Loft insulation top-up in Sidmouth

Good to Know

**Current standards**: Building regulations recommend 270mm depth for energy efficiency. Older homes often have 100mm or less from when standards were lower. **Energy savings**: Proper loft insulation can save £200-350/year on heating bills for an average home. Payback period is typically 2-4 years. **EPC rating**: Adding loft insulation improves your Energy Performance Certificate rating, which helps if selling or renting the property. **Grants available**: Sometimes government schemes offer grants for loft insulation, especially for low-income households or certain property types. Worth checking current schemes. **Ventilation crucial**: Lofts need airflow to prevent condensation. We maintain eaves ventilation and never block it with insulation. **Recessed lights**: Downlights poking into loft spaces can't be covered with insulation - they overheat. Need special hoods or replacement with insulation-safe models. **Pipes and tanks**: Insulate under water tanks (not over - you want warmth from below to prevent freezing). Lag pipes separately with pipe insulation. **Boarding over insulation**: Compressing insulation reduces effectiveness. Use loft legs (stilts) to raise boarding above insulation depth if you need storage space. **Itchy fibreglass**: Mineral wool insulation makes you itch during installation. Wear long sleeves, gloves, and don't touch your face. Shower immediately after to remove fibres. **Access requirements**: Loft hatch needs to be big enough to get insulation rolls through (they compress). Very small hatches are difficult to work through. **Roof condition**: If you have roof leaks or damp issues, sort those first. Adding insulation to a leaking roof traps moisture and causes problems. **Types to avoid**: Don't use expanded polystyrene beads (they shift and are a fire risk) or loose-fill without professional equipment (uneven coverage).