What Type Of Insulation Is Best? | The Ultimate Guide

There are many types of home insulation available that can make a huge difference in reducing your energy bills. Traditionally, the most common forms of insulation have been made from materials like fibreglass, cellulose, and foam but in recent years many new types claiming to be more environmentally friendly have been gaining popularity. But what type of insulation is best? And how much will it cost to replace the insulation in your home?

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In this blog post, we will discuss the different types of insulation and their benefits. We will also look at UK government grants that can help you with the cost of insulation.

Interested in insulating your home? See if you are eligible for UK government grant assistance.

The main home insulation types

Rigid Foam Insulation

Rigid foam insulation is one of the most popular types of insulation material. It is made from polystyrene or polyurethane and can be used to insulate both homes and commercial buildings. Rigid foam insulation is very effective at preventing heat loss and is often used in cavity walls, ceilings, and floors. 

There are three main types of rigid foam insulation: PIR/PUR boards, phenolic boards, and expanded polystyrene boards.

• PIR/PUR boards are made from polyurethane or polyisocyanurate and are the most common type of rigid foam insulation. 
• Phenolic boards are made from a mixture of phenol and formaldehyde and are often used in floors and roofs. 
• Expanded polystyrene boards, also known as EPS boards, are made from styrofoam and are often used in walls and ceilings.

One of the main benefits of this type of insulation is that it is very easy to install. It can be cut to size and fitted into almost any space. Rigid foam insulation is also very durable and has a long lifespan. The main downside of it is that it is made from petroleum products, which are not environmentally friendly. Rigid foam insulation is also one of the more expensive types of insulation.

Wool Type Loft Insulation

Wool type insulation is usually made from mineral fibres or fibreglass. These materials are spun into wool and then used to insulate homes. Wool type loft insulation is often used in ceilings and attics but some people have also used it for walls and floors where it is often less effective and can lead to issues such as damp penetration.

The main benefit of wool type loft insulation is that it is very effective at preventing heat loss when used correctly. It is also very easy to install and has a long lifespan. As well as allowing damp penetration, another downside of wool type loft insulation is that it can be irritable to the skin. If you are installing insulation yourself, make sure to wear protective gloves and a mask.

Aluminium Foil Backed Insulation

Aluminium foil backed insulation is made from recycled aluminium so it is also a relatively environmentally-friendly option. Like foam and wool type insulation, it can be used for walls, ceilings, and floor insulation, but it is most often used as warm roof insulation.

Aluminium foil is a very good conductor of heat so it is very effective at preventing heat loss. It is also very easy to install and can be cut to size.

One downside of aluminium foil backed insulation is that it does not have a long lifespan and will need to be replaced more often than other types of insulation. It is also one of the more expensive types of insulation.

Interested in insulating your home? See if you are eligible for UK government grant assistance.

Multilayer Foil Insulation

Multilayer foil insulation is a less common option made from multiple layers of aluminium foil and wadding that is often used for roofs, walls, and floors. It is a very effective type of insulation because it is lightweight, reflects heat well, has built-in vapour control and can be taped into place.

The main downside of multilayer foil insulation is that it is not as durable as some other types of insulation and can be damaged easily. It is also one of the more expensive types of insulation.pensive types of insulation.

Foam Spray Insulation Kits

If you want to save money on your insulation, it is possible to buy a DIY spray foam insulation kit. These kits contain everything you need to insulate an area yourself including the foam, a sprayer, and instructions.

Foam spray insulation, when installed properly, can be very effective at preventing heat loss and also helps with noise reduction. It is sprayed onto the desired area where it expands and hardens.

The main benefit of buying a DIY kit is that it is much cheaper than hiring a professional to do it for you. However, it is important to note that these kits can be difficult to use and the results are not always as good as if you were to hire a professional. Poor installation can sometimes lead to the insulation being ineffective and causing structural damage.

Wood Fibre Insulation

Wood fibre insulation is made from recycled wood that is shredded and then treated with fire-retardant chemicals. It is often used for walls, floors, and ceilings and can be either roll-out or loose-fill.

Wood fibre insulation is a good insulator because it is dense and does not allow heat to pass through easily. It is also environmentally friendly and has a long lifespan. The main downside of wood fibre insulation is that it can be irritable to the skin and lungs so protective gloves and a mask when installing it should be worn. It is also one of the more expensive types of insulation. to wear gloves and a mask when installing it. It is also one of the more expensive types of insulation.

IInterested in insulating your home? See if you are eligible for UK government grant assistance.

Sheep&#;s Wool Insulation

Sheep&#;s wool insulation is made from, you guessed it, sheep&#;s wool! It is an often-overlooked natural insulation material, but it is actually a very effective type of insulation. It is often used for walls, floors, and ceilings and can be either roll-out or loose-fill.

Sheep&#;s wool insulation is a good insulator because, like wood fibre, it is very dense when packed in and does not allow much heat to pass through. It is a very environmentally-friendly material as it is biodegradable and has a long lifespan. The main downside of sheep&#;s wool insulation is that, like wood fibre, it can be irritable to the skin and lungs, so make sure to wear protective gear when installing it.

Blue Jean Insulation

Blue jean insulation is one of the newer eco-friendly insulation options on the market. It is made from recycled blue jeans that are shredded and treated with fire-retardant chemicals.

Proponents of blue jean insulation say that it is just as effective as other types of insulation, but it is much cheaper and better for the environment. The main downside of blue jean insulation is that it is a relatively new type of insulation material so its longevity as an insulation type is not fully known.

Interested in insulating your home? See if you are eligible for UK government grant assistance.

Why is insulation so important?

Insulation is so important because it helps to keep your home at a comfortable temperature by trapping heat in during the winter and keeping it out during the summer. It also helps to reduce noise levels and can save you money on your energy bills.

Insulation has become a hot topic in the UK in recent years because of the generally high cost of energy which have been putting a strain on household budgets. To protect yourself from potential future rises and reduce existing bills, insulation is an excellent option that many households in the UK are opting for.

Which areas of the home need insulation most?

The areas of a property that need insulation most are typically the ones that are most exposed to the elements. This includes the walls, floors, roof, windows, and doors. As a percentage breakdown, heat is typically lost in a property on the following scale: 

• Walls: 35%
• Floors: 25%
• Roof: 15%
• Windows and doors: 15%
• Other (e.g. gaps in the structure): 10% 

Of course, these numbers vary from property to property and depend on a number of other factors, such as the age and type of the house, the climate, the state of your windows and doors, the condition of the roof and so on. house, the climate, the state of your windows and doors, the condition of the roof and so on.

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How much does insulating your home cost?

The cost of insulating your property varies according to the size of your home, the type of insulation, and whether you install it yourself or hire a professional insulation company.

Loft insulation is often the most cost-effective way of insulating a home and a typical three-bedroom semi-detached house could have the loft space insulated for around £850. Installing cavity insulation in a similar property would be expected to cost significantly more, being in the region of £2,500.

While this may appear a sizeable investment, these types of energy efficient home upgrades will save a lot of money in the long run on energy bills. Plus, there is always the possibility of having this work completed using free insulation funding grants.

Interested in insulating your home? See if you are eligible for UK government grant assistance.

UK home insulation grants

The government recognises that insulation is expensive but wants to incentivise people to insulate their homes by offering insulation grants. These are available through several schemes, including the Energy Company Obligation (ECO4) scheme and Great British Insulation Scheme (GBIS).

These schemes aim to help low-income and energy inefficient households with the cost of insulation and other energy-saving measures in order to help them reduce their energy bills and carbon footprints.

What types of insulation could be covered by free grants?

In terms of insulation, the funding scheme can help you with the following insulation types: 

Cavity Wall Insulation

This is an insulation material installed in the wall cavities between external walls. Cavity fill insulation can be expensive, but you potentially could claim a significant portion of the cost through a government grant.

Loft Insulation

Insulation material can be installed in the attic or loft of your house. This is very important as heat rises and a lot of heat is lost through the roof. A loft insulation grant could potentially cover 100% of the cost, since this type of cold roof insulation is one of the cheapest insulation options available.

External Wall Insulation

This type of insulation is installed on the outside of your property, over the brickwork or render. External wall insulation is typically applied to solid walls and can be very expensive, but you may be eligible for a government grant to help with the cost. It is worth noting that in some cases you may need planning permission for external insulation, so check with your local authority.

Internal Wall Insulation

This is where insulation is installed on the inside of your property, between the studs in walls. Through government grants, you may be entitled to free internal wall insulation.

Room in Roof Insulation

This is warm roof insulation installed in the roof space of an area that is intended to be used for something other than just storage. Room in roof insulation is usually more expensive, but can save a considerable amount on energy bills because so much heat can be lost through an uninsulated roof. 

Underfloor insulation

Insulating floors is an often overlooked part of insulating a property. Older properties will typically have suspended timber floors which can be insulated with mineral wool insulation between the floor joists. Concrete floors can have rigid insulation panels laid on top.

Interested in insulating your home? See if you are eligible for UK government grant assistance.

Final thoughts on which insulation is best

There is no easy answer when it comes to what type of insulation is best as each type will be more suited to a particular situation. For example, retrofitting cavity wall insulation is often more suited to a loose fill insulation material, as this can be blown in through small holes created in the walls. Internal solid wall insulation would usually be installed using rigid insulation boards, while underfloor insulation requires different insulating material depending on whether it is a concrete floor or a suspended timber floor.

For some people, the choice of thermal insulation material depends on personal preference. Natural or traditional insulation materials may be preferred for environmental reasons, even if they are often more costly.

The most important consideration is ensuring that your property is well insulated to keep your home comfortable, save money on your energy bills, and reduce your carbon footprint. You can find more top tips on keeping your home warm in the winter here.

If you are thinking of insulating your property, you should also check whether you are eligible for a grant as this can help to offset the cost, and you may even be able to have insulation companies install insulation without any cost to you. To find out whether you are home eligible for ECO4 Scheme or other insulation funding, enter your postcode here.

A Buyer&#;s Guide to Loft Insulation

A quarter of heat is lost through the roof in an uninsulated home. With this in mind, choosing the right insulation for a loft, roof or attic is vitally important. When you think of insulation the most common types that spring to mind are likely to be blanket insulation and foam board insulation but there are other types of insulation that are available that you may not have come across. In order to make the right buying decision and ensure the most effective solution for your application, it is important that you are aware of all the options available.

Types of Insulation

Each type of insulation, despite working towards the same goal, does perform slightly differently and each has its own benefits so it is important that you are aware of all available options in order that you can make an informed buying decision.

• Blanket Insulation

This is perhaps the most common type of insulation and is commonly made from glass wool. Also known as fibreglass, this is made from glass fibres which are bound together to create insulation. The glass fibres create pockets of air which act as barriers to prevent heat loss, because air is a poor conductor of heat. While it usually has excellent environmental properties as the glass is often made from recycled materials, it isn&#;t always the best choice for insulating the home.

Despite being easy to install and relatively cost effective, the tiny fibres can be harmful if inhaled of if coming into contact with the skin and if laid in the loft it should be covered by boards and not touched to avoid irritation. It also needs at least 270mm of thickness in the average loft to be a suitable R-Value, making it difficult to maintain head height.

• Mineral Wool Insulation

Mineral wool insulation is made from a mixture of glass or stone which is heated to a high temperature and spun into a light fibre structure. Mineral wool has a slightly higher R-Value (3.0-3.3) compared to that of glass wool (2.2-2.7) making it slightly more effective. Although heavier than glass wool, mineral wool is much easier to cut, move and fit into place.

• Foam Board Insulation

Foam board insulation is an umbrella category which includes Phenolic Insulation, PIR, XPS and EPS. This is perhaps one of the most common forms of insulation available today. These boards are commonly manufactured using a solid foam core derived from Phenolic, PIR, Extruded Polystyrene (EPS) or Expanded Polystyrene (XPS). All are relatively low weight products that offer excellent impact resistance and high compressive strength however in order to achieve the required u-values this material has to be used in a large thickness. Phenolic is perhaps the thinnest insulation for a given u-value. To put this into perspective, a 40mm thick YBS SuperQuilt Insulation is equivalent to 70mm of PIR in a roof application.

• Reflective Foil Insulation

Commonly known as multi-foil insulation, reflective foil insulation is perhaps one of the lesser known and understood types of insulation. Our first experience of multi-foil insulation systems may not have been until perhaps the mid s when this started to become utilised for insulating loft conversions. Despite being less commonly known, this type of insulation provides a range of surprising benefits.

Made up of a single or multiple layers, this thin reflective insulation is a lightweight and easily installed means of increasing thermal efficiency and reducing energy bills. It consists of layers of reflective and insulating materials that allow heat to be reflected back into the room. At the same time, it works by reflecting heat back out of the room which works to keep the room comfortable in the summer months. Multi-foil insulation provides a number of benefits when used alongside traditional insulation. Not only does it help to achieve optimum u-values but it is resistant to corrosion and acts as vapour control membrane. There are also reflective foil insulations available with the added benefit of working as a breathable membrane.

Perhaps one of the most useful benefits where loft conversions are concerned is the fact that using a multi-foil insulation reduces the depth of traditional insulation required and therefore minimises spatial requirements for roofs, in turn maximising internal living space.

Loft Conversion Building Regulations

Current building regulations (Approved Document L1B) states:

• Pitched roof loft conversion target u-value must be 0.18W/m²K or lower,
• Loft ceiling target u-value must be 0.16W/m²K or lower

This equates to a thick layer of 90mm PIR between and 50mm PIR below rafters (pitched roof) or 270mm glass wool insulation (loft ceiling). By utilising a layer of YBS SuperQuilt insulation, this requirement is significantly reduced. The diagram below shows the thickness of each material required in a pitched roof application in order to maintain a target u-value of 0.18W/m²K.

As you can see, when utilising a layer of YBS SuperQuilt insulation (pitched roof) the thickness of PIR is reduced to only 70mm, thus reducing the roof space required. If you are looking for ways to meet these regulations whilst providing cost savings and additional benefits that multi-foil insulation can bring, our free and easy to use online u-value calculator will provide the most effective solution for your application.

For more information on the benefits of YBS SuperQuilt Insulation in a pitched roof or similar, visit our solutions by application pages.

If you are looking for more details, kindly visit Phenolic Insulation Board.