Insulation

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Insulation is a vital component in any building. It has an impact on how effectively your project retains heat, resists fire or soundproofs itself - all important factors when you're looking to lower energy consumption bills while maintaining comfort levels. Insulation comes in many forms, including boards, slabs and rolls. Sometimes you will only need one type but at other times all three might come into play - it depends on what your needs are.

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What Is Insulation?

If you're looking to save on energy bills and reduce carbon emissions, then it's important that your project is as efficiently insulated as possible. 

Insulation refers to a material or a barrier used in buildings and structures to reduce the transfer of heat or sound between different areas or environments. 

Its primary purpose is to maintain a more stable and comfortable temperature inside a building by slowing down the flow of heat energy. 

Insulation materials are typically placed in walls, ceilings, floors, and other parts of a structure to minimise heat loss in cold weather (keeping the interior warmer) and heat gain in hot weather (keeping the interior cooler). 

Effective insulation can improve energy efficiency, reduce heating and cooling costs, and enhance the overall comfort and environmental performance of a building. Common insulation materials include fibreglass, foam board, mineral wool and multifoil among others.

Where Is Insulation Needed The Most?

Insulation is most needed in the following areas of a building:

  • Attic: To prevent heat loss or gain through the roof.
  • Walls: To reduce heat transfer between inside and outside.
  • Roof/Ceiling: To regulate temperature and prevent heat loss.
  • Floors: Above unheated spaces to maintain even indoor temperatures.
  • Basement/Crawlspaces: To prevent moisture issues and maintain comfort.
  • Windows/Doors: To minimise heat transfer.
  • Exterior: Ideal for buildings situated in extreme climates. 
  • Pipes/Ductwork: To prevent heat loss and maintain efficiency.
  • Between Floors: For sound insulation and thermal separation.


Insulation Benefits

Organisations like the Energy Saving Trust encourage the use of insulation due to its many benefits, such as bringing heating bills down and reducing carbon footprint. 

Here are the most apparent benefits of installing insulation: 

  • Energy savings
  • Improved comfort
  • Environmental impact
  • Moisture control
  • Noise reduction
  • Long-term savings
  • Health and safety
  • Reduced carbon footprint
  • Regulatory compliance
  • Durability
  • Enhanced property value
  • Year-round comfort


How To Install Insulation

The method for installing insulation depends on the specific insulation material being used. However, we offer various blogs and resources on how to install insulation, including detailed guides such as "How to Install Celotex.

These resources provide step-by-step instructions tailored to different insulation materials and applications, helping you with your insulation installation project.

Types of Insulation

Insulation can be used in internal walls, external walls (cavity walls), pitched roofs, floor systems, ceilings and loft spaces. 

We sell a huge range of insulating materials for both residential and commercial insulation. Let's explore a few types that we sell below:


Insulation Boards

Insulation boards are multi-purpose and can be used for a variety of applications.

We sell both PIR insulation and cavity wall insulation boards. PIR insulation is typically applied to applications, whereas cavity wall insulation boards are designed to slot in a wall cavity.

Browse our comprehensive range of insulation boards from industry-leading names such as Celotex, EcoTherm, and Kingspan


Insulation Slabs

Not only does slab insulation offer great thermal and acoustic performance, but it also offers excellent fire resistance.

Rockwool is the UK's leading manufacturer of insulation slabs and manufactures insulation slabs which do not ignite or contribute to fire spread.

At Materials Market, we sell Rockwool’s most popular insulation slab to date; the RWA45 Acoustic Insulation Slab. These high-quality acoustic and thermal insulation resin-bonded slabs are unrivalled in their soundproofing and fire resistance properties - as proven by their outstanding Euroclass A1 non-combustible rating. 

In short, insulation slabs promise energy efficiency whilst helping to protect buildings against noise transmission, heat loss and the spread of fire.


Insulation Rolls

Loft roll insulation and acoustic roll insulation are the two most widely used insulation rolls on the market. Insulation rolls, also known as glass mineral wool insulation, are typically used as loft insulation in roof space, although they are suitable for a variety of building applications, including floors, walls, lofts and roofs.

Glass mineral wool insulation rolls are lightweight, easy to handle, and non-combustible, achieving the highest possible level of fire performance with an A1 rating on the Euroclass scale.

At Materials Market, you can take your pick from some of the biggest and most reputable manufacturers of energy efficient Insulation Rolls in the UK, such as Knauf and Superglass. We sell popular loft insulation rolls like Isover Spacesaver 44 loft insulation and Knauf Earthwool Loft Roll 44.

Ensure to use adequate ventilation when installing insulation roll products. 


Thermal Insulation

Thermal insulation reduces a building's carbon footprint and improves its overall thermal envelope.

Industry-leading brands like EcoTherm, Kingspan and Celotex all have excellent thermal insulation properties. 

We sell a wide range of different thermal insulation materials that are fire-resistant, water-resistant, rigid, and long-lasting. 

They come in different forms and different materials – from insulation boards, loft roll insulation, insulation slabs and insulation foil – to ensure you have the best thermal solution for insulating your project.


Acoustic Insulation

Sound insulation reduces the transmission of unwanted noise between internal walls and floors. Our most popular acoustic insulation is Rockwool RAW45 Slabs and Knauf Earthwool Rolls.

Browse through our range of acoustic floor insulation and acoustic wall insulation products today and find a slab/roll that will help you keep noise to a minimum.

Frequently Asked Insulation Questions

What Areas Of The Home Should Be Insulated?

The key areas you should target when tackling home insulation are the roof, loft and exterior walls. 

Since heat rises, your roof and loft are the biggest heat-loss culprits. And as a third of all heat lost from an uninsulated house leaks out through the walls, wall insulation is also crucial when it comes to preventing heat loss and adding comfort to a living space. 

The aim of thermal insulation is to create a thermal envelope around a building so it uses less energy. It's essentially like wrapping a big scarf around the walls and popping a woolly hat on the roof to keep the warmth in. 

What Are My Options When Choosing Insulation?

The insulation market is brimming with choices; with fibreglass, rock mineral wool, foam, and so many more products to choose from. 

There are a few things to factor in before making an insulation purchase: 

  • Thermal performance
  • Fire safety
  • Resistance to moisture
  • Cost
  • Durability


Choosing the right insulation product to suit your project is vitally important, we have insulation material for commercial and domestic projects. Please note you should always get professional insulation industry advice before installing insulation.

When installing PIR, take care not to squash the boards as this will reduce their insulation value.

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