I tried installing loft insulation to save money but found it was the WORST DIY EVER!

Hi all - some of you have been asking whether I'm ok as I've been quiet since Christmas (thanks for your concern 😊)..... well, this is just one of the jobs we were busy doing...
DIY loft insulation to replace the missing mineral wool from historic floods due to burst pipes and topping it up to 300mm to lower our £400+ a month eyewatering electricity bills 🥶
Since then, we've been on a mission to get the loft prepped to hopefully lower our EPC rating and make our freezing cold house a much warmer living space.
However, as always, after watching endless KZbin videos, this wasn't as easy as it seemed and felt like a boot camp experience.
For more tips, you can read our blogpost here:
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If you're new here, you can catch up on my whole auction property renovation adventure here:
➡️ Installing the easiest attic lights: • The BEST attic/loft li...
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➡️HOW we lost THOUSANDS struggling to get back on the property ladder: • We could've been PROSE...
➡️Our experience risking all of our money bidding on an auction property: • We RISKED IT ALL biddi...
➡️A sneak peek inside our new house: • FULL HOME TOUR: I boug...
➡️And how we found it's worse than we thought due to a mouse infestation: • We moved into our new ...
➡️ Trying to fix leaks • We tried to fix the le...
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*As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases made through links.
➡️ Tape measure -geni.us/jv82PZA (Amazon)
➡️ New insulation rolls - We used Knauf's 100mm bottom layer to fit between the joists, and 170mm or 200mm top layer that sits on top of the joists in the opposite direction
➡️ Crawl boards - geni.us/BdA2PF (Amazon)
➡️ Silicone sealant - geni.us/AQwx (Amazon)
➡️ Hand saw - geni.us/irwinh... (Amazon)
➡️ Foam pipe lagging - geni.us/yszSGI (Amazon)
➡️ Attic lights - geni.us/6wd4M4 (Amazon)
➡️ PPE - safety equipment: goggles - geni.us/ybBDFs (Amazon)
➡️ Gloves - geni.us/safety... (Amazon)
➡️ Face mask - geni.us/jspmask (Amazon)
➡️ Boiler suit - geni.us/81u1Of (Amazon)
➡️ Knee pads -geni.us/jspmask (Amazon)
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[@TheCarpentersDaughterUK]

What do you think is the worst type of DIY job to do?

[@toria-j]

I had a couple of wasps nests in my loft and the installers strangely weren't keen on rolling out insulation under them last year. I sympathised, and asked them to leave a roll so I could sort it out. Last week, a friend got dressed like you plus mask, went up and filled three bin bags with the nests (one took two bags alone). He then rolled out the insulation. I owe him several drinks, in addition to the cash I gave him...

[@TheCarpentersDaughterUK]

Wow, that's a very good friend! Yes, definitely keep him sweet for any future jobs you might have 😆 And that sounds like some huge wasp nests! The one we removed before Christmas was tiny in comparison!

[@lorismith9105]

Toilets or unclogging slimy- hairy drains🤮🤢

[@lorismith9105]

I love watching your channel

[@chipperkeithmgb]

Painting

[@williambrown2264]

A job well done Vikkie! Shortish bits of plastic gutter cupped against the felt between the rafters down by the eaves can help ensure air flow from the cavity to the loft space. I have been lucky enough to be able to build myself a new bungalow which I was able to go overboard with the insulation. I had an air source heat pump installed which works well but because of my extra insulation I wish I hadn’t bothered with any central heating. Mainly because it needs annual servicing , its depreciation, possible future repairs & it does use power. We find an electric fan heater heats the house quite quickly in a short while. I know it’s difficult to go OTT with insulation in an existing property but I now reckon insulation, insulation, insulation is the way to go. I love your channel. 😁

[@micdev42]

@williambrown2264 Hi. Can you explain what you mean re. the gutter? The roof membrane is over the rafters and so nowhere near the wall cavity?

[@MrJonah53]

I know it's too late now, but after using fibre glass, have cool shower before a hot one. Having a hot shower will open your pores, and the fibres will drop in, resulting in an itch for a week.

[@TheCarpentersDaughterUK]

Ooh, I love this tip!!! 😀 I must be lucky I didn't itch for more than a day 😅

[@bluerock7243]

A tip. Cover your exposed skin in talcum powder before you start, it really decreases the irritation.

[@TheCarpentersDaughterUK]

Great tip!

[@Sparks1Plumbers0]

Great timing... just helped out one of my aunts with her loft. 98 meter squared and no existing insulation at all [was all removed when a storm knocked a hole in part of the roof and soaked most of it]. Luckily, she got given all her insulation, so two of us spent a full day laying it and your right.... it looks like a big fluffy duvet. One thing your best doing... get them boards off the insulation. It's defeating the object of laying 300mm! Go get yourself some Loftlegs from the likes of Wickes. Fitting them is a bit of a pain but well worth the effort. Covered half the floor area for her with 2400 x 600 t&g boards, and she's well chuffed. Somewhere flat and accessible to store her odds and sods [you know what you ladies are like] and now her bungalow is well toastie. Nice.👍 Anyway, great video as always, and nice to see some more progress.

[@AJB1]

I added some insulation to my loft the other week, an extra layer and filling in all the gaps, and edges the builders had missed years ago. It's a hateful job even not trying to film it, so doing it and making a video at the same time must be utterly awful! Great work getting it done. Always a relief not to fall through the ceiling too!!

[@jdm0101]

Header tank, you could box in below and leave it open inside, lagging the outside of the box - that way you get the heat going up to the tank from the plasterboard, but the cold gets kept in the loft. Just a thought.

[@rubiccube8953]

I insulated one of my bedroom floors whilst I had the floor boards up for heating and electrics . This had a massive increase temperature for the living room below. I scanned the the room with an thermal camera the drop off in temperature across the ceiling was a lot less for the ceiling with insulation. Note the cheap digital infra red cameras work just as well. Keep a gap at the edge of eaves to allow some air circulation to stop moisture building up. Also allow a gap around electrical wiring to stop over heating. If you seal the eaves rafters can rot.

[@kimstockwell721]

Massive respect Vikkie, that's a horrible job to do, well done you.

[@TheCarpentersDaughterUK]

Thank you so much! Definitely worth persevering!!!! 😊

[@lindaallen78]

We put in some extra insulation in an area just before Christmas. It goes over my dining room, downstairs loo and hall. Very noticeable difference in warmth. TFS. I love your videos. ❤

[@TheCarpentersDaughterUK]

Glad you've also noticed a difference (and that you love my videos 🤩)

[@MT-zn6tc]

Completely agree - we used PIR (KIngspan/Celotex) between the boards. Make sure there's room for air to circulate from the rafters. As far as heating is concerned, you'll benefit from whatever heat source you use but if you've got up to current Building Regs, I would definitely consider ASHP/GSHP. We are paying maximum £2.50/day in heating and hot water at the moment (it raised to £3.20/day when the temperature fell to -3 degrees). Even if you do go for a gas boiler you will still benefit from the insulation by lower flow temperatures. I would also consider wet underfloor heating. Now is the time to do it before you get any more done on the floors. There is possibly one thing worse than insulating the loft space, and that is insulating under the floor with about 18-20 inches to work in. I am really enjoying this series.

[@danieladams7919]

Doesn't work in 98% of the uk housing market

[@dallan7740]

@@danieladams7919 What doesn't work in 98% of the uk housing market?

[@danieladams7919]

@@dallan7740 Heat pumps

[@terrywalker4733]

Hi Vikkie, if you ever get problems with condensation get some lap vents easy to fit between the felt and works well.

[@richardwalker6417]

Agree, making that as air tight as you can lead to issues as the felt membrane doesn't allow moisture through.

[@TheCarpentersDaughterUK]

Thanks for the suggestion! I had a Google and those lap vents looks so easy to install. I'll keep my eyes peeled up there and know what to do now if we see any condensation

[@dazt5831]

Agreed my loft had no insulation and would build lots of condensation, opening up the felt underlay with some vents lets an amazing amount of airflow into the rafters getting rid of the condensation once it was all insulated and covered

[@36ydna]

Another awesome video. My brother insullated his apartment loft, before his apartment was like a cold cave that you could only keep warm by constantly running the heat. Afterwards it was so much better, you put the heating on for half an hour in the morning and it stayed warm until evening no problem.

[@jamesduffin9417]

Loft insulation is the worst I’ve done! But it’s better now than it used to be. The knauf insulation you used is much less itchy than the old glass fibre insulation. I lagged my pipes around the old type insulation and itched so much but the time I spent insulating the gaps with new type insulation was much less itchy!

[@matthewvaughan6327]

Nice work Vickie. Top marks for keeping the cables above the insulation. Not sure about putting the foam pipe lagging over the wool. I imagine the split foam won’t have ‘closed’ around the pipe, leaving a gap.

[@TheCarpentersDaughterUK]

Thanks! I don't remember any splits in the end with lots of cable ties. But with that and the extra insulation too, I'm hoping that's all it needs

[@colingoode3702]

This a job I've been putting off for too long. I've also got a LoftZone raised floor system to go in for a storage floor. Already added shelves in-between the trusses for additional storage. Horrible job but watching this has given me the impetus to get on & do it - in a week or so or whenever it gets a bit warmer!

[@TheCarpentersDaughterUK]

Yes, I recommend doing it sooner rather than later. It got too hot at times up there with the amount of protective gear I had to wear. But glad it's done now.

[@confusedofhinckley5294]

Plus one vote for Loftzone raised flooring above your insulation. I've done both my own and daughter's lofts. Do it BEFORE you put anything "up the attic"!

[@colingoode3702]

@@confusedofhinckley5294 That's my problem. 38 years of clutter in my loft on 100mm insulation & a chipboard floor that I put in when we first moved in. TBF the clutter is probably doing a good insulation job🤣

[@TheCarpentersDaughterUK]

I must admit, I'm not quite sold on the loft legs after watching a lot of KZbin videos. I may add mini wooden frames

[@TheCarpentersDaughterUK]

Haha... I was just going to say that! Yes, I bet your stuff is adding more insulation lol

[@mickjulian7499]

Great and honest video. Most information tells you how easy it is to add loft insulation - this shows that it's fiddly, uncomfortable and does take a bit of thinking about. Well done.

[@paulyh4531]

Another good job there , not surprised you notice the diff with all that extra in loft (sorry attic ) lol. Well done nice to see you back.

[@TheCarpentersDaughterUK]

Thanks 👍 Hopefully we'll get some better weather soon, too... sick of cold Winters now 😅

[@paulyh4531]

@@TheCarpentersDaughterUK Has turned quite mild down my way ment to be 12 tomorrow. 😀

[@markrowland5393]

Well done for sticking at it. Looks good.

[@TheCarpentersDaughterUK]

Thanks so much! It's warmer and looks less chaotic up there 😆

[@davidtamasauskas2439]

Great job and great video, it is a thankless task! I insulated our loft and my knees will not be the same again! 😂 there is also the jeopardy of one wrong step and you could go through the ceiling!

[@TheCarpentersDaughterUK]

Haha... yes, it really does test the knees and mine aren't perfect anymore 😅 And its such slow work, treading carefully 😆

[@LS-td3dz]

Great job. I have been in my attic last week running camera cables, that was enough for me. You are an inspiration.

[@TheCarpentersDaughterUK]

I wouldn't have fancied doing your job either 😆

[@eddieg1954]

You've made me realise that I need to inrease my loft insulation. Great job you've both done and as usual cracking video.

[@TheCarpentersDaughterUK]

Thanks 👍 Glad you enjoyed it 😀

[@Umski]

I feel the pain - did something similar in 2012 after moving into a bungalow with rafter level insulation- 200m2 so trying to heat double the volume - pulled it all down to ceiling level and added 170mm at a right angle - horrid job with dead creatures and lots of rubbish left by the usual trades 🙄 It’s not great (more mice) but way better than it was - fortunately picked up 28 rolls for a fiver each back in the day when the govt were subsidising it and trades were buying up loads of it 👍 Second least favourite thing is plumbing 😮

[@hi-tech-guy-1823]

I would add a layer of Radiant foil Barriers under the main insulation - Reflects Heat back into the living space + Helps to keep the home cooler in summer

[@TheCarpentersDaughterUK]

Actually... I've been thinking about this for our concrete floors (it's concrete throughout) and have it under hardwood flooring etc. Just not sure yet whether it is a good idea

[@peterpage7322]

@@TheCarpentersDaughterUKI don’t think you’ll find foil insulation works unless you leave an air gap either side. The size of the gap depends on the product, so not much good for floors unless you have wooden floors with a void below.

[@AlexGnok]

Rodents can come in through the soffits (if there are any cracks etc), various vent pipes and even roof tiles if there are gaps wide enough (doesn't need to be a hug gap for a mouse to squeeze in!)

[@therealcaldini]

Job’s a goodun’! I saw a talk on home energy efficiency once. The expert was asked which job you should prioritise first. He said insulation, then if you have any money left over get more insulation. Then spend some time saving up some money and spend it on insulation.

[@TheCarpentersDaughterUK]

😆😆😆😆😆😆 yes... that sounds like a plan 🤣

[@over-engineered]

I like to insulate the ceiling with 25mm Recticel PIR under the joists before plaster-boarding, then less insulation needed in loft. tape the PIR board joints and spray foam the perimeter and acts as a vapour barrier too. nice thermal break from the ceiling joists too.

[@pm7067]

And now if you have a fire in a room below the loft, and the flames get through a light fitting, you've got plenty of easily ignited PIR fuel to carry the fire through to the loft with!

[@over-engineered]

@@pm7067 light fitting wire holes are sealed with intumesant sealant. it’s no different to any chalet bungalow, but they have much more PIR. Phenolic insulation would be better though.

[@Adeleisha]

@@pm7067not to mention house full of noxious fumes.

[@peterpage7322]

Not sure what you are saying as above the plaster board is the loft unless your talking about the ground floor? Or are you saying that you use pir backed plasterboard so it covers the joist areas as well. However either way, a bit more of a fire hazard than fibreglass.

[@marcusd2380]

This hard work having done a lot of it myself. One thing u did was stuffing it down the cavity this will help greatly but I would prefer using closed cell eurathane cans for this. And u do need the double layer of fiber glass I did a double layer of 200 mm which is 400 in total. And glad to see u sealed the conduit it is a massive improvement but often over looked. Good on u two for doing this job

[@spencersanford5384]

I actually loved doing my loft insulation :D Mainly because at the end it looked so nice and fresh. I did it mid summer too which was perhaps the worse decision! One job I hate is cutting and fitting coving and skirting.

[@TheCarpentersDaughterUK]

You're right... it does look nice and fresh once done, but wouldn't want to do it again unless I had to 😆

[@stuartjones2242]

make sure you leave a gap by the eves as you need air flow other wise you will get mould and damp in your rooms and loft

[@TheCarpentersDaughterUK]

Thanks 😀

[@wgj4813]

I added 250 mm to my existing 50 mm between the joists vermiculite 15 years ago. The house was instantly warmer and the circulating hot and cold air flows just stopped. It was an amazing heat transformation.

[@TheCarpentersDaughterUK]

Sounds toasty and warm 🤩

[@wisher21uk]

Brilliantly done well done Mr & Mrs TDC looks absolutely fantastic 😊

[@TheCarpentersDaughterUK]

Thanks so much 😀

[@wisher21uk]

@@TheCarpentersDaughterUK you are both very welcome 🤗

[@franceshawe9572]

Great work done there. Well done. Make sure any eave vents are cclear to ventilate the loft.

[@franceshawe9572]

And wrap up water storage tank.

[@richardhart7652]

If you get a load of foam board insulation build a box around the header tank that goes all the way from it's top to the ceiling then make a gap in the ceiling insulation allowing some warmth up around the tank without it escaping into the loft space if you get something like a comfy boiler you don't need a header or hot water tank

[@TheCarpentersDaughterUK]

That sounds a great idea!! I might give that a go!

[@davideyres955]

I hate fibre glass insulation with a passion. I used the recycled plastic from B&Q. It dosnt itch at all. Bit expensive but it’s worth it. Not sure about how well it would do in a fire ,not as good as rockwool but if it’s on fire I’ll be out of the house like a rocket anyway. You’ve done a great job.

[@TheCarpentersDaughterUK]

Thanks so much and for the insight 😀 I was pleasantly surprised how much better the Knauf stuff is compared to the old fibreglass stuff I had to mess about with. By the time I'd moved onto the new stuff, my skin had had enough and can't imagine doing it without overalls and gloves 😆

[@sorbetingle]

Its nice to see they give you time off 'Question of Sport' to do home improvements 😁

[@TurinTuramber]

I used to do this for a living, hell in the summer in tiny lofts. The new stuff doesn't make me itch but the old glass fibre yellow stuff was torture. PIR insulation isn't perfect.

[@TheCarpentersDaughterUK]

You have my respect!!! It got hot up there at times with freezing weather outside lol. The yellow stuff up there is just awful, like I were being pricked with pins at times

[@catherinedeazeley2745]

Well done Vikkie the loft is looking good keep up the good work x

[@TheCarpentersDaughterUK]

Thanks so much! It was well worth doing!

[@markduggan3451]

I'm glad that you're feeling warmer.

[@Christopher_T_Paul]

Insulation is a must, but since putting in our loft insulation I find the humidity has increased in the home quite a lot and we see more condensation than before. We have had the insulation independently surveyed and its fine, so we are looking at installing a venting system in the loft to help tackle the increase in humidity.

[@elelegidosf9707]

That bay window in the dining room is quite bizarre. Reminds me of a 19th century shop front.

[@totherarf]

As you say ...... the modern stuff is a lot better than the old stuff! It is important to not cover those eve gaps up so as to allow air to circulate though!

[@Mike_5]

These properties are like fridges (Freezers?) with their non cavity insulation walls and underfloor external air ventilated foundations but it's all fun in the long run 🙃

[@shaun30-3-mg9zs]

Hi Vikkie, hope your well, not the best of jobs insulating the attic but it's got to be done and it dose make a lot of difference to your heating costs and as you said not as cold. Your are doing a great job , Take care of your selves, catch you soon

[@josephslack368]

Your water cylinder now looks like a delicious beef joint ready to go in the oven for Sunday dinner 🤣

[@TheCarpentersDaughterUK]

It does 😆

[@user-fo4xo2mf9k]

Nice job Vikkie, I remember doing my loft when I first moved in and I found it a detestable job. The itch and sweat together drove me crazy, was glad to get in the shower after 5 hours of toil.

[@sun2020able]

Great job.. better than professionals. You did fill all the gaps, pros will not do as extensive as you. The boiler copper pipes should be lagged too.

[@guywilkinson]

I used cosywool sheeps wool insulation from Celtic sustainables on two houses now. So easy to handle, only need a mask and sheep shears to cut it. No itch and a total pleasure to fit 😂

[@TheCarpentersDaughterUK]

That sounds pleasant :) Thankfully the Knauf stuff didn't irritate me, but I was fed up by the time I got to that area because handling the old stuff was blooming awful lol

[@Shaunie2k]

Great content I've seen other such as Gosforth Handyman help with putting sheet like insulation betwen the joists under floors to help with energy effiency.. I think Belinda Carr covered other stuff such as using Sheep or hemp wool for breathable insulation

[@TheCarpentersDaughterUK]

Now down a rabbit hole with Belinda's sheep wool video 😆😆

[@gflorey1975]

Great video - I agree being in the loft with fibreglass insulation is the worst job in the home! I had some heating pipe in the loft that I lagged and wrapped in silver foil. took ages to wrap the pipes.

[@katieh200]

Great job Vikki ,your hubby must be very proud of you 👍😉

[@kriskelly6458]

I would use armaflex/armacell tubing for the pipes. I don’t have any experience with this kind of stuff, but as a hvac insulator/lagger. I would use an insulation saw and knife for your cuts.

[@NickGriggs-gt2gd]

I topped up our loft, I found it was easier to do a half width section when trying lay the top roll out and get it into the eaves and around the rafters rather than trying to manhandle the full roll

[@DaddyBear3000]

Did you think about using a foil insulation under the fibreglass? Apparently it gives you an extra 3inch polystyrene insulation equivalence.

[@TheCarpentersDaughterUK]

I did wonder, but the additional prices hurt!!

[@etafws]

great job, I had to remove and do some work in loft recently , those overalls are great , cheap at toolstation , HOWEVER, FYI you do need some ventilation in the loft - otherwise you will get a lot of condensation and you will then very quickly get mold and rot - if you dont feel there is any or enough airflow , ventilation and you have laggged and blooked everything up - you can put in some soffett vents - to allow an airflow across the loft

[@TheWebtuts]

It's a tough job insulating the loft but you will notice the difference well done 👍

[@TheCarpentersDaughterUK]

Thanks! I'm glad we persevered as we've definitely noticed a difference!

[@TheWebtuts]

@@TheCarpentersDaughterUK I did the same to our bungalow, also 25mm Xtratherm to some walls that needed replastering and 100mm under the floor again were floors needed replacing. It's a lot of work and existence but it pays for it self.

[@jimstelfox6120]

We used central heating and a gas fire in our house, against the underfloor heating the 33 square m conservatory ( both gas ). The result was a difference of £5 less per day using the conservatory, also the central heating comes on for short periods twice a day. That’s the normal winter rates of uses, in summer our gas is standing charge only, whilst electric is £1.50 per day with solar panels and a battery. Not sold on ASHP yet due to noise and output in winter

[@frog-eye1420]

£1.50 per day plus the cost of the solar panels

[@thequietroom3991]

Use EcoQuilt next time, it's fully enclosed in a foil cover, minimal cutting for eaves and you can do that outside and re tape the open ends before you take it upstairs.

[@tom314]

I feel for you doing that job, I've done it myself when we moved into this house, if I need to do it again I'll pay someone else to do it! For determining how everything is constructed I've found a cheap endoscope incredibly useful, including with working out our energy losses. From my understanding a shrew is kind of handy to have, they're carnivorous and eat a lot (2-3 times their body weight per day), so in a house, they move in, eat any mice etc you have then run out of food and leave. We had one do a very effective job one year :) Sadly though, living in a rural location has some down sides, as the external temperature drops the mice look for somewhere warm to move into, in October/November we probably catch about 12 mice in the loft, then nothing for the rest of the year. They'll get in almost anywhere if they want to, they can climb amazingly well and fit through the smallest of gaps.

[@TheCarpentersDaughterUK]

Wow... sounds like I should've left the shrew in there 😆 have you ever found one in your loft in the past too? I've been told a few theories that a bird or prey probably dropped it on the roof. Also, well have to set up a switch up there for our plug in mice deterrent devices. Not sure they work, but touch wood, not seen life of any mice yet!

[@tom314]

@@TheCarpentersDaughterUK Ours shrew was in the house, happily not had any activity in the main house since it left. We did have mice, then we had a shrew, then we had nothing 🤣 We've not had one in the loft but there's no reason they couldn't walk up the inside of the cavity or one of the many other ways up. I'm not sure how our mice are getting in but they manage it. I need to try one of the plug in deterrents as well, let us know how it works :)

[@peterwentworth9181]

Good job done there. Got to be one of the worst jobs to do. However the rewards make it so worthwhile.

[@metsogrand]

I got it done for free, the trouble was the stench .It must have been stored in an old barn .I got them back to take it all away ,then had to clean downstairs . I then bought the foil coated stuff and non smelly insulation .Later I got double foiled rolls to cover the floored part . When you get round to removing the header tank . If it is plastic use an old saw to cut it into manageable bits .The big bonus is the money you will get from selling the copper pipes plus your boiler .

[@simonbaker3612]

A bit late now obviously 😂 but to reduce insulation on the floor of the loft you could have fitted insulating boards such as celotex in the rafters and used insulating tape on the joints. Saves extra work on the loft floor such as loft legs or additional woodwork

[@LoremIpsum1970]

Pros and cons of having a cold or warm loft...I'm more worried about any lack of cross-ventilation...

[@TheCarpentersDaughterUK]

I'd have loved to, but the costs for it put me off

[@derekmulready1523]

In Ireland the Government set up a program that all home owners could avail of a free insulation instillation. We have a wee humble cottage in the west of Ireland. The spray foam contractors were in and out in a day. And the cleaned up any mess which was minimal. 🇮🇪

[@LoremIpsum1970]

@@derekmulready1523 We have free loft insulation in the UK if you qualify, like being elderly and there are grants. We also have insurance firms refusing to insure if you have sprayed foam, forcing removal at cost, so you have to pick the right insurance firm.

[@alanpatterson2384]

You need a 2" gap between the roof tiles and the insulation. If the rafters are 4" deep, this means a maximum of 2" thick insulation. To overcome this, you have to batten out the rafters. Quite an expensive job, but it does give you a warmer lift.

[@frog-eye1420]

Top Tip for cutting the insulation use a large serrated bread knife it will slice through it like butter with far less mess. Never use a wood saw.

[@TheCarpentersDaughterUK]

I'd be worried how much longer this would take with a roll?

[@frog-eye1420]

@@TheCarpentersDaughterUK It's a bit like cutting a swiss roll , use a gentle sawing action. It cut's very quickly. Also a broom handle with a coat hook attached on the end was another useful tool for positioning and tucking in without having to laydown .

[@Petertronic]

Excellent job, so pleased to see that all done

[@billienomates1606]

I bought enough rolls of fibreglass insulation for my large house nearly 20 years ago and put the rolls in the loft ready to insulate the roof. 20 years later the rolls are still up there untouched purely because of the same issues you had in this video.

[@v88krb]

I'd have stripped off the old pipe lagging and put the new in its place which is how it is designed. When you now board off some of the loft, make sure not to compress the insulation. Also, when putting boards in place remember you may need access for new cabling in due course. With the header tank, lag round it as well as on top because the loft will now be colder. But well done, probably one of the worst DIY jobs and support another comment, cool shower afterwards. Keep going, long way to go yet.

[@artyonehundred]

I've boarded all my lofts (or extended existing boarding) apart from the one I have currently. (Access is extremely difficult so we aren't using for storage - and we have a barn anyway!) In each case I've basically ignored the fact that the insulation extends above the existing joists and just laid the boards on top; this compresses the insulation and I'm pretty sure it reduces its effectiveness. So my question is what *should* I have done? (And also how will you deal with this conundrum?) Keep up the good work!

[@TheCarpentersDaughterUK]

Very very good question. I've watched loads of videos now about not compressing it and do have an idea I might do, which I talk about in next week's video 😀

[@AK4ourty7even47]

Its worth cutting up the rolls outside so the dust is not all chucked up in the air

[@TheCarpentersDaughterUK]

I can understand with really old fibreglass insulation, but wouldn't bother doing that with the Knauf

[@BossmanEight]

Of all the tasks on a house build I hate insulating the most!

[@cjmillsnun]

same

[@LoremIpsum1970]

You only know if you've done a good enough job once you get a thermal camera and check all the ceilings for cold spots. Loft Vent Trays would maintain the eave vents, but they cost money... Have you thought of a 50mm airgap below any boarding otherwise you may risk condensation on the underside and joists?

[@TheCarpentersDaughterUK]

Yes... hoping to buy a thermal camera at some point but they're a bit expensive. And yes, I've researched lots of boarding videos and having an air gap, but so much more to consider to prevent ceiling cracking, so still pondering on it

[@LoremIpsum1970]

@@TheCarpentersDaughterUK There used to be free thermal camera loans from energy firms, like Octopus, bit late for this year but worth a Google. There's daily paid hire from Mark1Hire, etc. Got all my info from Steve the Roofer (who's open to questions btw) and from the old Fixmyroof channel...there's never a perfect solution!

[@rsporsche]

This brings back memories of knocking over a pile of glass wool as a child, shudder

[@confusedofhinckley5294]

At £200 (for a TDC001), some will feel that a thermal camera is an expensive toy, but boy is it good at spotting gaps in your insulation.

[@MorDreadful]

I would have thought you would go with PIR board which I believe doesn't need so much thickness, however, you do have quite a large loft space to stand in compared to my home which WILL use PIR board due to space being very minimal.

[@TheCarpentersDaughterUK]

I would have loved to, but the cost put me off. Also, there's very little information online about what air gap you need under boarding, and I wasn't sure how it would have been assessed with an EPC assessor as I was initially going to board areas first before it being assessed.

[@andreacrashe9894]

*Awesome job done... well done 🙂.*

[@norwegiangadgetman]

Still working though the backlog... The gaps between the rafters may be 56cm, but I would want to cut them at 57 or even 58cm because you want it snug up against the timbers. No gaps. With the top layer being at 90degrees to the bottom layer you reduce the 'cold transfers' a lot. Insulating the water heater. If you're using electricity for heating, this won't make much of a difference in the winter as the escaping heat from the heater will be added to the general heating of the building. In the summer it probably makes a bit of a difference, though. And if it was in an unheated area, such as a cellar or cold addition to the house, it really makes a difference. The water pipes in the attic? Should never have been there at all. It's a COLD attic. My guess it's a later addition. My apartment(co-op 2story apartment building in Northwestern Norway) is on the top floor, so I got the attic also(I really needed that... ) It had 20cm Glass wool from the beginning(current standard here is 30cm) so it's reasonably good. But I got some insulation foam, and filled around the chimney, and around the attic stairs. Then I got some 30mm glue-backed insulation for use in cars, and cut pieces that fits between the steps in the ladder hatchand also on the frame so that it would fit snugly onto the hatch when it's closed. That made a difference. I got an air-to-air heat-pump already the first year I lived in the apartment, and that really cut the power usage. (Big tip about those, only ever run it as 'heat' or 'cool', never run it on 'auto'. ) I don't have a regular FLIR camera, but I have a CAT S62 phone which comes with one built-in.

[@grahamlane1313]

Hi vikki i know what its like to work with insulation i ve done it few times at work and sound deadening insulation .the mask is aproblem as the one i had the water in me breath would collect in the bottom under mouth so i had to wipe out once in a while

[@mallymac9761]

I always take my circular saw to B&Q 😊but yeah this is up there with the worst of DIY you melt doing it in summer and freeze if you do it in winter

[@HouseFairyDIY]

I bet you're glad that's over and done with! Horrid job! But at least it wasn't fibreglass. I've handled that before when insulating my van. I stuffed sandwich bags with it. Even though I did it outside, I still ended up with horribly irritated skin. You have a huge loft. Maybe you could convert it into living accommodation.

[@antonywilde8496]

Just a little tip although a bit late now lol but when sawing the insulation saw a bit then snap it over your knee

[@TheCarpentersDaughterUK]

I tried so many times and gave up looking for quick ways in the end 😅 they were stubborn!!!

[@jean-marcgruninger9019]

i remember doing the loft insulation in my house, it is the worst job i have done so far.

[@tine8849]

I think I'd be using PIR, Recycled plastic insulation and SuperQuilt. I really don't fancy using mineral wool.

[@TheCarpentersDaughterUK]

The Knauf stuff was a pleasure to use... but the old yellow fibreglass drove me insane. It didn't just itch... it felt like I were being pricked with pins 😬

[@tine8849]

@@TheCarpentersDaughterUK Ah So it's the old fibreglass stuff that was the problem not the new stuff.

[@confusedofhinckley5294]

Yes, the newer knauf stuff is way, way better. More like raw unspun wool!

[@TheCarpentersDaughterUK]

Yes, I agreed with this. It was a soft woolly feel that didn't aggravate at all

[@normanboyes4983]

Well done Vickie. Insulating the loft is well within the scope of any DIYer, however it is a horrible, awkward job and painful job that you wish you had never started. But you chose the right time of year to tackle the job and being the right side of 70 years old does help a tad. Just one comment - Do you really need to keep the cold water tank?

[@ArtwithKrissy]

looks proper cosy! welldone!

[@jamescharlton924]

Feel the pain have done this before and was really struggling post it. Had hives and needed anti histamines

[@headleshydra]

Shoving insulation down a cavity wall like that breaches the damp course. In other words, your insulation acts like a straw, sucking moisture from the external to interior walls, introducing moisture/mold inside the home!

[@TheCarpentersDaughterUK]

Useful tip for anyone wanting to put it in from scratch, thankyou. We simply topped up the existing insulation, whatever we put in didn't go down more than a foot so obviously isn't anywhere near the dpc. Whatever is already there has been there for 30 years causing no damp issues.

[@alistairmcleod3924]

your B&Q not do a cutting service ? ours does worth checking saves a lot of hassle :)

[@TheCarpentersDaughterUK]

I wish my local one did, but sadly not. It's nearly an hour's drive for a cutting service.

[@richardjones5255]

I originally tried to wrap my insulation across the ceiling and up around the water tank, so that the tank was in is own insulation iglu, but getting heat from below as long as the house was heated. I recently had a large step up in the insulation, it was pricy as I had other work done at the same time, was it worthwhile? I hope so, I am too old and unstable not to mention lacking in flexibility. The last major work I did up there was quarter of a century ago and now I do not move so well. At this time of year heating can be expensive, I go over your £400 a month, but come the end of February until November it drops down a long way.

[@cjmillsnun]

I hate insulating lofts. I was itchy for a week after I did mine. Never again. Not sure the hot water tank needed the jacket as it was already insulated.

[@jonb8241]

Proper grafter… job well done 👍

[@jakeblair4215]

Get recyclable bottles from BQ and dont cover the vents in the attic

[@rjamsbury1]

if I had to do mine again I'd use loose fill between the joists and rolls across. Very little cutting the hateful stuff

[@TheCarpentersDaughterUK]

I'd definitely use the Knauf stuff again. That was bliss compared to the nasty old yellow stuff we have up there.

[@rjamsbury1]

@@TheCarpentersDaughterUK yeah I used rolls made from recycled plastic which meant no itching but it was a bugger to cut!

[@Evil-cc9yd]

There’s a new insulation type that’s recycled plastic bottles. I only ever use it. No itch, not much dust. Rodents don’t nest in it. More effective. Once you’ve used it you’ll never go back! 😊

[@peterpage7322]

Nice to use but much more expensive!

[@grahamlane1313]

There is a trick with insulation once you cut the roll do nt undo the plastic i used to move the roll close to the end wall then undo plastic but just unroll it leave plastic undernesth it then you can slide about to where need it then just quickly pull the from under the insulation its lot easier to move it to where its needed

[@Lee.Willcox]

I paid £8 for new windows. I put up a double layer of insulation in our loft. I also installed modern electric rads that can be independently controlled by an app. All was great for bout 6 months. But...... Because I was saving so much wonga, the cunts put the energy prices up by over 200%. I am now paying £20,00 a day in electricity rather than the £3 to £4 I was before I did all the work and the prices went up. They will always make their money back no matter what we or you do to insulate. As soon as we do the right thing to save energy costs, the suppliers lose out and put the price up.

[@davidbroadfoot1864]

Your story makes no sense at all. If you were paying £3 to £4 per month before the price went up, even ignoring your reduced energy usage, a 200% price increase would result in a £9 to £12 per month bill ... not £20. A 200% price increase is also hard to believe in any case.

[@Lee.Willcox]

@@davidbroadfoot1864 You twat calling me a liar. I can prove it. Perhaps I have been scammed by Octopus Energy. Do they owe me money? You know so much about me perhaps you can help us get a refund. Of course you can't, but I don't think you are clued up enough for it. I don't believe you know what you are talking about. However, I have the bills and online statements. Which energy company do you work for ? Please help if you can ?

[@craigevans9617]

There's not many jobs as grim as loft insulating, that looked like a quality job well done though by the end. You'll save so much money over the lifetime of the property without all your cash floating up out of your loft.

[@TheCarpentersDaughterUK]

Thank you and we hope so. If we have to add some more at a later date, then we will, but also look elsewhere in the house too 😊

[@jack504]

Worst for me was adding insulation to a suspended wooden floor on the ground floor. 2-3ft deep crawl space with lots of rubble and 100 years of dust fallen between the floor boards. Shuffling on back, cutting insulation and staple gunning netting to hold it in place above your head is no fun.

[@TheCarpentersDaughterUK]

That doesn't sound nice at all!!!!!

[@jack504]

​@@TheCarpentersDaughterUK great effort btw, love the can do attitude! You could consider ditching the header tank if you're upgrading the heating system, less chance of leaks from above. I have a 300l hot water tank, 12 rads but no header tank in the loft. Look up unvented systems

[@TheCarpentersDaughterUK]

Thanks! It's something we are considering 😀

[@Pete.Ty1]

👍👍👍.Thanks Vikkie

[@handyjim]

great job

[@charvais]

Its too late but for future jobs rather than use a wood saw to cut the insulation, use a saw called Bacho serated saw (less if ... no dust). Look the same as your saw but does not have teeth its just like a bread knife. It goid for solid insulation boards too!

[@user-yh5kg9lw3u]

Beware that you have kept ventilation or you may cause condensation have seen lofts running in damp

[@TheCarpentersDaughterUK]

Yes, I talk about and show how I ensured there was 50mm clearance all around in eaves