How to keep heat in top floor flat

coolcats

I have a friend in a top floor flat, rented. It gets really cold so looking at ways to keep in the heat. Small rooms but with roof sloped ceilings, all electric instant heating which warms the rooms but doesn't hold the heat, so expensive to run. Any ideas?

Owain_Moneysaver

sloped ceilings are often uninsulated or poorly insulated, so apart from insulating the flat parts of the roofspace, if accessible, the only option really is to use some form of internal wall/ceiling lining with insulated plasterboard (which will reduce room size and headroom).

As it's a rental, the only advice really is move, as the landlord is unlikely to be willing to do the work (and it would probably have to be done in an unoccupied flat anyway).

Gerry1

Well insulated storage heaters such as Dimplex Quantum on E7 if moving is not an option. But may not be cost effective unless they are there in the daytime and/or and are intending to stay there a long time.

coolcats

They don't have storage heaters, but they are instant heating, they work well and heat quickly but the room doesn't stay warm. I have the same heat system and mine stays warm for a few hours when they are turned off, but I'm lower in the same building. Moving isn't an option right now.

greyteam1959

Sounds to me as though they should be checking what the insulation is like.
If they can get to it that is.

G_M

My C19th house has the upperfloor built into the roof too, so a limited area of flat attic space above the centre of the bedrooms with sloping ceilings each side.


The flat area I've well-insulated. The sloping ceilings I've used polystyrene lining like this with wallpaper on top. Not ideal but it helps.


In a rented property you'd need to either pursuade the landlord to do this, or get his (written) permission to do it yourself.



What about the windows? Single/double glazed?

coolcats

I will suggest they look into this wall paper that's a good idea if the landlord agrees, he is very reasonable.

I think the windows are double glazed.

I'm not sure they can see to check the insulation. Its an old building that has been converted to flats. The rest has been done to a high standard so I'm sure he would of done so for the top flat.