Roof Space Insulation ?

dickibobboy

Hi there. Im looking for some advice on insulation for the roof space.
First of all.. The house is early 1900, used to be one large one at some point but was split into two. The attic bedroom is the major problem for the general chill around the house and the room on its own is very cold in the winter months!
I think this is down to the insulation or should i say lack of. The room is fairly big and at either side where the roof slopes down is false walls. One one side its just some sort of thin wood. it obviosuly doesnt look like that from the room side as its got wall paper on and looks like like any other wall. The other side of it is just plaster board connected to the frame.

Now at each side of the room there is little doors that gives access to the space which is used mainly for storage. In there is just floor joists and a load of crap and i mean crap between them, its rather just like out side muck and dust with a small amount of fluff (this must be old its just in pieces, its horrible to pick up and the whole thing is just a couple of inches thick. its like someone has swept up from a path and placed the rubbish there minus the soil dirt) then under all that is the roof of the room below.
For the roof its just the bare slates you can see and obviously the brick work at either side of the walls and below the roof before the floor

Now, im pretty sure some insulation will do the world of good in there. I was thinking on the floor, on the roof and on th walls that are the bedroom walls. The budget is very low. Im thinking more of the offers that keep coming on for around £1 a roll and get a decent amount of that.

any suggestions ?

macman

You don't want to insulate the underside of the slates, if the floor and wall insulation is effective then the attic area should not be warm enough to lose too much heat through the tiles.
Obviously your roof predates the time when roofing felt was fitted under the batens, so it's never going to be as heat-retaining as a modern roof.

TEDDYRUKSPIN

You have missed the £1 deal. Finished now.

http://www.buildcenter.co.uk/promotions/diyloftinsulation

Suggest you look at the link and use the calculator from Npower just to work out how much you may need.

Alternatively just get someone in to do it. As you house is old, you will definitely benefit from cavity wall insulation as well.

macman

Wickes sometimes have 2 for 1 offers on loft insulation.
Try your gas or electricity suppliers for subsidised fitting, usually free for the elderly.

brig001

You don't need insulation under the floor as the room below is heated. What you do need to do is stop airflow between the attic floor and the ceiling of the room below. You can board this up and seal with decorators caulk, or you can make stoppers from loft insulation in plastic bags and push them under the floor, between the joists. Airflow in this gap cools the room below too so will benefit all round.

When you have done this and insulated as you say, don't forget to check that the little doors are airtight when closed. Use a joss stick on a windy day to check.

HTH,
Bri.

dickibobboy

Thanks for the information.

Right, i have had a look around and plan to try my best to get it at least a little warmer with a buget of £50!

I have reserved some of the offer insulation with b&q that works out £1 a roll. I have reserved 24 rolls all together although i suppose i do not need to take them all, does it matter if i have extra and just plase more on top if needed?

My plan is
(i think i will take some pictures of progress, i am quite looking forward to it a little)
Get the insulation from b&q
Pick one of the two roof areas and start. I will clear the areas from things that are stored.
I will start with the floor and try my best with a brush and rubbish bag to clear all the muck and rubbish that is between the joists.
Then place down the insulation between the joists the best that i can.
Repeat these steps so the whole area is done.
Then move onto the walls that face the bedroom. I will think of a way to keep it up between the wooden frame for the wall. My plan with some pieces of wood i have is to fasten them to the frame which will hold it in place. Should work as expected.

Now, that is what i can do as soon as i have the insulation but i wanted a few more tips. I am asking about for best places or maybe free unneeded wood that i can use to board the floor up and fasten down to the beams. If i can get this done i will then seal every edge around it for the best possible result. This will also be good for me as it will be clean and something to walk on without carefully walking on the joists!

Another question is. Where the top of the wall is, that meets the sloping roof (out side wall) can create quite a bit of air into the area and in windy days can create a breeze. What do you suggest i use to try and help this problem?

The brick work at either side, one is the outside wall the other links to the joining house just leave it?

and last but not least, would it work better if the areas were as empty as possible, or the fact that it will be quite full(ish) with stuff cause a problem with any heat?

Radiator is aired now and again to try and maximise the use. Maybe get an oil radiator as these are low cost to run but that is something last (and not out of the £50 i am trying to use)

What do you think, sorry for the spelling, i am on my phone :rotfl:

Thanks.

dickibobboy

Reading more around the forums, its probably best if i leave the floor with just the insulation rather than boarding it over as the insulation needs to breeth right?

From what i get there needs to be a gap around the edges of the walls too for this.

dickibobboy

Right guys. finally got round to doin it. My word it was a big job clearing out and having a clean up. Left most of the material between the joists as it acts as an insulation on its own, its the old type stuff that used to be pumped in before rolls.

I used expanding foam in the gaps where outside could be seen where the roof meets the wall and laid the insulation between the joists and the frame work thats the fake wall to the room. Quite impressed so far and i can deffinatley tell the difference. There is a warm factor to the room where as that wasnt there before and when its windy there is no longer a breeze!

Just done the one side for now and have enough insulation for the other side. Although i might take advantage and double it up going the other way over what i have down to make it even thicker seen as the offer is on with Npower at the moment.

Click for larger pictures.