Don’t burn money, consider wall insulation instead...

NOW is a good time to consider the benefits of cavity and attic insulation to your home and reap the benefits come wintertime. It’s thought that as much as 20 to 30 percent of heat escapes through walls and poorly insulated attics. This is a serious waste of hard earned money considering most homes are heated for an average of 6 months in the year.

Insulation grants are available from anything between €300 and €6,000 depending on the kind of insulation you decide on. It’s always a good idea to start from the inside out when insulating a home. For example, start with the attic and then concentrate on wall insulation as this two-pronged affect can be done in stages which is worth the investment.

If you live in a terraced or semi-detached house you will already have an element of insulation from the properties adjoining either side of your dwelling. The best option here is to go for external insulation which is basically a wrap or insulation façade built on to the face of the house to the front and rear using mineral wool or expanded polystyrene slabs. This will prevent the home being exposed to severe weather.

If your home is a detached dwelling then it’s naturally going to be more exposed on all fronts. The better option here is cavity wall insulation. The space in-between each row of blocks harbours a cold airflow which makes internal walls cooler.

By injecting insulation into the cavity using tiny foam beads they fill the cavity. This is a cost effective method of wall insulation. Internal wall insulation is another option using insulation and vapour barrier boards to line the wall. The long and the short of it is that depending on the type of walls you have, and the money you’re prepared to spend, the options are varied. But it’s worth consideration nonetheless.