Upgrades to insulation, windows and doors
Upgrading your insulation, windows and doors can increase your comfort level and reduce your heating bills.
Why invest in insulation?
It makes financial sense to start your home energy upgrade with insulation. Otherwise you're paying to heat your home, only to lose it through attics, walls, windows and doors.
Insulating your home helps to:
- Reduce your heating bills by improving your energy efficiency
- Increase your home comfort levels
- Reduce your impact on climate change by using less energy to heat your home
Did you know?
Along with keeping your home warmer, a well-insulated home helps you get the most from other future upgrades. There are different types of insulation to choose from, depending on the needs of your home.
You can save up to €600 per year on heating bills with well insulated walls and attic space.
A home can lose up to 30% of its heat through poorly insulated roofs and walls.
A home can lose up to 10% of its heat through poorly performing windows, doors and uninsulated floors.
Attic and rafter insulation
Attic and rafter insulation is generally the most cost effective home energy upgrade. As heat rises, you can lose up to 30% of your home's heat through the roof. Even if you already have insulation in your roof, you may still be losing heat if it's damaged, installed incorrectly or there's not enough.
With attic and rafter insulation, you can see significant savings on heating bills. Depending on how you use your attic, you can prevent heat loss by insulating at ceiling or rafter level.
Ceiling level insulation
If you only use your attic for storage, then it makes sense to insulate it at ceiling level. This means the heat is kept in the rooms below and the attic stays cold. To do this, your contractor will roll a thick layer of insulating material over the attic floor. They will insulate the water tank and pipework to make sure they stay warm. They'll also provide a walkway and ventilation. The ideal thickness of attic insulation is 300mm.
Rafter level insulation
If you use your attic space as a habitable room, then you can insulate at rafter level. This applies to both sloping ceilings and flat roofs. It is usually done with a rigid insulation product.
When insulating an attic, it's important to ensure that proper ventilation is installed. Ventilation prevents moisture build up that could damage your roof structure. Use an SEAI registered contractor for peace of mind that the upgrade is done correctly.
Types of wall insulation
There are three types of wall insulation: cavity, external and internal. Choosing the right type of insulation depends on your house type and budget.
Cavity wall insulation
A cavity wall consists of two rows of brick or concrete block, with a cavity or space between them. Not all homes have cavity walls. If you're unsure, cavity wall insulation contractor can drill a small test hole in your wall to check.
Insulating cavity walls is the most cost-effective way to reduce heat loss, if they are currently uninsulated. Your contractor will drill a series of small holes in the external walls. They then pump insulation into the cavity. Afterwards they'll fill in the holes so they match the rest of the wall.
Cavity wall insulation is the cheapest type of wall insulation. The work can usually be done within a day and does not require access to the inside of the house.
External wall insulation
If you have solid block or concrete walls with no cavity, your contractor may recommend external wall insulation. This is sometimes also known as 'the wrap'. If you have cavity walls, you could combine external wall and cavity wall insulation.
As well as very effectively insulating your home, external wall insulation includes a render which comes in a wide variety of colours and finishes. You get the added benefit of giving your home a fresh new look.
Your contractor will:
- Set up scaffolding for the installation process
- Wrap a layer of rigid insulation around your home
- Fix it to the walls
- Embed mesh in it to provide strength
- Cover it in a render to provide weather resistance
It's worth noting that external wall insulation is generally the most expensive option.
Internal wall insulation
Internal wall insulation is an option when you don't have a cavity wall and external insulation is not possible (for protected structures) or is not the best solution. It is sometimes called dry lining.
Internal insulation involves fixing insulation boards to the inside of the external walls. They are then covered with a vapour control layer, plasterboard, skim and new paint. You will lose a small amount of space in the rooms.
Installing internal insulation can be quite disruptive and dusty. It requires the rooms to be cleared. You'll also need to remove skirting boards, electrical sockets and furnishings fixed to the wall. However, it is much cheaper than external wall insulation. It can be a good option if you are planning on re-plastering and re-painting your internal walls anyway.
Insulation GrantsFloor insulation
Up to 10% of your home's heat can be lost through floors. You can reduce this heat loss by insulating the floors. Floor insulation may not be not possible in all homes. It depends on the existing floor construction and level of disruption.
The approach your contractor takes will depend on your floor type. In some cases, it may be possible to lay insulation on top of the existing construction. For suspended concrete or timber floors, they may fit insulation to the underside of the structure.
Window and door upgrades
You can also lose about 10% of your home's heat through your windows and doors. Upgrading to triple glazed will give you maximum efficiency.
Your contractor will measure the windows and doors that need to be replaced. Once you agree on the specification and costs, the contractor will send the dimensions to the supplier so they can be manufactured. Standard waiting times from order to installation is 6-10 weeks for windows and 4-6 weeks for doors.
Grants for floor insulation, windows and doors are available as part of a complete One Stop Shop energy upgrade.
Next: Consider a heat pump
Heat pumps are an efficient and renewable way to heat your home. They draw naturally occurring heat from the air, ground or water outside and use it inside your home. They suit well insulated homes.
Explore heat pumps