Looking for Self Build Insulation?
Guide to Self Build Insulation
Did you know that a home that doesn’t have adequate insulation will lose 25% of the heat through the roof, 33% through the wall, 15% through the floor, 15% through draughts and 20% through the windows?
That’s why when thinking about self-build insulation, it’s important to think about the best material for each type of application, energy efficiency and cost in the long run.
In this article, we’ll look at how you can have an energy efficient self build that’s highly insulated, the different materials available, and where the insulation works best.
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What is a Self Build?
The National Custom and Self Build Association defines a project as a self build if the homeowner directly coordinates the design and building of their new property (NaCSBA).
Don’t worry, this does not imply that you must perform the majority of the job. Self-builders can be as hands-on or hands-off as they like; some prefer to do everything themselves, while others will buy a prefabricated house.
It is a path that is highly recommended for seniors who are interested in building their “forever home” as well as for growing families who require additional space that is customised to fit their way of life.
The entire process of building a house can take up to two years (often longer), beginning with selecting a piece of land and ending with moving in, however this time frame is highly variable and primarily dependent on the intricacy of the work being done.
Why self build insulation is important?
Insulation will help to reduce heat loss throughout the winter, draught proofing, and will act in reverse during the summer months to encourage cooling.
The quality of your self build insulation has a significant bearing on both your comfort and your energy bills.
Good insulation can aid in reducing carbon emissions by decreasing the need for mechanical heating or cooling systems, which is especially important in light of the current financial & climate change crisis.
Best insulation for self builds
Spray foam, fibreglass, and cellulose are the most common insulation options available on the market today.
Fibreglass Insulation
Across the nation, a lot of homes have fibreglass insulation. It is constructed out of incredibly fine fibres of glass.
While it is one of the cheapest option available which makes it appealing, it is also one of the least effective. Airflow is still possible with fibreglass insulation.
Cellulose Insulation
One of the earliest insulation products on the market is wet applied cellulose. It can be installed as either loose fill or just as a blown-in material. The majority of cellulose is derived from recycled newspaper or denim.
When compared to other insulation materials, cellulose insulation is relatively inexpensive. Cellulose may be a more cost-effective choice, but you should be aware that this can settle and lose up to twenty percent of its R value.
Cellulose insulation also tends to shift, especially when air vents are present, preventing an effective airtight seal. Without an air seal, hot and cold air will freely circulate throughout with nothing to stop it.
Spray Foam Insulation
When spray foam insulation is sprayed it forms a tight seal that prevents air from leaking in or out. In regards to thermal performance and reducing energy costs, spray foam insulation is indeed the best option.
Spray foam insulation has the ability to expand up to 100 times their original size, filling every corner. By filling all cavities and voids, it can deliver up to 50% greater energy savings compared to other insulation products.
Our market leading spray foam product; Sucraseal is also safe and environmentally friendly product. It does not contain any CFCs, HCFCs, or HFCs, which are harmful to the environment. Sucraseal is also non-toxic and does not emit any VOCs (Volatile Organic Compounds).
Sucraseal is one of the greenest spray foam products on the market with a finished foam green content of 25 percent. It is fire-resistant, and the only class 1 fire rated insulation by British Standards and does not require chemical barriers and coatings.
What is the effectiveness of spray foam insulation?
A value that can be used to assess how effective an insulation material is called the thermal conductivity value. This value is also commonly referred to as the K value or the lambda value.
The K value indicates how quickly heat can go through a material and is unaffected by its thickness. The better a material is thermally conductive, the lower the value will be, and vice versa. It’s a helpful measure to find out how well a substance insulates.
Compared to fibreglass, cellulose, and other materials of similar composition, open cell spray foam insulation has a K value of 0.039W/mK, or 3.9% higher thermal conductivity. Closed cell foam tends to have a K value of around 0.024W/mK.
It is considered that because spray foam adheres to anything it is sprayed on, it creates a more tight seal, and that a space’s thermal efficiency is not defined just by its K value (or its following U value), but also by its airtightness.
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Self build wall insulation
There are potentially three ways to insulate the walls of your self built home:
- Cavity wall insulation.
- Internal wall insulation.
- External wall insulation.
Increasing the amount of insulation on the interior walls of your home, also known as internal wall insulation (IWI), is an excellent way to significantly cut down on the amount of energy required to heat your home, which in turn will save you money on your energy bills and reduce your overall carbon footprint.
Self build loft insulation
Self build loft insulation is the simplest, yet most effective way to reduce the amount of heat and energy that escapes from your roof.
Loft insulation is a must. Traditional methods, however, are often ineffective because they can leave gaps through which air can escape, reducing the effectiveness of the insulation.
Spray foam insulation, on the other hand, can expand to up to 100 times its original size and fill every corner of a room or building to ensure it is tightly sealed.
By filling all cavities and voids, it can deliver up to 50% greater energy savings compared to other insulation products.
Spray foam loft insulation is what you need, whether you want to insulate a brand-new one or renovate an existing structure.
Self build floor insulation
Self build floor insulation is a type of home insulation that is fitted underneath floorboards.
Whilst a lot of heat can escape through the roof of a home, up to 20% of your total heating bill could also be escaping out through the floor as well. And this is especially true if you’re lacking insulation in more than one area of your home.
Generally, floor insulation tends to be fitted in older homes most of all, thanks to the typically larger cavities that can fit layers of insulating materials.
However, many new homes can be suitable for this type of insulation thanks to modern methods, such as underfloor spray foam insulation that can be parsed through small gaps and across thin surfaces.
How Much Does it Cost to Insulate a Self Build?
You may be wondering how much does it cost to insulate a self built house? The answer is that it depends on the type of insulation you want, the size of your home, and various other factors.
Insulation can help keep your home warm in the winter and cool in the summer. It can also help reduce your monthly energy bills making the self build insulation cost worthwhile. To get a cost to insulate a self build house, reach out to us today!
Investing in Your Self Build Insulation Today!
When building a new home, one of the first things on your mind is to make it your own. This includes making sure that your self built home is properly insulated.
Self build insulation is always going to be an important thing to focus on. If you’re looking for insulation for self builds, get in touch with us today for more details.
