Introduction

Minimal skills are needed. Follow the fixing instructions provided by the manufacturer of the product you are using.

When working in a dusty loft space, wear protective clothing - overalls, gloves, eye protectors and face mask. Lay planks across the joists to make a safe walkway.

When you insulate your home, you reduce the rate at which heat is lost through the roof, walls, floors, windows and doors. Less heat has to be produced to keep rooms at the required temperature, heating bills will be reduced and you will conserve energy. It is easy to see the dramatic reductions in heat loss that can be made by insulation (1).

Draughtproofing doors and windows not only saves money but makes your home much more comfortable too. The minimum recommended level of insulation thickness for lofts is 200mm (8in), but it is common to find as little as 25mm (1in) laid between the joists on the loft floor. Existing insulation can be topped-up to give a greater thickness. Although it may appear expensive to insulate your home to this degree, eventually the money you spend on insulation materials will be recovered in savings on your heating bills, and everything saved after that will be complete profit.