Insulation

It is best to start your home’s energy upgrade by insulating it against heat loss. A properly insulated home will increase your comfort levels and reduce your heating bills.

Did you know?

  • You can save up to €600 per year on heating bills by insulating the attic and walls of your home properly.
  • A home can lose up to 30% of its heat through poorly insulated roofs and walls
  • A home can lose up to 10% of its heat through poorly performing windows, doors and uninsulated floors
  • A well insulated home will need good ventilation.

Attic insulation

As heat rises, up to 30% of your home’s heat can be lost through your roof. Insulating your attic space reduces heat loss by keeping the heat in the rooms below the ceiling.

If you have an attic, your contractor will roll a thick layer of insulating material over its floor. They will insulate the water tank and pipework and provide a walkway and ventilation. It is also possible to insulate sloping ceilings or flat roofs. Proper attic ventilation is very important to reduce the risk of condensation build up. This can reduce the effectiveness of your insulation and cause damage to your roof structure.

Wall insulation

Up to 30% of your home’s heat can be lost through your external walls. Insulating the walls will reduce this heat loss. You will need additional internal ventilation as part of this work. There are three ways to insulate your walls; cavity, external and internal. Your contractor will discuss the best method with you before the work begins.

Cavity Wall Insulation

If your home has cavity walls that are not insulated then cavity wall insulation is a cost-effective way to reduce heat loss. Your contractor will drill a series of small holes in the external walls and pump insulation into the cavity. They then fill in the holes so that they match the rest of the wall.

External Wall Insulation

If you have solid block or concrete walls with no cavity, your contractor may recommend external wall insulation. They may do this in combination with with cavity wall insulation. Your contractor will:

  • wrap a layer of rigid insulation around your home
  • fix it to the walls
  • embed mesh in it to provide strength
  • cover it in a render to provide weather resistance
Internal Insulation

Internal wall insulation is sometimes called dry lining. It is an option when external insulation is not possible (for protected structures) or is not the best solution.

Internal insulation involves fixing insulation boards to the inside of the external walls. They are then covered with a vapour control layer, plasterboard, skim and new paint. You will lose some space in the rooms because the boards are added to the inner side of the walls.