Bubblewrap Roof Insulation

hubb

A I live in a Victorian semi terraced with old tiles, we lose lot of our heat because there is no felt lining. To have this done will cost money we haven't got. However, has anyone had any success with pinning bubblewrap to the wooden joists as a temporary measure in Winter ?

It would certainly cost a lot less to do the same thing.:beer:

Antispam

Have you not got your loft insulated that's all you need assuming you dont use loft as a room. You can often get insulation for free

you have to be careful what you put up there as it may need to be breathable hence the lining. I dont have any in my roof either just insulated the loft and hatch

hubb

The floor in the loft is insulated but when we just went up it was freezing cold. Why do people pay thousands to have their roof felted ?

phill99

Having no underfelt has zero impact on heat loss. As antispam has suggested, you need to get your loft insulated or the existing insulation topped up. 270mm of glass fibre insulation is the current standard.

Antispam

You normally only have that felt on new roofs or houses that arent very old say 60 years. My last two houses late 1920's and 1890 dont have any either, The felt does not stop heat loss though as said its mealy breathable barrier

I did my Victorian house with kingspan between the joists but left a gap for air to circulate to stop wood rot. You have to be careful not to stop air flow using plastic sheeting or bubble wrap

hubb

Its hard to tell how thick the insulation is because there are boards down over it and then bits of carpet over that. It's probably ok then.

ilikewatch

hubb wrote: »

The floor in the loft is insulated but when we just went up it was freezing cold

The time to worry is when the loft isn't freezing cold in winter, that would mean that you were paying to heat it!

olias

As above - If its freezing up there when your heating is on, then it means your insulation is working! Felting is a secondary waterproofing in case the tiles fail - it is not, as has been said, anything to do with heat insulation.

Incidentally, if the loft is boarded, then you are unlikely to have the recommended 270mm in place underneath. Having said that - if its freezing up there, then, as said, its obviously working.

Olias

27col

hubb wrote: »

The floor in the loft is insulated but when we just went up it was freezing cold. Why do people pay thousands to have their roof felted ?

All properly insulated roofs will be freezing cold. It's what tells you that the insulation is working. If the roof were warm it would be telling you that there was no effective insulation over the bedroom ceilings.
However, if there are boards it is likely to mean that the roof is insufficiently insulated. Boards will limit the insulation to 100mm whereas the depth of insulation is recommended to be at least 280mm with modern day standards.
Any heat that has got into the roof has already been lost from the habitable areas and represents money wasted by you trying to heat the roof space.

fluffymuffy

Yes - don't put boards down in a loft. The ceiling joists are there to carry the ceiling only.

missile

The boards will be efficient insulation.