P & R Building Supplies' Insulation Materials – The Advantages of Each!

11 November 2022

P&R Building Supplies Insulation Materials – The Advantages of Each

Insulation such as warm roof insulation, plays a huge role in keeping your house warm in the winter and cooler in the summer. Not only this, but loft insulation rolls pay for themselves in a year’s time if installed on your own, or in two to three years’ time when installed by a loft insulation installer.

Furthermore, loft insulation is very easy to install with minimal disruption. This is relatively easy to do without any external help. Research has found that doing this can not only cut energy bills, but it can also improve health. As well, research shows that the UK has some of the coldest and costliest homes in Europe; there are 9,000 energy crisis hotspots across England and Wales. Therefore, using insulation can lower energy bills, thus saving money.

Here at P&R Building Supplies we have insulation supplies to meet your every need. These products will now be discussed in more detail explaining more about them, and what situations you should consider each product for.                                             

Fibreglass Loft Insulation

This material is a man-made glass fibre insulation, it was developed for use in homes in the 1930s.

The Advantages of Fibreglass Insulation:

It is fireproof insulation. Therefore, it is a great option for walls running between homes.

As mentioned earlier insulation is normally easy to install by yourself, the fibreglass insulation is no exception.

You can save by 40-50% on energy bills by installing fibreglass.

It is often made from recycled glass; therefore, it is good for the environment, as it is recycled insulation. With the                      government setting the target of being net zero by 2050, this is a great material to facilitate that goal.

Insulated Cavity Closers

Cavity Closers play an integral part in ensuring that ingress does not occur, preventing damp and mould getting around the frame.

Insulated Cavity Closer Pros:

• As mentioned, Insulated Cavity Closers prevents water penetration in compliance with building regulation’s part c. To do this the frames of windows should be set back to a minimum of 30mm into the cavity and to seal with a recognised sealant around the frame.
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• Prevents heat loss and cold penetration – cold bridging is avoided with cavity closers.
• Insulated cavity closers also mitigate thermal loss that occurs due to unprotected cavities and reveals.
• Thermal loss can also result in condensation, staining and mould growth leading to paint work and internal plaster deteriorating.

A cavity closer should be used to comply with part b building regulations. This can prevent fires from spreading for up to          an hour.

Here at P&R Building Supplies we supply high-quality and effective insulated cavity closers to cater for your needs.

Vermiculate

This material is a pebble like pour-in insulation – it is essentially a loose fill insulation.

Caution

Between 1919-1990 asbestos was found in the mines. This meant that vermiculate from these mines were contaminated with asbestos. If you have Vermiculate in your home, you should assume the material is contaminated with asbestos and look at ways to protect yourself and your family from exposure to asbestos.

Vermiculate Insulation Pros:

• This type of insulation can be poured into small or difficult areas that other insulation cannot reach.
• Vermiculate can also be used within cavities and voids inside a house, such as those between floors and under stairs.
• It can also be used for acoustic insulation within internal walls.
• This can be used to top up existing insulation e.g., pouring it over loft insulation, helping to plug gaps and increase heat retention.

Multi-Layer Foil Insulation

This reflective foil insulation comprises of reflective films scattered with insulating sections, made from wadding.

Pros of Multi-Layer Foil Insulation

• Can be used anywhere and combined with other insulation.
• The reflective layers on the insulation cause airtightness, helping to prevent condensation.
• Unlike some insulations, multifoil insulation can control all three types of thermal heat transfer: conduction, convection, and radiation.
• Alternatively, these surfaces reflect heat back thus keeping buildings warm during the winter.
• These surfaces control the amount of heat entering the building, helping cool down buildings in the summer.

This insulation is not only found in lofts; it has also been used for loft extension insulation, barn conversions and it has              even been used by NASA to insulate spacecrafts!

Polystyrene Floor Insulation

Expanded polystyrene sheets is one of the best floor insulation materials and they are easy to install.

The Benefits of This Product:

• It is used for domestic and commercial use.
• It is environmentally friendly, left-over polystyrene can be recycled.  
• It does not mould and is resistant to moisture and condensation.
• Ability to exceed current building regulations. It is easy to work with and install.
• It is relatively inexpensive to install.
• It is easy to separate, it is responsible for time savings in many installations.
• Polystyrene floor insulation can retain heat for longer – poorly or uninsulated flooring can lose 10% or more of a buildings heat.
• This material does not cause skin irritation, like is the case with other insulation.
• It has a board-like configuration, preventing it from falling over time.

Do you have a query about any of the insulation products we have discussed? Feel free to contact us to make your house warmer this winter!