Welcome

A well-insulated home is warmer in winter, cooler in summer, healthier, cheaper to heat and more environmentally friendly.

This site provides unbiased and plain-English advice on how to plan and install insulation and other energy-saving projects. If you’d prefer us to do the hard work for you, we offer energy efficiency surveys and personalised advice. Please see Services and Contact for more details.

Insulation Checklist

Start from the top of this list to prioritise the steps in insulating your home. Follow the links for more information on each topic.

  • You can draughtproof your home yourself for very little money. Before undertaking the more complex tasks below we always recommend this as a first step.

  • Most people can save energy just by adjusting their heating controls. If you have an older boiler it might be worth upgrading to a newer, energy efficient one. Installing a modern heat pump might also be worthwhile, but be very careful if your home isn’t already well-insulated.

  • If you have an accessible attic then installing loft insulation is a relatively easy job that can be done by a competent DIY-er. Even if you already have loft insulation it’s often worth upgrading it (300mm thickness is recommended) before embarking on other more expensive insulation projects. Click here for step-by step instructions on installing loft insulation.

  • Many homes have suspended timber floors which can be cold and draughty. Installing floor insulation beneath can control the draughts while keeping your floors comfortably warm underfoot.

  • The walls are usually the largest part of your home by surface area, so adding wall insulation will have a huge effect. Unfortunately, walls are usually the most complicated part of the home to insulate. You can either install insulation in the wall cavity, on the outside of the walls (external wall insulation) or inside the rooms (internal wall insulation). Each option has its benefits and drawbacks so please think carefully and feel free to contact us if you aren’t sure.

  • Insulated doors and double-glazed windows will improve your energy efficiency. However, if you’ve already draught-proofed then the difference will be small compared to the significant cost of the work. We’d recommend the other measures above in preference to doors and windows, unless you’re suffering problems with condensation, which double-glazing will help with.

Our step-by-step guides

Digital illustration of an unfinished room with walls sheathed in insulation, a window on one wall, wood trim, brick accents on two corners, and hardwood flooring.
Internal wall insulation - wool between battens
Internal wall insulation - insulated plasterboard
Diagram of a brick wall foundation with layers for insulation, wooden floor joists, and plywood subflooring, preparing for a floor installation.
Floor insulation - wool between joists
3D illustration of a house with a roof under construction, showing wooden beams, insulation, a red water tank, and brick walls.
Loft insulation - wool between ceiling joists
External wall insulation