Types of insulation

Cavity Wall Insulation.

Blown Fibre.

Most homes built after around 1920 onwards are likely to have cavity walls, meaning that its external walls are made of two layers with a small gap or `cavity' between them. This cavity can be filled with an insulating material, to help you save on the heat which escapes through them. 

Blown fibre insulation is the type generally used in most cavity walls. It's relatively cheap, quick, mess free and easy to install with the proper equipment.

Blown fibre is the only insulation to attract grant funding, saving home owners and private tenants thought to be in the 'Able To Pay' group up to 50% on the cost of installation. Those in the 'Priority Groups', i.e. the more vulnerable, the disabled, the elderly and those on various benefits, can attract 100% grant funding.

Blown fibre is suitable for properties with cavities equalling or exceeding 50mm.

Bead Insulation.

Where cavities are smaller than 50mm, blown fibre is not suitable as it tends to clog in small spaces when being blown in. This leads to patches where the insulation has not reached, causing 'cold spots'. Bead insulation overcomes this difficulty.

Bead insulation tends to be more expensive than blown fibre, but due to its nature, is more suitable in narrow cavities and where driving rain is a problem. It does not attract grant funding.

Solid walls? You may need internal or external insulation.

Internal and external insulation is generally used where a wall is solid, i.e. it has no cavities to fill and is an effective way to stop wasting energy and money on heating.

Solid walls can be insulated in two different ways, either with internal insulation (from the inside) or external insulation (from the outside). Both options can make your home feel much warmer and more comfortable, reduce your heating bills and help mitigate climate change at the same time.

You could cut your heating costs by up to 40% using internal and/or external insulation and of course, by using less energy, your home will produce less CO2.

Installing internal or external insulation is not considered to be a DIY task and you should approach someone with knowledge and experience in rendering to do it. 

Internal and external insulation does not attract and grant funding and can be very expensive. Therefore, it would be best tackled when the property is in need of external or internal plastering.

Loft insulation.

As much as 35% of the heat lost from your home could be through the loft. Insulating your loft with loft insulation blankets, often referred to as `quilts' can be pretty simple for either an installer or a competent `DIY-er', but it needs to be done to a high standard to avoid unnecessary wastage and to prevent problems such as burst water pipes and electrical fires. DIY does not attract a grant, grants are only provided when an accredited installer does the work. If you want to take advantage of grant funding or don't feel confident that you can do it yourself you should call an installer.

Another type of loft insulation, blown insulation, must be installed by a professional. This will generally take a few hours and makes use of specialist equipment to blow loose, fire-retardant insulation material into the loft.

For DIY jobs, quilts should be used which can be laid over the loft's area. These are around 270mm thick, the current minimum standard and are made from blown glass fibre.

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.

It's best to take advice to prevent problems such as burst water pipes, electrical fire and condensation when carrying out loft insulation of any type.

Insulating paints.

There are a range of insulating paints available which can make a real difference to the temperature of a room, especially one with a radiant fire, such as an open fire, wood stove etc. Working by reflecting infra-red radiation back into  the room, rather than escaping though the walls or ceiling, it's a relatively cheap method of lowering your heating bills. If you're going to paint your walls and ceiling anyway, why not consider adding an insulating additive to the paint before you start?

Sheep's wool insulation.

Sheep’s wool is one of nature’s most effective insulators. Nature 'designed' it to be efficient after all and that efficiency includes its heat retaining properties as well as the amount of energy needed to produce it.

The key benefits of using sheep's wool for insulation include:

• It saves you money
• It adds value to your property.
• It's an environmentally friendly, green way to insulate your property.

• It is a sustainable and renewable resource.
• It is very energy efficient, both in 'manufacture' and as an insulator.
• It is breathable, absorbing moisture in Winter, which creates heat, thereby keeping your house warm
•  It is breathable, releasing moisture in the Summer, thereby keeping your house cool.

• It's safe, allergen free, does not irritate or cause itchiness to the skin, eyes or respiratory system. 
• It does not support combustion. It actually extinguishes itself in the event of fire.
• It's easy to install. 
• It's totally natural.
• It's completely safe to handle. 
• It does not require special equipment or safety clothing.
• It fits easily around shapes and joists.
• It comes in a variety of product types and sizes. 
• It can be fitted anywhere – on external or internal walls, under timber or concrete floors, the attic/loft or between the rafters.
• It can be rolled out over existing insulation rather than having to remove it, which can be safer than removing hazardous material.