Roof Insulation - Is It Worth It? - Pricewise Insulation

Insulation works by regulating heat flow, into and out of your home, keeping it warmer in winter and cooler in summer. Choosing to install the right roof insulation products means you can save between 25% to 35% of your homes lost energy all year round. Roof insulation batts are available in a variety of R-values, we recommend a minimum of R4.0 or above. If you live in Melbourne or Sydney it is recommended to upgrade to an R5.0 or R6.0 for higher thermal benefits. There are two main types of roof insulation products; bulk and reflective foil.

Roof Insulation Batts – Bulk Material

Bulk insulation is the most common type of insulation. It has millions of tiny air products that traps still air within its structure. In summer, bulk insulation prevents hot air in the ceiling cavity from entering your home. Whilst in winter, it prevents warm air from escaping and creates a controlled temperature within your home. Roof insulation products make from bulk material are available in batt, blanket and board forms. Additionally, roof insulation batts are made from a variety of materials such as; polyester, natural wool, glass wool, rockwool, cellulose fiber, expanded polystyrene (EPS) and extruded polystyrene (XPS) material.

Comparison Of Bulk Insulation Types

Material	Benefits	Environmentally Friendly	Soundproofing Capabilities
Polyester	Non-allergenic properties and itch-free	Made from recycled plastic bottles	High – soundproofing products available
Natural Wool	Allergy friendly and itch-free	Made from natural sheep’s wool	Low
Glass Wool	Cost-effective, easy to handle and install	Made from up to 80% recycled glass	High – soundproofing products available
Rockwool	High fire resistance and bushfire attack level	Made from stone (such as basalt)	Medium
Cellulose Fiber	High thermal performance and can achieve high R-values	Made from up to 85% recycled paper fiber	Medium
Expanded Polystyrene (EPS)	High durability, lightweight and cost-effective	Non-degradable, but can be easily recycled	Low
Extruded Polystyrene (XPS)	High performance, lightweight and water resistant	Non-degradable, but can be mechanically recycled	Low

Reflective Foil – Roof Insulation Products

Foil insulation also known as reflective foil works to prevent the transfer of radiation heat across spaces and objects. Reflective foil can be installed under the roof and is most effective when facing an empty cavity space of at least 25mm. Reflective foil is available in the following roof insulation products; foil faced blankets, sarking, foil faced boards and multi-cell foil products. Reflective foil can be used in conjunction with bulk insulation such as roof insulation batts to ensure heat is reflected in summer and retained in winter. Pricewise insulation offers a range of cheap roof insulation products in both reflective foil and bulk material.

Recommended R-values for Roof Insulation Products

Roof insulation batts are available in a variety of R-values ranging from an R2.5 to R6.0. At Pricewise insulation we recommend a minimum of R4.0 or greater. The higher the R-value the greater the thermal performance therefore it is only an advantage to increase the R-value rating in your roof. Roof insulation batts can be added in more than one layer. Adding a double layer of roof insulation negates the effects of thermal bridging and seals any gaps that may be present in the first layer. For more great tips and advice about our cheap roof insulation visit our “How to install insulation” page.