The roof and loft tends to be the place you only visit to store the Christmas decorations and other large items that you don't use on a regular basis. However, if you are thinking about home improvements most people think about plastering or creating an extension but the loft is one place you can make a big change, reduce heat loss and hopefully save on your heating bills.

Almost a quarter of heat that is lost through a house is lost through the roof. So insulation will reduce some of that heat loss.

Easy Access and Regular Joists
If you have easy access to your roof and there are no underlying problems such as damp or condensation you may be able to insulate yourself by using rolls of mineral wool insulation. loft flooring The process involves the first layer laid between the joists, then another layer cross laid at right angles to cover the joists and make the insulation up to the required depth.

If your loft is being used for storage you will be able to lay boards over the joists, but if the insulation is only between the joists the insulation will not be thick enough. You would need to get more insulation and this can be done by insulating between the joists with the mineral wool and then insulation boards that are rigid on top and complete with wooden boarding on top of that. When laying the boards, make sure the mineral wool is not squashed as this will reduce its effectiveness.

If you have had a loft conversion or use your loft as a living or office space you can insulate the roof by fixing rigid insulation boards between the roof rafters.

Lofts can be a difficult place to get to, and if your home requires the skills of a gymnastic team to get into it might be worth considering a professional to use blown insulation, which blows loose, fire-retardant insulation material.

Irregular joists can also cause problems if you are trying to fit the insulation yourself as they might be more than the length of the rolls of mineral wool or if there are obstructions in your loft this can make fitting rolls more complicated. You would be able to use loose-fill insulation like bags of cork granules. This should be done by a professional though to make sure you get the right depth of insulation.

Flat roofs should be insulated from above and the rigid insulation board should be added either on the roofs weatherproof layer or on top of the timber roof surface.

Michelle has worked in several sectors and knows a lot of information on home improvements from loft insulation to creating extra space within a home. With the cost of energy bills rising, home owners are looking at ways to reduce their heating bills and one way is making your home more insulated with loft and roof insulation.