We all know that hot air rises, so it makes sense that all the good work your heating system is doing may be disappearing through the roof if your ceiling is not adequately insulated. Conversely, in warmer months, your roof is the first place to feel the brunt of the sun's heat. This heat is then easily radiated into your home through an uninsulated ceiling, making your cooling system work overtime just to keep the place comfortable! Ceiling insulation is the best way to protect your home from the outdoor elements to minimize the need for mechanical heating and cooling systems. The best part is, it's a simple and cheap home improvement that could end up saving you a lot of money!
Insulation creates a thermal barrier that resists the transmission of heat. In the case of your home this will probably be made up of a thick layer of bulk insulation (usually made up of fibrous material like wool or polyester). Many homes will also have a reflective material that reflect radiant heat (such as the heat from the sun). By creating this thermal barrier, the well insulated house will be able to minimize the effects of temperature swings externally, and maintain a more comfortable, moderate temperature without excessive use of heating and cooling systems.
Ceiling insulation is reliably easy to install, especially if your home has a pitched roof with an attic or roof space where the insulation can be placed between ceiling joists. In many cases, the installation of can be a DIY job. If you are confident to install the ceiling insulation yourself, all you have to do is purchase sufficient batts from a building supplies store, and lay the batts in the roof or attic space as per the manufacturers instructions.
Alternately, you can call in the professionals to install the ceiling insulation for you. Professional ceiling insulation installers know how to effectively install ceiling insulation including dealing with more problematic situations like flat roofs, ceiling mounted down lights (which can pose a fire hazard) etc. So in these less straightforward situations, it might be wise to get your insurance professionally installed.
Bulk insulation, being a lightweight, fibrous product, is actually incredibly economical. A typical house will cost between $ 1000- $ 1400 to fully insulate the ceiling. Many Governments are offering rebates or discounts for the installation of ceiling insulation making it even more affordable. If you live in Australia, for example, you may be entitled to a rebate of up to $ 1600 to insulate your roof. Governments worldwide are encouraging people to install ceiling insulation as a way to meet their energy and greenhouse gas emissions targets. Be sure to check with your Government to see if they are offering any incentives for ceiling insulation installation.
Ceiling insulation is a great home-improvement option to make your home more energy-efficient, saving you money and reducing the greenhouse gas emissions from you home. It's also something that can be achieved quite easily and the initial outlay will quickly be repaid thanks to reduced heating and cooling costs – not to mention the priceless benefit of making your home more comfortable and livable year-round.