Loft insulation

Loft insulation - what's it all about?

It's never been more important to think about insulating your loft. Without proper insulation a lot of the valuable, expensive energy you use to heat your home will be lost through the loft. The recommended depth for mineral wool insulation is 270mm however there are other materials which require different depths.

• Why insulate your loft?
• What could you save?
• Could loft insulation work for your home?
• How do you insulate a loft?
• Where can you go for more advice?

Why insulate your loft?

Loft insulation is an effective way to save energy and money at home. A well insulated house keeps warmth exactly where you need it - indoors.

So, insulating your loft - or topping up any insulation you have already - will help to heat your home more efficiently. Using less energy reduces carbon dioxide emissions (CO₂): one of the biggest causes of climate change. You will also save money on your bills too.

How does loft insulation work?

What could you save?

These are estimated figures based on insulating a gas-heated, semi-detached home with three bedrooms.

Loft insulation is effective for at least 40 years, and it will pay for itself over and over again in that time. The better insulated your home, the less energy you need to keep it warm - the more money you'll save in the long run.

By saving energy, your household will produce less CO₂. So, adding or topping up your loft insulation is a great way to do your bit - and reduce your impact on the environment. Plus, to save money on a professional installation, you can even do it yourself.

There are grants and offers available to help pay for loft insulation - you can search our grants and offers database to see what's available or call your local advice centre free on 0800 512 012, they'll be happy to help.

Could loft insulation work for your home?

Generally speaking, your home will be a perfect candidate for loft insulation if it has an accessible loft with no damp or condensation problems.

For lofts with difficult access, blown insulation can be used however this must be installed by an installer.

Find out what to do if you have a damp loft or a flat roof

Did you know?

If everyone in the UK installed 270mm loft insulation, we could save around £520 million and nearly three million tonnes of CO₂ every year. That's enough to fill Wembley Stadium nearly 380 times.

How do you insulate a loft?

The good news is that insulating your loft with loft insulation blankets, often referred to as `quilts' can be a pretty straightforward job for either an installer or a competent `DIY-er'. It needs to be done to a high standard to avoid unnecessary wastage so if you don't feel sufficiently confident that you can do it yourself you should call an installer.

Another type of loft insulation, blown insulation, must be installed by a professional. An installer will typically take just a few hours and may use specialist equipment which blows loose, fire-retardant insulation material into the loft.

For DIY jobs, quilts should be used which can be laid over the loft's area.

If you'd like to use your loft for living space, then you could look at insulating the roof of the loft instead. This is usually done by insulating between the roof rafters using rigid insulation boards.

Find out all about installation: what to install, how it is installed it - and how a grant or offer could help with the costs.

Where can you go for more advice?

Call your local Energy Saving Trust advice centre on 0800 512 012 for free, impartial, one-to-one advice on saving energy at home.

If you are interested to know more about insulating your loft our advisors will be able to recommend the most appropriate options for you. They can also explain any technical issues and can put you in touch with local, an installer.

They can even tell you about any grants and offers available for loft insulation. So, it pays to call freephone 0800 512 012.

Find out more about loft insulation

• How does loft insulation work?
• What makes a home suitable for insulation?
• All about installing loft insulation

Saving assumptions