If your loft was insulated a while ago,
your insulation may not be deep enough by today's standards and
will be well worth topping up. Insulating your loft is a
simple and effective way to reduce your heating bills and you can
even do it yourself. The good news is that insulating your loft
with loft insulation blankets, often referred to as 'quilts' can be
a pretty straightforward job for either an installer or a competent
'DIY-er'. It needs to be done to a high standard to avoid
unnecessary wastage so if you don't feel sufficiently confident
that you can do it yourself you should call an installer.
The NEW Peterborough thermal study
To help see which buildings in Peterborough have high
heat losses through their roofs an Aerial Thermal Survey was done
in early March 2009 by Blue Sky International on behalf of
Peterborough City Council.
Find out how much heat my roof loses
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Frequently Asked Questions
Where do I start trying to install roof insulation?
Firstly its worth finding out how much roof insulation you
currently have to see how much insulation you will need, remember
you may just need a top up. These days, if you are fitting the most
common insulation material, mineral wool, the recommended depth of
loft insulation is 270mm. However there are other materials out
there which have different insulating properties and therefore
require different depths. Basically, the deeper the insulation is
in your loft, the less heat you will lose through your roof and the
bigger CO2 and financial savings you will make.
Next if you wish to find a professional to install your roof
insulation - check out recommended
accredited suppliers and installers
If installing yourself
Firstly chose the form of insulation you will require of which
there are three main types:
- Quilts - mineral wool and natural wool
- Blown insulation - mineral wool and Cellulose
- Boards - expanded/extruded polystyrene
(Please note that while quilts and boards are suitable for
DIY-ers to work with, blown insulation should only be installed by
professionals with specialist equipment)
Rolls of loft insulation material should be placed between the
joints in your roof space, a total of 11 inches is sufficient to
prevent excessive heat losses through your roof and save you money.
Leave a gap where the rafters and ceiling joists meet, as the
timbers at the edge of your roof need ventilation to prevent
rotting. Don't forget to insulate your roof access trap door and
fit some draught proofing strip to the frame. When working in the
roof space be careful to tread only on the timbers, and mind your
head. You should wear gloves, when installing as the glass fibre
may irritate the skin.
If you'd like to use your loft for living space, then you could
look at
insulating the roof of the loft instead. This is usually done
by insulating between the roof rafters using rigid insulation
boards. Alternatively before you fit any boards, install a second
set of joists across your insulated horizontal joists. Then
insulate between these too, to bring the total depth of insulation
to around 270mm. This will mean more initial cost outlay but you
will see greater savings.
Payback periods
| |
Annual savings |
Installed costs |
Pay back |
CO2 saving |
| Roof insulation |
Around £205 |
Around £250 |
Around 1 yr |
1 tonne |
| Cavity wall insulation |
Around £160 |
Around £250 |
Around 2 yrs |
800 kg |
| Solid wall insulation - internal |
Around £75-100 |
Around £650 |
Around 6 yrs |
2.3 tonnes |
| Solid wall insulation - external |
Around £500 |
Around £3500-6000 |
Around 11-15 yrs |
2.5 tonnes |
| Hot water jacket |
Around £40 |
Around £20 |
Around 5 months |
200 kg |
Council grant scheme
Residents in Peterborough may be eligible for City Council
funding to make their homes more energy efficient.
Funding is available to homeowners or private tenants living
within the boundaries of Peterborough City Council where the gross
household annual income (including investment income) is less than
£25,000 per annum
Discounted schemes to install loft and/or cavity wall insulation
are available to all homeowners and private tenants whose household
income is above the threshold quoted above.
The measures available can:
- help to cut bills by as much as a third
- keep homes warm in the winter and cooler in the summer
- improve the overall condition of your home
- help make your home more environmentally friendly
For more information please contact the
Housing Programmes Team Bayard Place, Broadway, Peterborough
PE1 1HZ or call (01733) 863767.
If you are not eligible for a PCC grant why not visit the
Energy Saving Trust or
ring 0800 512012 to see if you are eligible for their scheme or for
a full list of accredited suppliers.