Stay cosy in winter and cool in summer, lower your bills and cut your carbon emissions. Roof insulation is a no brainer.

As much as a third of your home’s heat is lost through the roof. Loft insulation adds an extra barrier of material in your loft space to keep that heat indoors where it belongs.

Where the insulation goes

You can lay it between the beams that run along the floor (called the joists). This option will keep the floors below you warm, though the loft space itself will still be chilly.

You can also place it between the beams that support your roof (the rafters) to keep your roof space warm as well. This option tends to be more expensive than insulating the floor.

Or, you can do both.

What the insulation is made of

Roof insulation can be made of all sorts of materials. The most common type is rolls of fibreglass, but there are loads to choose from, including wood fibre, wool, hemp, and foam.

Every material has pros and cons. You’ll need to think about things like cost, the layout of your space, soundproofing, and fireproofing to decide what’s right for you.

If the material isn’t moisture resistant, you’ll also need to install a vapour barrier to stop moisture building up. (Insulation stops working when it gets damp.)

How to get insulated

  • Do it yourself. If your loft space is easy to get to, and you don’t have a flat roof or any damp in the space, you may be able to  insulate the roof yourself (but check with an expert first!). Here’s a guide from Wickes to give you a sense of the DIY process.

How much it costs – and how much it saves

It typically costs around £350 to insulate a loft, though prices will vary based on the space and the complexity of the job. 

Loft insulation can pay for itself in as little as a couple of years, as you’ll see a big drop in energy bills. And because it’s effective for at least 40 years it actually pays for itself several times over.

See how much you could save with insulation (and for how much), with this little infographic.

Reducing your environmental impact

Our homes account for 20% of carbon emissions in the UK. Insulating our homes can reduce those emissions by a long way.

Gone will be the days of cranking up the thermostat and feeling no effect. That’s because the heat will actually stay indoors rather than leaking out of your roof! Lower bills, cosier home, happier planet.

Things to consider when insulating

Some things to think about, or ask your installer about before you get started.

  • Will you want to use your loft space for storage? You might need to raise the floor or get a specific type of insulation.
  • Do you want a warm loft? That affects whether you insulate the roof or floor of your loft space.
  • Want to turn your loft into a living space? You’ll need to insulate all the walls and ceilings.
  • Is your loft space damp? You’ll need to increase the ventilation in your loft.

You can see more things to consider on the energy saving trust website.