How to Install Loose-Fit Insulation

If you want to stay warm in your home during the cooler months and be comfortable in your home year round you should think of installing loose-fit insulation. Installation is not difficult to do if you follow the right procedure.

The first thing you should do is thoroughly clean and dust the gaps that are in between the joints and check the ceiling that is below. You need to seal any gaps that are in the ceiling, as it is an easier job to do this from above the ceiling. You should also seal around pipes and cables that are running through the ceiling. The best things to use for doing this are either a purpose built sealant, like expanding foam, or scrunched up pieces of newspaper that has decorating filler over the top.

Prepare the joists

If there are any gaps in the joists that are under the eaves they need to be sealed in order to keep the material in the loft space. The easiest way to accomplish this is to screw the lengths of the plywood to the ends of the joists so it will stopper the end of the gaps in the joists. You can also purchase insulation retaining products from many building merchants and hardware stores. Most ceiling joists are 4-6 inches, and because of this in order to get the necessary 8 inches of insulation, the joists will have the have to be raised. To do this just nail the appropriate size strips of wood down the length of each of the joists.

Ventilation

The loft space has to have adequate ventilation in order to make sure that condensation does not create a dampening problem. If you are able to see any daylight near the eaves or in between any of the slates then ventilation will not be an issue. If not, then insulation must be added. A slot of ventilation that runs the length of the eaves that is 3/8“ in length is adequate.

The Procedure for laying the Insulation

Loose-fill insulation is poured into the spacing that is in between the joists to the depth that is required. To reach the space under the eaves you can use a garden hoe or some contraption that is similar with a broom type handle.

Obstacles that are in the Loft

You should always feed the insulation under electrical cables and when you do this be careful not to stretch the cables. You should also feed insulation under roof members that go across the joists. Make sure not to insulate under any cold water tank as they must be insulated separately to avoid the build up of condensation. If there are any pipes or electrical cables that are running between the joists make sure not to cover them with any material.

The Loft Hatch

To insulate the top of the loft hatch the best way is to put a suitable sized piece of rolled matting insulation into a black bin liner. After you roll it, place it onto the hatch as this will make sure that it correctly fits and does not come loose with any movement and make it easier to handle when you use the loft space. The last thing to do is to make sure that the hatch cover correctly fits. You need to see if the edges will be letting out any heat. If it does not fit correctly you need to make sure to fill the gaps by so heat is not let out.

Author: Jason Green