February 6, 2025

Housing Designer

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What Insulation is Best for Your Walls, Ceilings, and Floors? A No-Nonsense Guide to Keeping Your Home Warm & Toasty 

What Insulation is Best for Your Walls, Ceilings, and Floors? A No-Nonsense Guide to Keeping Your Home Warm & Toasty 

Let’s be honest—nobody likes a draughty home. Whether it’s a chilly morning where you can see your own breath in the living room or a summer heatwave turning your loft into an oven, insulation is the unsung hero of home comfort. Get it right, and your house will stay warm in winter and cool in summer, all while keeping your energy bills in check. Get it wrong, and you might as well be throwing money out the window. Literally.

There are many types of insulation aimed at lowering your heating and cooling costs. So, what’s the best insulation for your home? Well, that depends on where you’re putting it. Walls, ceilings, and floors all have different needs, and some materials are better suited to certain areas. Let’s break it down.

The Basics: What Does Insulation Actually Do?

In simple terms, insulation acts like a big fluffy blanket for your home, trapping heat in during winter and keeping it out during summer. The better the insulation, the less you’ll need to rely on cranking up the thermostat—or peeling yourself off the sofa in a heat-induced coma.

The effectiveness of insulation is measured by something called the R-value. The higher the R-value, the better it is at keeping your home cosy. Some materials, like spray foam, have an impressively high R-value, while others, like fibreglass batts, are more budget-friendly but might need a thicker layer to do the job properly. There are multiple ways to stop heat loss from your home, here we summarise what’s available.

Wall Insulation: Because Nobody Likes Cold Spots

Walls make up a massive part of your home’s surface area, so insulating them properly is key to keeping warm. Here are your best bets:

Fibreglass Batts – The Old Reliable Option

Cheap, cheerful, and easy to install, fibreglass batts come in pre-cut sections that fit snugly between wall studs. They’re great for a DIY job, but be warned—handling them without gloves and long sleeves can leave you itching like you’ve rolled in nettles.

Pros: Affordable, fire-resistant, easy to install.

Cons: Can sag over time, loses effectiveness if it gets damp.

Cellulose – The Eco-Friendly Option

Made from recycled paper (yes, really), cellulose is blown into wall cavities and does a cracking job of filling every nook and cranny. It’s also treated to be fire-resistant, which is always a plus when stuffing your walls with flammable paper.

Pros: Great for soundproofing, eco-friendly, works well in older homes.

Cons: Can absorb moisture, which means potential mould issues if not installed properly.

Spray Foam – The Fancy Option!

Expanding like magic when applied, spray foam seals up gaps like nothing else. If you’ve ever felt an icy breeze sneaking through a crack in the wall, this stuff sorts it out. Closed-cell spray foam has an ultra-high R-value, making it one of the best insulators around.

Pros: Airtight seal, high R-value, moisture-resistant.

Cons: Costs an arm and a leg, needs a pro to install.

Ceiling & Loft Insulation: Stop Heat from Escaping Upwards

Heat rises. And if your loft isn’t properly insulated, you might as well be heating the sky. Here’s what works best up top:

Loose-Fill Insulation – Great for Loft Nooks and Crannies

Perfect for those awkward spaces, loose-fill insulation is blown into place and fills gaps beautifully. It’s often made from cellulose, fibreglass, or mineral wool, and can be a cost-effective solution.

Pros: Fills gaps well, quick installation, great for odd-shaped lofts.

Cons: Can settle over time, meaning you might need to top it up later.

Batts & Rolls – The DIY Dream

If your loft has easy access and standard joist spacing, batts and rolls are a straightforward choice. Just unroll, cut to size, and lay them down. Simple.

Pros: Easy to install, budget-friendly.

Cons: Can leave gaps if not fitted properly, not ideal for awkward spaces.

Reflective Insulation – Good for Heatwaves

Got a loft that turns into a sauna in summer? Reflective insulation helps bounce heat away. It’s basically foil-faced material that reflects radiant heat rather than absorbing it.

Pros: Great for hot weather, lightweight.

Cons: Doesn’t do much for cold weather, needs an air gap to work properly.

Floor Insulation: Because Nobody Likes Cold Feet

Whether it’s a draught creeping up through the floorboards or a freezing kitchen tile first thing in the morning, good floor insulation makes a big difference.

Blanket Insulation – Good for Suspended Floors

If you’ve got a suspended timber floor, laying blanket insulation (fibreglass or mineral wool) between the joists will help keep the warmth in.

Pros: Cheap, effective, easy to install.

Cons: Needs proper securing, not suitable for solid floors.

Rigid Foam Boards – The Sturdy Choice

Perfect for insulating floors above unheated spaces like garages or cellars, rigid foam boards provide a strong thermal barrier.

Pros: High R-value, moisture-resistant.

Cons: Can be tricky to install around obstacles, pricier than blankets.

Radiant Floor Heating – The Luxe Option

If you’ve ever stepped onto a toasty bathroom tile in winter, you’ll understand the appeal. Radiant floor heating systems use electric elements or hot water pipes under the flooring to provide consistent warmth.

Pros: Feels amazing, energy-efficient in the long run.

Cons: Expensive to install, can be pricey to run (especially electric systems).

Final Thoughts: What’s Right for You?

When choosing insulation, think about your budget, home layout, and whether you’re up for a bit of DIY. The UK government may even give you a support grant for insulation for your home.  Got a draughty old house? Cellulose or spray foam might be the way to go. On a tight budget? Fibreglass batts and rolls will do the trick. Thinking long-term? Rigid foam boards or radiant heating could be a solid investment.

At the end of the day, a well-insulated home means lower energy bills, fewer draughts, and a whole lot more comfort. So, whether you’re doing a full home reno or just trying to stop your feet from freezing off in the morning, a bit of insulation know-how goes a long way.

Now, where’s that cuppa? It’s getting chilly in here!

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