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surveyor is saying that loft insulation is 'a bit too thin' - should I worry?

6 replies

beaglesaresweet · 29/04/2014 11:54

It's a dry loft conversion that didn't feel cold at all when I visited during colder weather. But I didn't inspect whether radiators were on (or for how long) so possibly got the incorrect impression. It looked meat and solid compared with other ones I've seen, but yes, quite thin in proportion to house size. there are two smallish rooms there and a small shower room. Windows velux, double-glazed. Work done after 2005.

Vendor says it's insulated with 'modern foil sheets' (or foil-backed). It doesn't look thick but he was saying how good it was.
Surveyor saying that it's on the thin side and would cost a lot to make it thicker. Another headache, in other words!

I can't see why he has a problem - something about house possibly losing heat - but surely even with any modern conversion it would lose less heat than with unconverted roof? It's a period semi- (c1910) btw.

Also you can close the fire-proof door into the loft (won't be using it much, mainly for storage or occasional extra guest) which will probably stop the house lose more heat when very cold? I'm a novice with lofts as only lived in flats before.

Thanks for reading!

OP posts:
beaglesaresweet · 29/04/2014 11:54

*neat and solid

OP posts:
beaglesaresweet · 29/04/2014 11:58

Also, hypothetically - could you just add more insulation and plaster to the slopey ceiling, if you wanted to? Or would you have to rip out the existing plaster?

OP posts:
strongandlong · 29/04/2014 12:01

Does it have building regs approval? If so, it must be insulated to the minimum specified in the regs at the time it was built.

If you're not planning to use it much and you keep the door closed (and can turn the heating off up there) then I wouldn't worry about it.

Actually I probably wouldn't worry anyway...

oldiebutnctoday · 29/04/2014 12:04

Agree with comment re building regs above. Are the rooms in current use by the vendors? If so could you ask them to show you their heating bills for the last year (I'm not sure if that's allowed mind) it wouldnt worry me unless it felt cold in there I don't think, esp if you won't use it much. Good luck op.

HolidayCriminal · 29/04/2014 12:15

Closing loft hatch isn't enough to stop losing too much heat. You can easily live with poor/thin insulation, but you save a lot of money on heating if it's up to the recommended value (30 cm now?). I'd want more specifics on just how much the work might cost and why. Are the walls insulated?

PigletJohn · 29/04/2014 12:43

how thick is it?

does the loft conversion have Building Regulations approval? Have you seen the evidence?

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