SERVICES

Insulation & Energy Efficiency:

Whether renovating or undertaking a new extension build, you will need to think about insulating your home correctly. Modern insulation materials are very efficient and range from high performance urethane foam to traditional sheep’s wool. The better a property is insulated, the less energy it takes to heat it up and to keep it warm. Good insulation therefore has two main benefits; it will save you money on heating bills and will also be more environmentally friendly.

The government recognises this, and has introduced new Standard Assessment Procedures (SAP) tests to calculate the energy efficiency of a new property. An energy efficiency will be a compulsory part of the Home Buyers Information Packs (HIPS) that must now be commissioned before the sale of homes with 3-bedrooms or above, so needs to be taken seriously. From their introduction in 2005, SAP ratings have become progressively more stringent and are likely to continue to do so, hence improved insulation is an important point to consider.

	Before you start, consider the following:
	The main materials used to insulate are Fibreglass quilt, mineral wool (rockwool), Sheep’s wool, expanding or extruded polystyrene, polyurethane (sprayed or injected foam), Polyisocyanurate (PIR) rigid boards, Cellulose fibres (recycled newspaper) and radiant heat barriers made up of multiple layers of reflective foil, fibre blankets and bubble wrap.
	All the above-mentioned insulates have their uses and some are more appropriate than others in certain applications.
	When considering insulation, the first place to start is the loft space, as the majority of heat is lost through poorly insulated roofs.
	Double Glazing is now the norm, but even more efficient units featuring triple glazing and gas filled units can improve insulation levels.
	Watch out for potential cold bridging, where poor insulating materials, such as window returns, wall ties and where walls and floor join, cross the shell of the property. Products such as Aircrete blocks used as part of a thin joint construction method are very good at reducing the latter.
	Solid walls on older properties can be insulated, but need to be applied correctly to avoid inadvertently creating condensation problems by sealing otherwise breathable walls.

	Our installers are converse and used to installing most makes of insulation products, but we recommend the following manufacturers, who work closely with our company:
	http://www.mgcltd.co.uk
	http://www.british-gypsum.com
	http://www.kingspan.co.uk
	http://www.jewson.co.uk

SERVICES

Insulation & Energy Efficiency:

Before you start, consider the following:

All the above-mentioned insulates have their uses and some are more appropriate than others in certain applications.

When considering insulation, the first place to start is the loft space, as the majority of heat is lost through poorly insulated roofs.

Double Glazing is now the norm, but even more efficient units featuring triple glazing and gas filled units can improve insulation levels.

Watch out for potential cold bridging, where poor insulating materials, such as window returns, wall ties and where walls and floor join, cross the shell of the property. Products such as Aircrete blocks used as part of a thin joint construction method are very good at reducing the latter.

Solid walls on older properties can be insulated, but need to be applied correctly to avoid inadvertently creating condensation problems by sealing otherwise breathable walls.

Our installers are converse and used to installing most makes of insulation products, but we recommend the following manufacturers, who work closely with our company:

http://www.mgcltd.co.uk

http://www.british-gypsum.com

http://www.kingspan.co.uk

http://www.jewson.co.uk