Treading Softly | Insulation

Insulation

When it comes to making home climates more comfortable, saving energy, saving money and reducing CO₂ emissions, the adage is "Insulate, Insulate, Insulate" and it was adopted early in this household. Why add heat if it is simply going to leak away?

Our program of insulation began in 1996 with the replacement of the old metal "Crittall" windows with double glazed wood-framed windows. For financing reasons, it took 3 years to be be able to afford the replacement of all 13 windows. Now we believe we have maximised the whole house insulation and we are pleased at how comfortable we are and how modest our heating bills are. However there is always scope for upgrading the existing.

The following are the insulation initiatives we have undertaken since 1995, in reverse chronological order:

Area	Insulation Material	Year	EST*
The Flat Roof was upgraded from a COLD Flat Roof to a WARM Flat Roof. This was achieved by adding a 118mm insulation layer over the existing insulation and boards. The doubled up arrangement has raised the roof and improved the overall u- value of the roof from 0.15 to 0.8. R-value and u-Value of Flat Roof (PDF)		2022

House - Ground floor Kitchen Extension completed January 2018 New cavity brickwork on 3 sides with external dimensions: North – 2.5m West - 3.3m South – 1.95m New flat roofing and Reticel insulation (see image) 1 x Full length Double Glazed door 1 x 1220 x 1290mm Double glazed window 1 x 1800 x 1305mm Double glazed window		2018	-

House - Ground Floor Rear Extension completed August 2017 New Build 4.2 x 2.6m to 2017 Standards Pitched roof with loft insulation 4 x Double glazed windows Reticel underfloor insulation (see image) 1/2 Glazed door		2017	-

House Loft - Between-the-Rafters (2nd phase) Supplementary insulation between and around the rigid Celotex panels to eliminate small gaps and draughts. Used one B&Q Home Eco roll made from 86 recycled plastic bottles with an R Value of 5. Not expensive, not itchy and a pleasure to use. The house loft is now typically 7 ° C warmer than the air outside.		2011	-

Workshop - Loft floor (3rd phase)	Wickes Cavity Wall Insulation slabs	2010	Yes

Workshop - Cavity Walls Granulated insulation material blown into the external wall cavities.	Rockwool Energysaver	2010	-

House Loft - Between-the-Rafters (1st phase) Rigid Panel insulation, cut to size and fitted in the pitched bays then held in place with wooden batons.	Celotex GA3000	2010	-

House - Door surrounds and Windows (Phase 2 - upgrade)	Stormguard draught excluder	2009	-

Workshop - Loft floor (2nd phase)	NaturePro Flexible Wood Fibre	2009	-

House - Flat Roof	Warmcel 100	2008	Yes

Household Energy Survey and Report	Parity Eco Solutions	2008	-

House - Behind all external wall radiators. These have been inserted between the radiators and the external wall to reflect heat into the room and away from the colder external wall. Following upgrades to insulation and the building, these have been removed and recycled.	Novitherm Heat reflectors	2003	-

House Loft - Floor (2nd phase)	B&Q Roll Insulation - various	2003	-

House - Cavity Walls Granulated insulation material blown into the external wall cavities.	Rockwool Energysaver	2002	Yes

House - All Windows	Double glazed	1996 -1999	-

Workshop - Loft floor (1st phase)	Roll loft Insulation - type unknown	1995	-

* Energy Saving Trust recommended product (at time of purchase)

Treading Softly - Environmentally considerate living in a rural english home and garden

Insulation