Insulating Your Home

In recent years homeowners have become increasingly aware of the importance of good insulation. Although the government would have us believe we should do our bit for the planet, the motives for this sudden interest aren't always that green. The main concern of homeowners is probably cost - with energy bills spiralling and no end in sight it's important to cut down on spending as much as possible. The better insulated your house is, the less energy you use and the less it costs.

So what are the most important bits of your home to insulate? Well, your windows actually have the potential to lose a lot of heat, especially big picture windows with a large surface area. Double glazing is the best solution and these are fitted to new build homes as standard. In older properties it can be more difficult if you want to replace the windows but match the existing character of the building, but there are specialist companies who can help.

The next important place to insulate is your loft. Heat rises so a well-insulated loft can make a very big difference. Insulation not only keeps heat in, it keeps cold out and you'll find that your house maintains a constant temperature a lot better. This means that you never have to heat it from scratch, and it will actually be a lot more comfortable even in the summer.

It can be difficult to choose the right kind of insulation - recycled insulation is increasingly popular. One type is made from mashed up old newspapers between wooden boards (to create a sandwich) and has very good insulating properties. You can also buy natural wool insulation - this is what was used in the olden days before synthetic materials started to be produced. These have the advantage of being green products and aren't necessarily expensive.

Synthetic materials can offer good insulation and their advantage over natural ones is usually size. For example, 6 inches of one insulating material could be replaced by just 2 inches of another. It all depends on the 'R' value - the higher the R value the better insulator it is. If space is an issue then you'll have to take notice of this but any good DIY shop can help.

It's actually quite easy to fit thermal insulation yourself. Most insulation comes in rolls so you just have to roll it out in your loft, being careful not to block any air flow spaces. It's important to keep your loft space well-ventilated as this stops damp problems from forming. You should be able to fit your own insulation in a day, but if you're unsure it's best to get a professional to help.

When choosing your new insulation it's a good exercise to work out how much it costs compared to how much energy you'll save over the next few years. The money savings should outweigh the cost of the insulation and this will make all the hard work worthwhile. Insulation is your hidden saving and of course, you're helping the planet too.

Sylvia Kittens lives in Harrogate, England