How insulation works
I’ve got a skillion roof with no ceiling cavity, what options do I have for installing insulation?
Installing insulation in a skillion roof is similar to installing insulation in a wall and will noticeably reduce the amount of heat transferred through your skillion roof. Most people use wall insulation in skillion roofs as there is limited space. ...
What is the best underfloor insulation?
• There are two main types of insulation – bulk insulation and reflective foil insulation. • Extruded or expanded polystyrene insulation boards can be used in underfloor insulation. This type of insulation can also be combined with reflective foil ...
Are there certain types that have a better carbon footprint?
If you’re concerned about your insulation’s environmental impact, look for materials that are made from recycled materials such as glass wool (often made from recycled glass), polyester products (often made from recycled plastic bottles) and natural ...
Is insulation an environmentally safe/sustainable product?
If you’re concerned about your insulation’s environmental impact, look for materials that are made from recycled materials such as glass wool (often made from recycled glass) and polyester products (often made from recycled plastic bottles). These ...
How do I know if I need insulation?
There’s an 80% chance that your insulation is not adequate. Unfortunately, effective insulation is very unlikely in Australian homes. To determine if your home needs more insulation, ask these questions: Was My Home Built Before 2000? - 80-90% of ...
What type of insulation is installed for underfloor insulation?
Floors are usually insulated with polyester batts or polystyrene boards.
I don’t have access to my roof space, is it still possible to install insulation?
Yes. • If your roof space is hard to access, you can have blown insulation installed by a professional, who will use specialist equipment to blow appropriate insulation material into any awkward space. They may use mineral wool fibre, treated ...
If my house is not on stumps, is it possible to install underfloor insulation?
Certain types of insulation - like thermal breaks in a concrete slab - will need to be done during the construction of the house and can't be done thereafter. In general, retrofitting insulation to a slab floor is a difficult proposition (if it's ...
My house is double brick, do I need to put in wall insulation? Is it possible to do?
Double-brick homes have lots of gaps where air can escape, such as decorative vents. The most effective option for insulating double-brick walls is to use a pump-in loose-fill wall insulation. This product is installed by drilling holes in the wall ...
Is it possible to add wall insulation without doing a renovation or removing any walls?
Yes. Insulation can be pumped into the walls. Small holes are drilled by specialist contractors and the insulation material is pumped into the walls.
What does reflective foil on insulation do?
Foil insulation is a radiant barrier, and it works by reflecting heat from the foil surface, but for it to do its job, there has to be a layer of air between the roofing and the foil. Some types of metal roofing are shaped to create this air space, ...
Does insulation help during both winter and summer?
Yes - Insulation prevents heat loss by slowing down heat loss in winter and heat gains in summer.
Can insulation move around, and does it need to be readjusted at all?
Insulation is often displaced by home contractors such as electricians, so you may not be aware of any gaps until you either check your home’s insulation yourself or have a qualified professional do so for you. Just a tiny 5% gap in your ceiling’s ...
I have insulation in my house, how do I know if it is doing its job or needs replacing?
Ceiling - Obtain a ruler and go through the manhole of your ceiling to look at the ceiling insulation. Even if your insulation looks tidy, look carefully for small gaps and disturbed insulation that looks out of position. Signs that you need more ...
Does the colour or type of roof affect the thickness of insulation I should get?
Yes, the darker the roof the higher the recommended minimum R-Value Climate Zone 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 Ceiling insulation for homes with very light coloured roofs R4.1 R4.1 R4.1 R4.1 R4.1 R4.1 R4.1 R6.3 Ceiling insulation for homes with light coloured ...
What does climate zones have to do with the thickness/type of insulation I choose?
In each climate zone, the Building Code of Australia has determined a minimum amount of needed insulation expressed in R-value (the efficiency of a material at stopping heat flow through it.) This is the Building Code’s recommended amount of ...
Can vermin or mould affect my insulation?
Insulation access by vermin needs to be considered. Check for vermin signs if it is suspected they are present. Most batts will not be effected but blown-in insulation could be damaged reducing its effectiveness. Unfortunately, mould can grow almost ...
Is insulation safe?
Safe and secure insulation installation requires the expertise of trustworthy, well-qualified, and highly experienced professionals. Insulation must conform with fire safety standards.
Should I replace my downlights when insulation is being installed?
It depends on the rating of the downlights which needs to be checked by a qualified electrician. They need to have an IC-4 rating. If you don’t replace downlights, to prevent future overheating and house fires, insulation must be installed with a ...
Is there a minimum standard for insulation set out by Australian Building codes?
The Building Code of Australia has determined a minimum amount of needed insulation expressed in R-value (the efficiency of a material at stopping heat flow through it.) Refer: https://build.com.au/bca-requirements-insulation
What is the minimum amount of insulation I should put in the ceiling?
The minimum amount that should be put in should follow the Building Code of Australia’s guidelines for each of the 8 climate zones. Mostly it is a minimum of R4.1 Refer: https://build.com.au/bca-requirements-insulation Even if you don’t currently ...
Ceiling, wall, underfloor insulation. What is the most important to address and what follows?
In order of importance: 1. Ceiling Insulation - Since 25-35% of your home’s heat escapes through an uninsulated ceiling 2. Wall Insulation - 15-25% of your costly conditioned air seeps out of your home via uninsulated (or poorly insulated) walls. 3. ...
If I have a double storey house, would there be insulation at both the first and second storey ceilings?
It depends on what was done at the time of construction. If the building was built after the 70s, it usually has insulation on the second floor ceiling. If you’re building or renovating a double or multi-storey house, then there may be good reason ...
Which type of insulation is the best and what is the difference between the types?
When insulating your home, you can choose from many types of insulation. To choose the best type of insulation, you should first determine the following: • Where you want or need to install/add insulation • The recommended R-values for areas you want ...
What is the R-value?
In each climate zone, the Building Code of Australia has determined a minimum amount of needed insulation expressed in R-value (the efficiency of a material at stopping heat flow through it.) This is the Building Code’s recommended amount of ...
Where can I insulate?
Ceiling Insulation - Since 25-35% of your home’s heat escapes through an uninsulated ceiling, ceiling insulation is essential to keep your home comfortable and your energy bills low. If your home has no easily accessible attic space (i.e. cathedral ...
Does insulation stop condensation?
Although air barrier and vapor control layers can reduce the quantity and occurrence of condensation due to both mechanisms, the use of exterior insulation (even if that insulation is a vapor barrier and/or air barrier) can warm sensitive surfaces ...
Does insulation reduce noise?
One perk of insulation is its soundproofing capability. If you’re looking for a quieter home, the best soundproofing insulative materials are glass wool, rock wool, and extruded or expandable polystyrene. There are also batts specifically designed ...
How does insulation work?
Insulation prevents heat loss by slowing down heat loss in winter and heat gains in summer in one (or both) of two ways: • Bulk Insulation (thick layers of dense materials that trap heat inside or outside your home) • Foil Insulation (reflective ...
Can insulation catch fire?
All insulation products sold in Australia conform to Australian Fire Safety Standards, which mean that none of them can sustain combustion. However, some materials are particularly fireproof: rock wool, polyester and glass wool do not combust and, ...
Does wall insulation affect electrical work?
Yes, it can. There are different levels of power allowed through your electrical cables depending on the type of insulation that surrounds them. The reason for this is a cable that is surrounded by insulation can’t dissipate as much heat as a cable ...
Why is insulation important?
Compared to the same home without insulation, a properly insulated home can mean: • 70% less energy needed for heating and cooling (and thus a decreased carbon footprint) • 40-50% reduction of average annual heating + cooling costs • Up to 10 degrees ...
How long does insulation last for?
Insulation is warrantied for 50-70 years so should last a lifetime. Some types of insulation lose their thickness (also called the loft) over time thus reducing the effectiveness.