Did you know that insulation adds to your home’s value by up to 95%? Insulating your home further improves energy efficiency and comfort. If you’re considering insulating your loft, you need to know the best type of insulation for maximum benefits.
Your roof’s construction is the primary determinant of the type of insulation to consider. You need to know more about a cold or warm loft in your quest to insulate your home.
Keep reading our guide to understanding the cold loft and warm loft to know which would work for your home.
What Is a Cold Loft and a Warm Loft?
A cold loft is where homeowners insulate directly above the top story’s ceiling. With this insulation, any heat from your home won’t be getting into your loft. Cold loft insulation is quite popular due to affordability.
This approach to insulation ensures that your house remains cool during summer. However, the cold loft might not be a great option if you have a flat roof. Your insulation might move, leading to gaps that allow dirt and dust to penetrate through the ventilation system’s voids.
Houses with this type of insulation often have ventilation around the roof’s perimeter to allow free airflow and avoid condensation. As such, you can have a well-insulated loft without affecting air quality.
A warm loft refers to the insulation directly under the roof. This insulation is ideal for pitched roofs where the loft space is used for storage or extra room. For adequate ventilation, it is recommendable to leave a space under your roof’s tiles.
Polystyrene slabs, spray foam, expanded polystyrene, and batts are some of the items used to insulate the loft space and the roof. If you opt for a DIY, you need to know your safe options. When using things like spray foam, it would be best to work with a professional.
A warm loft is preferable for flat roofs. Its thermal efficiency is one of the features that can’t compare with a cold loft. This loft can protect your roof’s structure while still lowering the energy costs.
If you are looking for the best type of insulation, your choice will depend on your home’s type of roof. Insulation, whether cold or warm, will play a significant role in improving energy efficiency. While you might want to save some money with the project, consider hiring a professional for a perfect outcome.
The Pros and Cons of Warm Loft and Cold Loft
So, what is the best insulator? If you’re planning to insulate your home, you might be wondering about the best type of insulation for your roof. The insulation’s primary goal is to address heat loss, which is achievable with warm and cold lofts.
However, it’s crucial to understand the pros and cons of a warm loft and a cold loft to know the solution that would be the best fit.
Pros and Cons of a Warm Loft
A warm loft is thermally efficient. As such, there will be minimal heat loss with this type of insulation. This approach further allows for easier elimination of thermal bridging.
If you have installed the warm loft, it’s easier for moisture to escape, preventing decay and dampness. Considering that indoor mold and dampness account for the 300 million asthma cases in children, you might want to consider having a warm loft to prevent it.
One of the downsides of warm loft insulation is the cost factor. When compared to the cold loft, the warm loft is pricier.
Pros and Cons of a Cold Loft
The popularity of a cold loft is mostly due to its cost-efficiency. It is more affordable than the warm loft. What’s more, a cold loft is easier to install, especially when building the roof.
A cold loft helps to make use of the space in your loft. The insulation is usually low impact. You have to know how to enhance the thermal performance with a cold loft as it is often inferior.
If you are considering a cost-effective option, a cold loft is ideal. However, a warm roof remains preferable since it allows excellent heat retention. You can use the space in the loft to store some of your sensitive items.
Choosing Your Ideal Loft
With the pros and cons of a warm loft and a cold loft, choosing the best type of insulation is easier. You only need to have the insulation between floor joints, which will prevent any heat from getting into the loft. Depending on what you want to do with the loft, you can opt for either insulation type.
Choosing a warm loft will make it easier for you to have extra storage space. While the process of getting a warm loft is pretty hard, you’ll get more functionalities with this type of insulation.
Unless you are confident in installing the insulation yourself, then it is always advised to hire professionals to do the job for you, so it is completed to a high standard. Professional insulation installers like Insulation Brothers Limited are experts in improving your home’s comfort and energy efficiency, which will help reduce your heating bill.
You can consider either of these types of loft insulation.
Loose-Fill Insulation
This insulation contains lightweight and loose material such as mineral wool and cellulose fiber. The loose-fill insulation is often used to complement existing insulation.
Blanket Insulation
Blanket insulation is one of the most common types of loft insulation you can consider. It comes in rolls of mineral fiber, glass, or rocks. This option is one of the cheapest, making it amongst the most popular.
Sheet Insulation
If you want to insulate your roof’s underside, sheet insulation is the best type of insulation to get. The firm boards, often made of natural or synthetic materials, are highly effective. One of the pros of sheet insulation is cost, which is relatively high.
The Best Type of Insulation Is a Great Resource for Homeowners
If you’re looking for the best type of insulation, consider one that prevents heat loss the most. You’ll save yourself from high utility bills and have a comfortable home. The choice of a cold or warm loft will depend on the type of your roof and the function you want the loft to play.
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