Keeping your home warm requires keeping the heat where you need it – inside! Loft insulation is a simple and effective measure to help you do just that. Insulating your loft space will help you reduce heat loss, reduce your bills and lower your carbon footprint.
You should have around 270mm of loft insulation in your home. If you have none, or less than this you may want to consider having new insulation installed.
Top tip! – If you’re not sure how much insulation you have, an A4 sheet of paper is roughly 270mm (length).
Benefits of loft insulation
Around 25% of heat lost in an uninsulated home is through the roof. As heat rises, insulating your loft is one of the best places to start.
By insulating your loft, you could see a decrease in your energy bills. The energy savings will more than pay for the upfront cost of the work too.
According to the Energy Saving Trust, installing loft insulation in a typical semi-detached home could save around £355 a year. If you already have some insulation, and just need a top-up, it could still save around £17 a year for the same type of home.
Is it suitable for my home?
Standard loft insulation will be suitable for most homes. If you have an accessible loft space where roles of insulation can be laid between the joists, chances are you can have your loft insulated.
If you have a flat roof, you will be unlikely to have a loft space, but you can still have your roof insulated. Usually, this will be done where rigid insulation boards are installed ontop of the roof, or sometimes these boards can be installed between the roof and the ceiling.
Things to consider
Condensation and dampness – If your loft space already has issues with dampness or condensation you may need to increase ventilation when installing loft insulation.
Room in roof – If your loft is part of your living space, standard loft insulation may not be suitable as you will likely have walls, sloped ceilings, and areas around dormer windows that need to be insulated too.
Using the loft for storage – If you want to lay boards over joists to create storage space in your home, standard loft insulation may not be suitable and you may want to seek further advice before going ahead.
Loft hatch – By insulating your loft, the air inside will become cooler. This may increase draughts from around the loft hatch. You may want to consider insulating the hatch and installing some draught proofing around it too.
How much does loft insulation cost?
An empty loft space can be insulated for around £750, it may be cheaper if you already have a small amount of loft insulation installed.
You may be eligible for support with the cost of insulating your loft if you live in Scotland. You can learn more about the grants and funding that may be available in our funding and grants guide.
Support from Cosy Kingdom
Would you like some more advice on insulating your home? Cosy Kingdom is a free and impartial energy advice service available to everyone living in Fife.
Our energy advisors can be contacted by:
- Calling 01592 807930
- Texting COSY then YOUR NAME to 88440
- Emailing info@cosykingdom.org.uk
- Request advice online