Loft Insulation

Loft insulation is one of the most effective ways to improve the thermal properties of your home, helping retain heat. When fully insulated to recommended levels of 270mm (The Energy Saving Trust) your home can retain heat for longer compared to an uninsulated home, which may lose a quarter of heat generated through the roof space.

Adequate levels of insulation can also help prevent condensation and mould forming on ceilings, as cold spots provide the ideal place for warm air to condense, and mould spores to germinate. Mould and condensation can also form when insulation is installed incorrectly, or where insulation is not replaced properly.

When carrying out a damp and timber survey of properties, and inspecting the roof space, our surveyor may recommend insulation be topped up to improve thermal efficiency, help reduce heat loss and prevent condensation problems.

Rentokil Property Care have a number of CSRT and CSTDB qualified surveyors who are
experts in identifying different types of damp and insulation issues, and will provide you with detailed recommendations for long term peace of mind. We are Property Care Association Members and have a number of branches across the United Kingdom, meaning we have qualified and experienced surveyors and technicians local to you.

Loft insulation is an extra layer of material with thermal properties that helps reduce heat loss through the roof space. While the obvious benefit is the ability for the home to retain more heat, there are many benefits in having adequate levels of insulation. By reducing the amount of heat that is lost through the roof space, you can reduce the amount of money spent on energy bills, while also reducing the carbon footprint of your home.

Homes in the United Kingdom vary in age, and because of this, many properties may not have been built with adequate insulation installed in attics, lofts and roof spaces.

Often roof insulation is not up to recommended levels, while in other cases stored goods on top of insulation can cause it to flatten, reducing the thermal efficiency. Insulating your loft is one of the quickest and easiest ways to improve the internal environment of your home, by keeping heat inside.

Reduce your Energy Bills: The biggest benefit of loft insulation is the potential to save significant amounts of money on energy bills. The Energy Savings Trust have estimated that you could save up to £250 on energy bills a year, by adding loft insulation to an uninsulated house, while loft insulation generally lasts for over 40 years.

Improve your EPC Rating: When selling or renting a property, every home must have an EPC (Energy Performance Certificate). The EPC rating is calculated based on the energy efficiency of your home. Loft insulation will help improve your EPC rating, and this can make your property more appealing to prospective buyers and tenants.

Environmental Benefits: Loft insulation means you will be using less energy and therefore less fuel. This will mean there will be a corresponding reduction in the amount of harmful chemicals and gases that are released from heating and cooling devices. In 2022, the Energy Saving Trust estimated that an uninsulated loft in a detached home once insulated to 270 mm thickness insulation could save 1310 kg CO2 per year.

Condensation and mould problems on ceilings are often caused by a lack of insulation in the loft space above. By making sure that the loft is adequately insulated you can prevent cold spots, which if left, provide the conditions for mould growth to form. Excess moisture in the atmosphere will condense on cold surfaces which causes mould spores to germinate.

By insulating the above roof space you remove these cold spots, preventing the mould from forming. If the condensation and mould is in patches, or has straight consistent edges, it is possible there are missing sections of insulation in your loft. This can be a particular problem when downlighters have been installed or alterations made to lofts and insulation has not been correctly relaid.

While insulation can help reduce the cold spots where condensation forms on ceilings, you may also need to take action to reduce the amount of moisture produced, and improve ventilation, as this is often the root cause of condensation forming.

If you are concerned about a damp problem, a damp and timber survey carried out by a trained professional can provide you with a detailed survey report outlining their findings, along with recommendations where necessary.

Sometimes dark streaks or lines are noticeable on surfaces, and on closer inspection appear to be dust or soot. This is what is known as ghosting. Ghosting refers to dark streaks and stains that can appear over a period of time on both ceilings and walls, as dust circulating in the atmosphere settles on cooler surfaces. These are often caused by cold bridging and poor insulation, and for ceilings this is often due to missing sections of insulation in the above roof space.

Better air circulation and ventilation in the property will also help prevent ghosting on ceilings. These patches can be wiped away, but unless thermal improvements are made to the surface, they could return.

One of the most common problems when insulation is carried out incorrectly is condensation in the loft. If insulation is laid correctly, it will not affect the natural air flow in the loft. If insulation is piled up or laid too deep at the edges, it can block eaves ventilation or gable air bricks and this will reduce airflow and cause moisture to build up.

Sometimes damp and mould problems can affect loft hatches, as heat rises the moisture flows into the loft space, condensing on cold surfaces. To prevent a damp and mould problem it is essential to make sure the loft hatch is closed at all times and insulated properly.

Sometimes downlights are installed without protective covers that prevent moisture escaping, and bathroom extract vents are discharged into the loft rather than outside.

When carrying out a damp and timber survey of your property, our surveyor may recommend insulation be topped up to decrease heat loss, remove cold spots and prevent condensation forming.

We are also able to install loft boarding to provide extra storage space in the loft. This will use loft legs to raise boarding above the newly installed insulation. This prevents compaction which causes a reduction in the thermal performance of the insulation.

The correct levels of insulation are essential to keep your house warm, and help prevent cold spots where condensation and mould can form.

Rentokil Property Care has decades of experience in the property preservation industry carrying out damp proofing, and our trained technicians will ensure that insulation is laid correctly, and won’t cause any damp problems by blocking existing ventilation such as vents or air bricks. Insulation will be installed to the recommended levels of 270mm, where required.

If you choose to go ahead with loft boarding to increase storage space in your attic, this can be installed over existing insulation or in conjunction with our top up service.

Plastic legs are securely fixed to the ceiling joists at a height dependent on the required insulation thickness to prevent compression of the insulation material and reduction in thermal properties. Chipboard loft boarding panels are then securely fixed to the loft leg system.

It should be noted that this system is designed for light domestic storage only at a maximum loading of 25kg per square metre.

With relevant DIY experience, and if it is not a flat roof, it is possible that you could insulate it yourself. However, it is important to note that incorrect installation will mean that your insulation could be ineffective, and therefore not reduce your energy bills.

Incorrectly installed insulation can often lead to damp problems if there is poor ventilation, or if you don’t treat any pre-existing damp issues.

This is why we would recommend you consult professional advice before attempting any DIY measures yourself. Any signs of damp in your loft should be examined by a qualified damp surveyor before loft insulation can occur.

Rentokil Property Care has been working in peoples homes and businesses for over 70 years, correctly identifying property issues and providing long term solutions.

We are experts in property preservation, and can provide you with personalised advice for damp and condensation problems affecting your property.

Whether its thermal improvements, or improving ventilation, Rentokil Property Care can provide you with advice and long term solutions.