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A well-insulated home is warmer in winter, cooler in summer, healthier, cheaper and more environmentally friendly.
Independent insulation advice for UK homes.
Practical engineering-led advice on insulating Victorian, Edwardian and modern homes - including wall insulation, lofts and floors, and how to avoid problems like moisture and condensation.
Written by engineers, not insulation manufacturers.
Insulation Checklist
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You can draughtproof your home yourself for very little money. Before undertaking the more complex tasks below we always recommend this as a first step.
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Most people can save energy just by adjusting their heating controls. If you have an older boiler it might be worth upgrading to a newer, energy efficient one. Installing a modern heat pump might also be worthwhile, but be very careful if your home isn’t already well-insulated.
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If you have an accessible attic then installing loft insulation is a relatively easy job that can be done by a competent DIY-er. Even if you already have loft insulation it’s often worth upgrading it (300mm thickness is recommended) before embarking on other more expensive insulation projects. Click here for step-by step instructions on installing loft insulation.
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Many homes have suspended timber floors which can be cold and draughty. Installing floor insulation beneath can control the draughts while keeping your floors comfortably warm underfoot.
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The walls are usually the largest part of your home by surface area, so adding wall insulation will have a huge effect. Unfortunately, walls are usually the most complicated part of the home to insulate. You can either install insulation in the wall cavity, on the outside of the walls (external wall insulation) or inside the rooms (internal wall insulation). Each option has its benefits and drawbacks so please think carefully and feel free to contact us if you aren’t sure.
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Insulated doors and double-glazed windows will improve your energy efficiency. However, if you’ve already draught-proofed then the difference will be small compared to the significant cost of the work. We’d recommend the other measures above in preference to doors and windows, unless you’re suffering problems with condensation, which double-glazing will help with.