why you should get an expert to do it?
Most people assume that it’s easy to add a bit of extra insulation in your attic. On the face of it, it may seem simple, but there’s actually much more to it.
Adding extra attic insulation is not quite as simple as opening up the rolls and fitting them between the joists. You’ll need to learn how to identify existing problems, get familiar with the regulations, figure out how far insulation should extend towards the eaves, how much ventilation you need, what type of PPE you should use, where to source all the materials, how to navigate electrical cables, and more.
That’s a lot of time learning before you even get into the attic. Overlooking these finer details can result in ineffective insulation, or worse still, damp and mould, which can be very costly to remedy.
Engaging an expert will save you time and hassle. Doing a DIY job might take you a few days, but experienced workers will have the job done in a matter of hours. And since all the work takes place in the attic, it isn’t as disruptive as having workers in the house itself.
Experienced contractors will check your attic to rule out existing problems and ensure that there is adequate ventilation to avoid rotten roof timbers.
insulation contractors are knowledgeable about installing insulation with the correct technique for each material and skilled at cutting insulation tight, with no gaps, to ensure maximum performance is achieved.
In addition, they can raise the attic floor (if required to accommodate the thicker insulation with sufficient ventilation space), and insulate the hatch, pipes and water tank. They can also advise you on the ideal thickness of insulation – SEAI recommends at least 300mm but it’s possible to add more (depending on the type of insulation and level of ventilation) for maximum impact on your bills.
Hiring an expert is a small additional cost but allows you to get the most out of your insulation whilst saving time and avoiding future problems.
How it’s done?
Most attics are insulated by putting insulation material above the ceiling of the upper floor. The insulation is placed between the joists to keep warm air in the liveable areas of your home. The attic hatch needs to be insulated to ensure good coverage and any pipes and water tanks in the attic need to be insulated to prevent frozen pipes in the winter. In some attics, the additional insulation underfoot may require the floor of the attic to be raised, especially if you use the attic for storage space. Usually attic insulation can be fitted in less than a day or two.
How to prepare for attic insulation installation
Before your installation date, clear out any items that are stored in the attic, but there’s no need to touch the existing insulation – your service provider will reuse it if possible, or dispose of it if necessary.
What maintenance is required for attic insulation?
Attic insulation is maintenance free, although an inspection once in a while doesn’t hurt. Inspections allow you to ensure that insulation is not settling, there is no damage from pests, and that you are up to date with the latest regulations.
Do not store items in your attic directly on top of the insulation as it may compress and reduce effectiveness. If you have ongoing storage requirements, ask your contractor to construct raised storage. If you need the whole attic for storage, discuss this with your contractor and they will advise you whether to opt for rafter insulation instead (warm loft).
How to choose a contractor
Check that your service provider is on the SEAI register, certified by NSAI, registered with NIAI, that products are IAB, NSAI, or BBA certified, and that they have full liability insurance.
Your insulation will only be guaranteed if installed by a fully qualified professional.
Also ensure that your insulation contractor uses materials that reach the required performance standards. Insulation performance is measured by U-value, which measures how much heat is conducted through the insulation. A low U-value means little heat passes through the material, so your house will stay warm longer. To qualify for an SEAI grant, attic insulation must achieve a U-value of 0.20W/m²K or lower for ceiling insulation and 0.16W/m²K for insulation in the rafters.
Hard to access loft spaces
If your attic is hard to access, you may assume that it cannot be insulated, but this is not the case – there are options, so please contact us for a free consultation and we will advise you on the best solution for your attic.
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