Loft insulation rolls

moneyistooshorttomention

Quick query time - those rolls of "fleecy" type loft insulation (ie the type one gets from B & Q):

- Should they just be rolled straight out with the silver foil type stuff that covers them still on them?

or

- Should one take that silver foil type stuff off them and then just spread the "filling" out over the loft?

d0nkeyk0ng

IIRC foil helps reflect heat so leave it on. If you're laying it on an empty loft, foil side down.

spadoosh

They only ever put the foil on as part of the product. It would be a more expensive way for them to wrap it.

Relax

It should be silver side up

Furts

Read the instructions for the answer. Logically it would be foil on the bottom, with a single layer because you want to reflect down the heat, and also form a vapour barrier to stop moisture getting into the insulation to ruin it.

moneyistooshorttomention

The reason I'm asking - the foil covering has already been removed completely.

I had a workman put some extra loft insulation up in my loft 3 years ago. I saw it before it went up - and it had silver foil type covering all over it.

In the course of another job - I've just seen what its like now for first time since it was done - and all the covering has been ripped off it and it's scattered around without any trace of it.

I have suspicions that isnt how its supposed to be......hence checking how it should have been done.

cajef

Was it on top of existing insulation, if laid on top with the foil still on it could trap moisture in the old fibre.

Furts

There are millions of homes with loft insulation without any foil, and they function fine. I would not worry about this. Just remember a few fundamentals. First there should be a vapour barrier sat on the plasterboard ceiling before the insulation is laid. However millions of homes do not have this. Second there should be adequate ventilation in the roof - you do not want condensation drips, or damp, in the insulation. Third on depth the more the better provided ventilation and loft storage do not prevent this. Regs are always being upped here - say around 300 mm at present but eco or passiv homes are probably around 500mm.


If you have a warm roof, or room in the roof matters are different, but by memory your home is an established traditional one.

moneyistooshorttomention

cajef wrote: »

Was it on top of existing insulation, if laid on top with the foil still on it could trap moisture in the old fibre.

Yes.......it was extra. Because I didnt know/but had a distinct suspicion there wasnt very much at all up there and wanted to ensure I'd got a nice thick layer. So it was a top-up.

Relax

Furts wrote: »

Read the instructions for the answer. Logically it would be foil on the bottom, with a single layer because you want to reflect down the heat, and also form a vapour barrier to stop moisture getting into the insulation to ruin it.

You see the thing is ~ Before I posted ~ I did read the instructions

http://www.space-insulation.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/12/Space_Blanket-Installation.pdf


If you have trouble locating it :
The large white words above the planet with rings in the bottom right of the instruction sheet that say

Don't forget
lay Space Blanket
silver side up

Oh and your vapour barrier nonsense is garbage too . It is glass fibre

Davesnave

Relax wrote: »

Before I posted ~ I did read the instructions

http://www.space-insulation.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/12/Space_Blanket-Installation.pdf

I don't think anyone said you didn't; not on my copy of the internet anyway.

Dangerous stuff, instructions...:eek:

Mark my words, we'll have the "Do the wires really have to go on top?" question next!