Installing home insulation can save you a considerable amount of money in energy bills, especially if you happen to live in a cold place like Glasgow and Edinburgh. There are two major types of insulation Scottish homeowners can go for – Underfloor Insulation and Loft Insulation.
Underfloor Insulation
Since most of the Scottish homes have wooden floors, it’s easy to retrofit your home with underfloor insulation. Installers can reach the entire house from an access hatch, already existing in your home, usually in a cupboard. However, you should have a gap of at least 600 mm (24 inches) between the ground and the floor, so that installers get enough space to effectively carry out their work.
Underfloor insulation offers the following benefits, among others:
- It saves you up to 15 percent on the home heating cost.
- It keeps your home warmer by 2-3 degrees.
- Since it cuts energy consumption, you are helping to reduce the carbon footprint.
- It improves your Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) rating.
- Installation is cheap and affordable.
- It can be done without creating any mess.
There are a variety of underfloor insulation options you can choose from. Consult an experienced professional to find out what insulation material is suitable for your property. Following are some of the popular underfloor insulation solutions used in Scotland:
- 50 to 200 mm of rigid PIR boards (Kingspan and other brands)
- 100 to 150 mm of mineral wool (e.g. Earthwool)
- 100 to 150 mm of recycled glass wool, commonly known as Superglass)
- 4 mm of YBS or aluminium bubble foil
- Silver foil insulation
- Pure sheep wool in various thicknesses
Loft Insulation
Despite free loft insulation grant offered by the government, several Scottish homes haven’t installed any insulation yet. As your property gets older, your loft insulation becomes less efficient and you start losing heat through the roof. Having effective loft insulation can save you up to 25 percent on heating cost.
There are various makes of loft insulation material available in the market including Celotex, Kingspan, Superglass, and Isover. Irrespective of the material being used, consider increasing the insulation to up to 400 mm thickness. This will keep you on the safer side of being eligible for Home Energy Efficiency Program for Scotland (HEEPS) loans.
Once you have increased your loft insulation, make sure you do not store anything on the insulated loft since that would make the insulation less effective. Storing on top of the loft insulation can also be dangerous because it can cover the lights, overheat the area, and cause fire.
If you are unsure whether you would be eligible for free loft insulation or are confused regarding suitable underfloor insulation for your home, it’s always advisable to consult a professional and get your home assessed.
