Tell me about the thrilling world of LOFT INSULATION

[Quodlibet]

So we have just bought a Victorian top floor maisonette which has no insulation at all, so this is one of the first jobs we will be doing.

I remember reading a thread on here where Pigletjohn and others recommended a particular type of insulation that wasn't the fibreglass stuff you get covered in. Unfortunately now despite searching I can't find the thread!

Can anyone send me in the right direction? We want to do it quite economically as the plan is to convert the loft in a couple of years, at which point the insulation would most likely be redone.

mineral wool made by Knauf and treated with Ecose which prevents it shedding dust and fibres. It is brown not yellow.

Sometimes it is branded with the retailer chain name, but will always say "Ecose" on the wrapper. I think Wickes do it.

sweep and hoover the loft before you start as it will be very dirty.

Thank you!

I think this is the stuff we just used. I would still wear gloves and a decorating mask though. I tried wearing eye goggles too and they just got steamed up!

We found it quite easy to cut with a bread knife.

if you enlarge the picture you can just make out the word Ecose.

I have an idea that B&Q were more expensive.

The space blanket stuff with the shiny envelope looks like it should be better, but isn't. It tears and is itchy yellow inside.

At this time of year you might find merchants running down their stocks and cutting prices.

yes, the B&Q version is more expensive, and shorter.

Ok, so dim question number 2: on the packet for the Wickes stuff it says 'top layer'. Does this mean I have to use something else cut up between the joists before rolling this on top, or can I use just this stuff?

You can use this between the joists. I think the recommendation now is to go for 300mm total so you may want to put another 100mm thick roll over the top running at 90 degrees.

the big rolls come pre-perforated. You cut the first layer to size (usually 400mm or 600mm) with your breadknife to fit between the timbers. The thickness should be about the same as the timber depth, usually about 100mm. Then you unroll the next layer, at right angles to the first, uncut, over the top,

You want a total thickness of about 300mm, so 100mm between the timbers and 200mm over the top. Or two at 150mm. You will not be able to walk on it as the timbers will be swamped and hidden under the top layer.

So given that I plan to put some loft boards down to use one bit as storage, I need to buy one lot of 100mm to cover the entire loft area between timbers, and another lot of 200m to cover, say 80% of the area that I'm not going to loft board? Plus loft boards for the 20%.

you could also counterbatten the storage area by fixing additional joists to the existing ceiling joists, but at right angles. Put the second layer of insulation between them and the boards on top. There should be an airgap under the boards.

You can also put rigid foam insulation boards on the existing ceiling joists, and your flooring on top of that. It is quite expensive. There may be a display in your DIY shed.