With so many families in need of more space, it’s no surprise that many are turning to rebuild the attic to create a little more space. Remodeling an attic is a great way to create more space and add value to your home when you sell it.
Most people know that the roof loses heat, which explains why our houses need good roof insulation. Just like when people go outside in very cold weather, body heat is lost first. Most of us remember wearing a woolen hat that keeps our heads warm – just like your home.
If you go a step further and add an attic upgrade, you need to think about roof insulation during the upgrade. If it is not or poorly insulated, the heat will disappear and the house will never heat up as it could.
Regulations on Loft Conversion Insulation
The more popular the loft conversion, the stricter the rules. Unfortunately, the transformations made more than ten years ago did not follow the same rules and are unlikely to meet standards today. If your repair was made before 2003, it is likely to offer very little insulation.
The rules state that the heat transfer coefficient through the roof can be 0.18 W / m2 or less. For a layman, this means that the insulating layer (fiber or wool) should be 270 mm thick, with a rigid board 175 mm thick or a foam filling about 125 mm thick.
If you are planning to re-insulate your old converted attic, you will need to adhere to these standards. Fortunately, when you close the roof of your house, you can do so at the same time.
Can I retrofit loft insulation?
Yes, you can do it. Unfortunately, it can be expensive, but the house is warmer in winter and colder in summer.
There are three ways to change isolation.
1. Fill the residual space.
This is a small area of the room that is not part of the roof area. Rather, it is a space that is often used only to store things. It’s usually easy to get there, and simple insulation between the beams will give you some insulation. It is a cheap and fast method, in fact, it is an easy DIY project.
2. Stud walls.
You will find them at the ends of the sloping roof. This is again an ideal craft project, it is cheap and fast. Simply glue the insulation to the wooden beams and place a solid board in front of the insulation.
3. The roof.
This is usually a costly task because it is the largest isolated area and the most difficult. Find out more about the cost of the roof.
If you don’t know how to insulate an attic, it may be faster to hire someone to do it for you.
Ideally, you should first equip the insulation in small and easily accessible places and have the rest done by a qualified technician.
So if you are considering insulating an attic, you should ask yourself two questions before you begin.
Is the loft going to be used as a cold room or a warm room?
The cold attic is only suitable for storage. Throw away the Christmas tree and all the decorations, the old chair you want to rebuild, the extra blankets, and the sleeping bags with the tent for this trip … you have an idea. The cold attic is not where you want to send your guests because you run out of beds!
The warm attic is ideal for conversion to an office, another bedroom, a gym you might want to use, a playroom where children are too noisy, and other reasons why you might want to live. As it is a warm room, it provides the insulation needed to keep it warm or cool.
Cold lofts
If your attic is to be used as a cold attic, which means that it will only be used to store objects, you can still think of a flat surface so that the beams are covered and easily accessible.
Consider installing insulation between the roof of the house and the attic floor. This floor insulation keeps the rooms on the ground floor warm, thus saving money on energy costs.
Warm lofts
Because you are creating a living space, you need to make sure that it is properly insulated in both the summer and winter months. You have to insulate yourself between the roof of the attic and the new ceiling that you plan to install there. This is the most economical type of attic insulation. Read more about attic renovation costs here. This is also one of the easiest ways. This means that your attic will be warm, just like any other room in the house.
One thing to keep in mind is that you need to leave a gap between the insulation and the battens. This ensures sufficient ventilation to prevent condensation and accumulation of moisture. If moisture settles on the insulation, it will rot over time.
To sum up on how to insulate a loft conversion
If you have added an attic renovation to your house, it makes sense to insulate it before use.
Decide what purpose you want in the attic, as this indicates the chosen insulation method.
There are several types of insulation that you can do yourself while saving money. Other larger projects are best left to a professional to do them for you. They can also give you a guarantee that moisture and condensation will not accumulate in the attic. So keep this in mind when insulating the attic.
