Alternative to spray foam?

anon_ymous

Hi

So I've seen this 

https://www.mortgagestrategy.co.uk/news/spray-foam-insulation-leaves-250000-homes-in-mortgage-limbo/

So, I really wouldn't want any spray foam insulation. What's a better form of insulation? One that doesn't have other issues down the line? 

Ectophile

For most people, ordinary loft insulation on the floor of the loft.  There's no need for the spray stuff all over the inside of the roof.

Lofts don't need to be warm, and they do need to be ventilated.

QrizB

As Ectophile says, cheapest and simplest is glass wool (or similar), supplied in rolls then laid flat in the loft space between and over the joists. This does make it difficult to use that space for anything else.

PS @waqasahmed you've double-posted; you might like to delete the other copy of this thread.

anon_ymous

QrizB said:

As Ectophile says, cheapest and simplest is glass wool (or similar), supplied in rolls then laid flat in the loft space between and over the joists. This does make it difficult to use that space for anything else.

PS @waqasahmed you've double-posted; you might like to delete the other copy of this thread.

Not on purpose anyway. I can't even see your reply to that thread 

How would we do it in such a way that you can still use said space?

Also how about the roof itself? My parent's house has an attic, and there's a little bit above it that we don't use 

QrizB

waqasahmed said:

QrizB said:

As Ectophile says, cheapest and simplest is glass wool (or similar), supplied in rolls then laid flat in the loft space between and over the joists. This does make it difficult to use that space for anything else.

PS @waqasahmed you've double-posted; you might like to delete the other copy of this thread.

Not on purpose anyway. I can't even see your reply to that thread

Your other thread is here. I deleted my reply from that thread and re-posted in this one.

How would we do it in such a way that you can still use said space?

You can use loft legs, as illustrated in this article. This lets you board over insulation without compressing it (compressing it removes the air and makes it useless).

Or you could use rigid insulating board instead, far more expensive but with a higher insulating value for a given thickness.

Also how about the roof itself? My parent's house has an attic, and there's a little bit above it that we don't use 

You'd normally only insulate the roof in order to provide a "warm loft", and you'd use those expensive rigid boards.

anon_ymous

QrizB said:

waqasahmed said:

QrizB said:

As Ectophile says, cheapest and simplest is glass wool (or similar), supplied in rolls then laid flat in the loft space between and over the joists. This does make it difficult to use that space for anything else.

PS @waqasahmed you've double-posted; you might like to delete the other copy of this thread.

Not on purpose anyway. I can't even see your reply to that thread

Your other thread is here. I deleted my reply from that thread and re-posted in this one.

How would we do it in such a way that you can still use said space?

You can use loft legs, as illustrated in this article. This lets you board over insulation without compressing it (compressing it removes the air and makes it useless).

Or you could use rigid insulating board instead, far more expensive but with a higher insulating value for a given thickness.

Also how about the roof itself? My parent's house has an attic, and there's a little bit above it that we don't use 

You'd normally only insulate the roof in order to provide a "warm loft", and you'd use those expensive rigid boards.

Thanks for that. I can't delete that thread myself, and you can't add a note when reporting, so I've edited the OP to ask mods if they could merge it given someone else has replied there

I'll have to have a look into that. Thanks 

EricMears

waqasahmed said:

QrizB said:

Your other thread is here. I deleted my reply from that thread and re-posted in this one.

Thanks for that. I can't delete that thread myself, and you can't add a note when reporting, so I've edited the OP to ask mods if they could merge it given someone else has replied there

I'll have to have a look into that. Thanks 

I believe you could change the title of the other thread - perhaps to include "Duplicate : please do not post"

therealslimshady

I had problems with renewing my mortgage after having spray foam insulation installed around 5 years ago. I used a loft insulation company called Loft Insulation Specialists (I have linked their website) who removed the spray foam and installed a new insulation product called Superfoil. It lasts over 50 years and so far I have actually seen an improvement to how warm my house feels. I have also noticed a drop in my energy bills as I don't have to use the heating as much. I would definitely recommend looking at Superfoil insulation as an alternative.

Screwdriva

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/81958491#Comment_81958491

I am always suspicious of first post recommendations on these forums and recommend caution.

When it comes to loft insulation, Knauf 40 is my top pick. Needs to be ordered but has superior thermal properties compared to the Knauf 44 variant available in Selco/ B&Q etc.

QrizB

I'm also suspicious of new accounts giving unsolicited testiminials.

A neighbour of mine is a keen DIYer and also a doctor of engineering. He's used something like Superfoil in his loft, suspended below the the rafters. So there might be a use for it.

I will however note that a roll of Superfoil SF60 (R value: 3.42) is £290 from Screwfix (12 square metres of coverage, so £24/sq.m) while a roll of Knauf 44 (R value: 3.5) is £80 from Travis Perkins (9 square metres coverage, so £9/sq.m).

Knauf 40 would be ~10% more insulating than Knauf 44 (0.040 and 0.044 are their respective thermal conductivities).

There may well be a time and place for Superfoil, but in general a mineral wool will be substantially more moneysaving.

EcoScruples

fibre wool insulation would always be my recommendation as it allows the loft space to stay ventilated.

I’ve done a couple of house projects and always use the latest building regs for advice, a loft space is not suppose to kept the heat in, if it’s cold up there then that means the heat is being kept in your house. The only thing I didn’t insulate under was my water storage tanks so they kept some heat under them through the winter to avoid freezing (and insulated them on the sidles and top).