Don't leave gaps between segments as this will make it difficult to achieve the R-value you want.
Pricewise Insulation stocks three major residential roof insulation brands including Knauf Earthwool, Autex Greenstuf and Bradford Insulation. Our reputation is built on reliability and competitive pricing.
While in theory it is possible for one person to retrofit a ceiling by themselves, it is definitely recommended to tackle it with the help of another person. Installing insulation roof segments in existing roof spaces is tough work, and it's not just the installing that can be difficult. You also have to plan how you are going to get your insulation bags into the ceiling.
The average ceiling insulation bag is 1.2 metres long and weighs between 8 and 18kgs. Typically, manholes are not much bigger than the bag itself, so loading the bags into the ceiling is almost always a two-person job. If the manhole is not big enough for an unopened bag to fit through, you may have to split the bags open and pass the segments one by one into the ceiling, which is very time consuming. If your roof is tiled you may be able to load the bags through the roof, but make sure you take safety measures to secure yourself against falls.
Why install roof insulation in your ceiling space?
We once conducted an experiment with roof insulation – installing Earthwool ceiling insulation above a commercial office ceiling over all the ceiling tiles, but leaving one tile un-insulated. This was an office which typically got very hot in summer, thanks to the metal roof immediately above it and the absence of any roof sarking. The effect of the roof insulation was immediately noticeable in that the wall mounted split system air-conditioner which had been installed some months earlier, was now able to cool the entire office without any trouble.
The most striking thing to notice though, was how easy it was to identify which ceiling tile was the un-insulated one, simply by touch. While the insulation which had been installed was only a standard R3.0, the insulated tiles were cool to touch on a hot day, whereas the lone, un-insulated ceiling tile was very warm to touch.
Roof insulation makes an enormous difference to the indoor temperature control and is the best investment you can make to ensure year round savings on your electricity bills. Never compress roof insulation to make it fit into a cavity which is less than the recommended thickness of the insulation itself. This is counterproductive, and will actually reduce the performance of the insulating material. Rather install a thinner insulation roof segment with a lower R-Value, or consider installing Hi-Density thermal and acoustic segments in the areas where space is an issue.
The below diagram shows Winter heat losses in a home without insulation. Between 25% and 35% of heat is lost through the ceiling, higher than any other area of the home. A further 15% to 25% of heat is lost through the walls, leading to high heating bills.
The below diagram shows Summer heat gains in a home without insulation. Installing thermal insulation in the walls, ceilings and underfloor would help to keep the home cooler in hot weather and reduce the reliance on air-conditioning systems.
Our New Zealand warehouses are stocked to the roof with the best ceiling insulation. We cannot stress the importance of ceiling insulation in any new building or renovation project enough. There is a direct link between properly installed insulation in the ceiling space and the amount of energy required to heat or cool the building. As such, the ceiling insulation cost should not be considered an "expense", but rather an energy saving investment for the home owner or tenants. Types of ceiling insulation vary, but they all perform the same fundamental purpose: restricting the heat generated by and through the exposed roof surface from passing down into the rooms below the ceiling.
Most new houses are required to include a minimum standard of ceiling insulation in order to comply with environmental energy savings standards. We usually advise our customers to view this as a bare minimum. Upgrade to at least a slightly higher R-Value than the ceiling insulation R-Rating specified on the energy report and enjoy the savings on your bills every year.