Tradepoint: How to install loft insulation

The clocks go back soon, and as the nights draw in and the mercury falls, its a good time to ensure your loft insulation is in good condition.

This blog from our partners at Tradepoint (B&Q) offers a step by step guide on how to install loft insultation, if you decide to do the job yourself.

Measure

The first thing you need to do is use a loft board to safely kneel or stand on.

Then, you’ll need to take a tape measure and accurately calculate the amount of insulation you will need. Top tip: Divide the loft area by the roll area to work out the number of rolls you require.

Make sure you’re wearing safety gear

Pop on your safety gear before handling insulation material, this includes a mask, goggles, knee pads, cut resistant gloves and also coveralls to protect yourself.

Then you can get started!

Measure the width between the joists in the loft. You can then mark the width on the packaging of the rolls of insulation.

Then, use a handsaw to cut the roll of insulation to size (for one joist, as mentioned above). Keep the insulation in its packaging while you do this. A utility knife can then be used to remove the insulation from the packaging.

To install, you’ll want to start furthest from the loft hatch, and carefully roll the insulation you have measured between the joists.

Leave gaps for airflow

The insulation should be flush with the top of the joists. A 50mm gap should be left on all external edges to allow for airflow.

Continue to repeat these steps, filling in each joist with insulation, leaving the loft hatch until last.

Once the first layer of insultation is on it’s time to add a second layer. Again, it’s best to work from the edges inwards.

Watch how to add the second layer of insultation, and a video demonstration of the above steps, in this video.