R3.0 ceiling insulation is slowly being phased out in Australia. We recommend upgrading to R3.5 ceiling insulation or higher for a superior thermal result. Installing R3.0 ceiling insulation will help you to reduce your reliance on heating and cooling, however it is no longer considered sufficient for most Australian homes.

R3.0 Insulation – Choosing R-Value

To further reduce your energy savings, we recommend upgrading to a R-value higher than R3.0 ceiling insulation. When choosing what R-value is best for your home, you need to take in consideration the building design, climate, energy costs, your budget and personal preference. If a comfortable, energy efficient home is a priority then you could consider opting for a higher R-value than what is on your energy report. The minimum insulation level required by the BCA for Melbourne, Canberra, Hobart, Sydney, Adelaide, Perth, Brisbane is an R-value of 4.1, however as 35% of heating and cooling, gains and losses occur through a homes ceiling it is recommended to install a higher R-value for greater energy savings and to further reduce your energy bills.

R3.0 Insulation - Glasswool or Polyester

Glasswool insulation as the name suggests is made from recycled glass material and is the common insulation material used in residential homes and commercial buildings world-wide. Glasswool fibres contain air pockets that trap the air and restrict heat from transferring through it. In comparison, polyester insulation is made from recycled plastics such as drink bottles. It works in a similar way to glasswool by trapping air; it is naturally a hydrophobic material, is quick drying and is largely unaffected by moisture. Polyester is non-allergenic and safe for asthma sufferers. Glasswool and polyester are both great materials for insulation, however comparing brands and R-values can help you to find the right insulation for your home.

R3.0 Ceiling Insulation – Installing Tips

It is recommended when insulating a ceiling to install the R3 ceiling insulation after it has been plastered. This ensures all the insulation fits snugly and allows the installers to trim the insulation more accurately around lights and vents. However, if the roof slopes to a very low pitch, some areas can be very difficult to install after plaster, so in these cases there is a compromise. Pre-load the ceiling and install the difficult areas before plaster. Simply measure up the areas you can envisage being the most difficult and put aside the required number of bags to cover these challenging areas, making sure these are installed before the plaster is screwed into place. Areas that are often tricky to get to are the corners, and any rooms that extend beyond the regular contour of the house.

The Corners: As well as requiring lots of cutting for all the triangular joists you will see there, there are often big support beams in the ceiling making them very difficult to access.

Extended Areas: If the house is a square or rectangle, all the corners will generally have the same pitch of roof. But any rooms extending beyond the regular shape of the house, will often have a lower pitch, as well as requiring more framing, making it less accessible.