R3.5 Insulation
Insulating your roof with R3.5 insulation helps to reduce energy bills and improve comfort. Many bulk-built homes in Melbourne and Sydney have low ratings such as R2.5 insulation in the ceiling. You can top this up with an additional layer of R3.5 ceiling insulation batts.
R3.5 Insulation – Brands & Warranty
Many homes have some form of insulation; however, the effectiveness of this insulation may have declined over the years because of moisture or other issues. Insulation is designed to continue to save money and provide home comfort for the life of the building. Knauf Earthwool and Autex Greenstuf offer product warranties of 50 years. Bradford Insulation offers a 70 year warranty and Fletcher Pink Batts offers a lifetime consumer warranty. R3.5 insulation is available in both glasswool and polyester materials, for example:
R3.5 Glasswool Insulation | R3.5 Polyester Insulation |
Fletcher Pink Batts | Bradford Polymax |
Knauf Earthwool | Autex Greenstuf |
Bradford Gold | Other Generic Brands |
Installing R3.5 Insulation In Tight Spaces
Where it’s obvious that it will be difficult, if not impossible, to insulate the entire ceiling area after plaster, you may need to settle for compromise. Install any ‘problem areas’ before plaster, and then load the remaining bags in the ceiling for easy access when climbing up ‘after plaster’ to finish job. Additionally, avoid any gaps in the insulation to ensure that the maximum R-value potential is being reached. Remember that although there is a squeeze to fit the insulation in tight spaces, do not compress bulk insulation as this can significantly reduce its effectiveness.
Add a Layer of R3.5 Insulation
If the insulation was installed during the Government Home Insulation Scheme, then it is worth checking if the insulation was installed correctly. Even small gaps can greatly reduce the effectiveness of the batts. Depending on the thickness of the existing insulation, you can consider adding R3.5 insulation batts.