Make Your Home Comfortable This Winter with Thermal Insulation

As dark nights and mornings start to take over and the winter chill settles in, you may notice that snow and frost has started to settle on some roofs but not others.

This can be a sign that roof space isn't well insulated and therefore heat can escape through the loft, with a simple solution being to ensure that loft insulation is installed correctly.

It's not just the roof that you need to think about, the rest of the house is also important. We are all familiar with facing challenges of achieving comfort in winter, especially during this cost of living crisis. A lot of us will face low temperatures in rooms, cold internal surfaces, low thermal comfort and unwanted cold draughts. These combined with condensation, humidity, bad indoor air quality and increased heating costs create a highly expensive, unhappy and unhealthy winter for those suffering.

It's highly important to ensure that internal surfaces are kept warm and to limit heat loss as much as possible. You can find options for electric heaters that are cheap to run here.

As winter causes external temperatures to be lower than those indoors, the whole building envelope needs to have good thermal insulation – and good glazing if possible – to prevent heat leaking through walls, roofs and floors. For example, an uninsulated house can lose up to 60% of heat through external walls, doors and windows and up to 30% through roofs.

We understand that it can be a huge cost initially, but improving the thermal characteristics of a building, following a clear sequence of measures, starting with the airtight installation of modern windows and doors followed by the professional installation of thermal insulation on external walls and around windows, really will benefit you long term and keep costs down. 

Good thermal insulation on the external side of walls, supported by heavier building material layers on the inside will achieve the most stable indoor temperatures. These measures should be followed by the installation of thermal insulation in the roof or loft and then insulation in the ground floor or basement ceiling if applicable. As a general rule, external wall insulation should be thicker than basement ceiling insulation and roof or loft insulation thicker than that of the walls.

To learn more about how insulation can make your home more comfortable, not just in the winter months, continue reading.

When talking about insulation and comfort, many people think of the regulation of a building’s temperature – helping to keep it warm in the winter months and cool in the summer.

How does insulation work for comfort?
Insulating areas in a building where there could be potential air leaks helps to prevent uncontrolled condensation, and it is also a cost-effective way to cut heating and cooling costs. Air leakage contributes to moisture problems and condensation can develop into mould, spores, mildew or microbial organic compounds that can affect occupants’ health and the structure’s durability. According to the NHS, this can lead to respiratory problems, such as asthma, or even affect your immune system.

Therefore, a well-insulated, airtight building improves comfort and creates a healthier indoor environment, providing the insulation is installed correctly and it is combined with a controlled ventilation system to maintain air quality.

Where should I insulate my home?
It is important to insulate all elements of a building’s external fabric to prevent air leaks and condensation from occurring.