| Archive for Downsizer For an ethical approach to consumption |
| Mutton |
Loft and ceiling insulationAdding loft more loft insulation in our modern house is a total pain - it is a modern roofspace with lots of cross joists.We were wondering about buying some of the foil backed foam board you see advertised for adding to the underside of tiles, and instead screwing it to the ceiling inside the house, then painting over it. Wondered if anyone else had done that? Also - seen a discussion on a different forum about how wind can reduce the effectiveness of traditional loft insulation, and how you are better boarding over the top of it. This would get round all of that. |
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| goosey |
Don't know about the wind etc mutton, but I,ve promised myself that one day I'm going to use sheep's wool insulation . You can see it (and other goodies) at www.ecofreak.co.uk
I think it's a crime that our wool industry is dead, and want to do summat to help use uk wool. They use hill sheep wool. Hope you sort out your current problem though, and someone will advise you better than me. 
ETA: It's called Thermafleece. You can key in the search box. |
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| Behemoth |
what sort of board do you mean, the rigid foam boards, kingspan type of thing? If so, their finish isn't very good and you'd need to plaster board over the top. You can buy plasterboard with various depths of insulation on the back. | ||
| theswampster |
Recently redid the insulation in my loft, got some from wickes - 170mm thick and precut to suit most joist spacings - it's hot and cramped but dosent take as long as you think - I did the whole roof space by myself in about 3 hours. the solid boards are a lot more work than the stuff on the roll. Once you have put down one layer then just layer another on top. Make sure that you leave an airway under the eaves. I've been amazed at the difference it made - its got 340mm over most of it now - about 3 times what used to be there (I removed the old insulation as pigeons had been roosting in the loft at some point in time. | ||
| RichardW |
The one from BlackMountain is much cheaper for the same thing. |
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| 12Bore |
'Scuse me for going a bit off topic, but I've often wondered why builders don't insulate the cavity between the ground floor ceiling and the first floor floor? Ok so they may have to work around pipework etc, but surely it would be of some benefit? 
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| vegplot |
There's a of insulation material that's made of hemp. It looks like the sheep wool variety and is marketed by www.ecologicalbuildingsystems.com. It has a claimed thermal conductivity about the same as sheeps wool, I don't know if it has any cost advantage and I assume it's imported. | ||
| RichardW |
Its worse than that. From what I found its grown here then shipped to France & then processed there then shipped back. I think its dearer as well. |
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| Behemoth |
I thought there was a place in Ipswich that produced it? | ||
| ninat |
We had about 4" of insulation in our loft and last winter got a really good deal through the council even though it's not a council house.
It was much cheaper than DIY which i had costed out. 2 guys came and did the whole thing in 2 hrs- did a really good job and the difference is HUGE. When the bill came through it was less than what we has been quoted. Would have loved to have used the wool stuff but too expensive. The government is keen for people to have good insulation so may be worth contacting your local authority. |
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| Slim |
What benefit would it be? Personally, I'd prefer my second floor to be almost as warm as my first floor. (ground floor British = first floor American, right?) 
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| Mutton |
Not knowing what temperatures you are talking about, but I like bedrooms at about 60F maximum, sitting room 65F to 75F (aiming for 70F but sometimes the gales drive the multifuel stove a bit, or we can't be bothered to light it).
We're in a bungalow and have subdivided into temperature zones with heavy curtains in the hall, so we don't heat the bedrooms much. In a more than one storey house, then it depends on what you are using the upper floor for - purely sleeping or a study room as well? If sleeping then I think a little heating getting up and going to bed time is nice, and don't bother in between. Insulating the floor/ceiling will ensure that heat stays downstairs in the rooms you are occupying during the day. House a friend owned from 1950s, when he was selling it, the buyers surveyor lifted upstairs floorboards and threw a total wobbly as there were woodshavings packed in the cavity, presumably as either sound or heat insulation and they had to knock a bit off the price to allow vacuuming out of the fire hazard. |