All loft measures include the professional lagging of pipes and tanks to Bye-law 49 standard giving peace of mind to around minus 40degs and saving the average home owner £10-15 per year.

An operation that might, on the face of it, seem simple and straightforward, even to the most able DIY enthusiast, is riddled with risk.

Contracting a qualified and accredited installer like BCA will ensure that all ventilation, cold bridging, condensation and electrical safety factors have been considered but also that all statutory water bye-laws have been complied with.

Horizontal ceilings

The most traditional form of roof space (Loft) insulation is mineral wool matt, simply rolled out over the ceiling between and over the ceiling joists. This is the most common form and current building standards require a depth of around 250mm.

The term mineral wool includes both rock or glass wool and matting is available in a range of thicknesses and forms including a sealed format where the material is wrapped in polythene or linen for occupants with allergies.

Where access is restricted or the loft size leaves the matt option unpractical, BCA’s licenses for Warmcel and Energy Saver allow roof spaces to be insulated with loose blown material delivered to the loft via hoses straight from the van.

Warmcel is a particularly “green” product being made from recycled paper.

Health & Safety

From a Health & Safety point of view, it is also worthy of note that BCA installers are used to working in the confined and awkward environment that a loft presents and are fully prepared and insured against any accidents or leaks. Given that mineral wool is an irritant, they will also be fully kitted out with all the pre-requisite personal protective equipment including masks, knee pads, gloves and coveralls and have been trained in all the other associated risks eg: birds droppings and corpses and cabling.

Complimentary Services

Lastly, BCA joiners can provide loft flooring options designed so as not to lessen the performance of the newly laid insulation in any way.

Sloping Roofs

It is vitally important that ventilation requirements are satisfied in respect to sloping roofs. To this end it is unlikely in most roofs that mineral wool can be used without putting the moisture content and long term life of the roof at risk.

A range of options from rigid board insulation between rafters to insulation backed plasterboard to thin gauge space blanket and foam configurations can be used and are offered by BCA.

BCA can advise clients on the alternative forms of insulation available providing U-value calculations to satisfy Building Control and costings for budgeting.

Where internal plasterboard finishes are required to provide a finish ready for decorating, BCA joiners can provide this option.