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NEXT GENERATION INSULATION

Loft Insulation

High-performance loft insulation installed by specialists who understand your roof. Sheep wool, SuperFOIL, and mineral wool. TrustMark registered. Free home survey across Leicester, Nottingham, Derby, Birmingham, and the wider Midlands.

Why Loft Insulation Matters

A poorly insulated loft loses up to 25 percent of your home’s heat through the roof. That heat loss forces your boiler to run longer, pushes your energy bills higher, and leaves upstairs rooms noticeably colder than they should be.

Installing loft insulation is one of the most cost-effective improvements you can make to your home. Once installed, it works every day for decades with no maintenance, no running costs, and no moving parts. Most homeowners save several hundred pounds a year on heating bills, and the installation typically pays for itself within a few years.

We install loft insulation across the Midlands for homeowners who want to reduce their energy bills, improve comfort, or bring an older property up to a modern thermal standard. Every installation starts with a free home survey where we inspect the loft, assess the roof structure, and recommend the right insulation for your property.

Choosing the Right Insulation

Not all insulation materials work in all properties. The age of your home, the type of roof structure, the available headroom in the loft, and whether the loft is used for storage all affect which product is the best fit. We install three main types of loft insulation:

Sheep Wool Insulation

Sheep wool is a natural, breathable insulation material that is well suited to older properties, particularly those built before 1930 with traditional timber roof structures.

The key advantage of sheep wool is that it is hygroscopic, which means it absorbs and releases moisture naturally without losing its insulating properties. In an older roof where some air movement through the structure is normal, this is important. Insulation materials that trap moisture rather than managing it can cause condensation, damp, and timber rot. Sheep wool works with the roof rather than against it.

Other properties of sheep wool:

  • Non irritant to handle and produces no airborne fibres during installation
  • Naturally fire resistant because wool does not sustain a flame
  • Treated during manufacture to resist clothes moths
  • Acoustic insulator as well as thermal
  • Sourced from British sheep
  • Lifespan of 60 years or more

We install sheep wool between and over the ceiling joists for cold roof insulation, or between the rafters for warm roof applications. The recommended thickness depends on the target U value for your property.

Sheep Wool Insulation is a natural alternative that we recommend for homes where breathability is a priority.

SuperFOIL Insulation

SuperFOIL is a multi layer reflective foil insulation designed for situations where space is limited. It consists of multiple layers of foil and wadding compressed into a thin flexible sheet that delivers thermal performance similar to much thicker traditional insulation materials.

SuperFOIL is particularly effective in:

  • Lofts where headroom is limited and thick insulation would reduce usable space
  • Rafter level insulation in rooms built into the roof space
  • Properties where the loft is used for storage and access needs to be maintained
  • Newer properties that need to meet current Building Regulations thermal standards

SuperFOIL acts as both insulation and a radiant barrier. It reflects heat back into the home during winter and reflects solar heat away during summer, helping regulate temperature throughout the year. It is moisture resistant and non flammable.

SuperFOIL products are manufactured in the UK and are BBA certified by the British Board of Agrément, confirming they meet the performance standards stated by the manufacturer.

Mineral Wool Insulation

Mineral wool (also called glass wool or rock wool) is the most commonly used loft insulation material in the UK. It is the yellow or green fibrous material found in most lofts that have been insulated at some point. Brands like Knauf, Isover, and Rockwool are the most widely used.

Mineral wool is effective, affordable, and widely available. We install it where it is the most practical option for the property, typically in newer homes or where the existing mineral wool needs topping up to the current recommended depth of 270mm.

If your loft already has mineral wool insulation but it was installed years ago and has compressed or become thin, topping it up to 270mm can make a significant difference to your heating bills. We remove old, degraded fibreglass insulation where necessary and replace it with new mineral wool to the correct depth.

Vapour Control Barrier

A vapour control barrier is a critical part of any loft insulation installation and we fit one as standard on every project.

The barrier is a membrane installed on the warm side of the insulation, between the insulation and the living space below. Its purpose is to prevent warm, moisture laden air from passing through the insulation and reaching the cold roof structure above where it would condense and cause damp.

Without a vapour control barrier, new insulation can actually make condensation problems worse. The insulation keeps the loft space colder, which increases the temperature difference between the warm air rising from the house and the cold roof above. That temperature difference is what causes condensation. The vapour control barrier stops the warm air reaching the cold surface in the first place.

This is one of the reasons spray foam insulation causes problems. Spray foam creates a seal but does not manage moisture in the same way a properly installed vapour control barrier does. If you have had spray foam removed and need replacement insulation, the vapour control barrier is part of preventing the issue from returning.

Cold Roof and Warm Roof Insulation

There are two ways to insulate a loft, and the right approach depends on how the loft is used:

Cold roof insulation is where the insulation is laid at ceiling joist level on the floor of the loft. The loft space above the insulation remains cold and ventilated. This is the standard approach for lofts that are not used as living space. It is the most cost effective method and is suitable for most properties. The recommended insulation depth at ceiling joist level is 270mm for mineral wool, or equivalent performance for sheep wool or SuperFOIL.

Warm roof insulation is where the insulation is fitted between or over the rafters at roof level. The loft space sits inside the insulated envelope of the house, so it stays warm. This approach is used when the loft is converted into a living space, or when the homeowner wants to use the loft for storage without compressing the insulation. Warm roof insulation requires a vapour control barrier and careful detailing to avoid condensation within the roof structure.

We install both cold roof and warm roof insulation. During the free survey we assess your loft and recommend the approach that best suits how you use the space.

Loft Insulation for Older Properties

Older properties, particularly those built before 1930, need insulation that works with the way the building was designed to breathe. Traditional construction used lime mortar, lath and plaster, and natural materials that allow moisture to move through the fabric of the building. Sealing these buildings with modern airtight materials can trap moisture and cause problems including damp, condensation, and timber decay.

This is why we recommend sheep wool insulation for most older properties. Its ability to absorb and release moisture without losing thermal performance makes it compatible with traditional construction. Combined with a properly installed vapour control barrier, sheep wool insulation improves thermal performance without disrupting the moisture balance that the building relies on.

We have insulated hundreds of older properties across the Midlands, including Victorian terraces, Edwardian semi detached homes, 1920s and 1930s houses, and rural cottages with non standard roof structures. We understand the challenges these properties present and choose materials and installation methods accordingly.

What Happens During Installation

1. Free home survey

We visit your property and inspect the loft space. We check the existing insulation (if any), the condition of the roof timbers and felt, the ventilation, and any signs of damp or condensation. We measure the space and discuss how you use the loft. You receive a written quote with our recommendation for the best insulation type and installation method.

2. Preparation

On the day of installation, we protect your home from dust and debris. If old insulation needs removing (for example degraded fibreglass or insulation contaminated by pests), we strip it out and dispose of it. We clear the loft space ready for the new installation.

3. Installation

We install the insulation to the recommended depth and specification, including the vapour control barrier. For ceiling joist insulation, the material is laid between and over the joists. For rafter insulation, it is fitted between or over the rafters with careful attention to airtightness and continuity.

4. Clean up

We clear all waste and packaging, vacuum the work area, and leave the loft and your home clean and tidy.

5. Documentation

You receive documentation confirming the materials installed, the depths and coverage achieved, and the guarantee terms.

Most loft insulation installations are completed in less than a day. Larger lofts or warm roof installations may take a day and a half.

Areas We Cover

We install loft insulation across the East Midlands and West Midlands:

  • Leicester and surrounding areas including Loughborough, Hinckley, Market Harborough, and Melton Mowbray
  • Nottingham and surrounding areas including Beeston, West Bridgford, Arnold, and Mansfield
  • Derby and surrounding areas including Burton upon Trent, Belper, Ilkeston, and Long Eaton
  • Birmingham and the wider West Midlands including Solihull, Wolverhampton, Walsall, and Coventry
  • Stafford and surrounding areas including Stone, Rugeley, and Cannock

Loft Insulation FAQs

The cost of loft insulation depends on the size of the loft, the type of insulation, and whether existing insulation needs removing first. We provide a detailed written quote after a free home survey with no obligation.

Loft insulation takes less than a day to install in most homes. Larger lofts or warm roof installations may take a day and a half. We agree a date that suits your schedule.

You can save several hundred pounds a year on your energy bills with loft insulation. A poorly insulated loft loses up to 25 percent of your home’s heat, so installing insulation to the recommended standard makes a significant difference. The exact saving depends on your property type, existing insulation, and heating system.

The best insulation for your home depends on the age and construction of your property. For older homes built before 1930, we recommend breathable sheep wool insulation. For newer homes or where space is limited, SuperFOIL multi-layer foil is a good option. For straightforward top-ups on newer properties, mineral wool to 270mm depth is effective and affordable. We recommend the best option during the free survey.

Yes, you need a vapour control barrier with any loft insulation installation. It is installed on the warm side of the insulation to prevent condensation forming in the roof structure. We install one as standard with every project.

Yes, you can still use your loft for storage after insulation is installed, but it depends on the installation method. With ceiling joist insulation, you should avoid compressing the insulation by placing items directly on top of it, as this reduces its effectiveness. We can install raised storage platforms above the insulation to give you storage space without compromising performance. With rafter-level insulation, the full loft floor remains available for storage.

If your existing loft insulation has compressed, become damp, or is less than 270mm deep, it is not performing as well as it should. We can top up existing mineral wool to the correct depth, or remove degraded insulation and replace it with a more effective material. A free survey will confirm what is needed.

Loft insulation will not cause condensation if it is installed correctly with a vapour control barrier. Condensation problems arise when warm, moist air from the living spaces below reaches the cold roof structure above the insulation. The vapour control barrier prevents this. This is also why spray foam insulation causes condensation problems – it seals the roof space without properly managing moisture. Breathable insulation with a vapour control barrier is the correct approach.

Yes, we are TrustMark registered. This means our work meets government-endorsed standards for quality, customer protection, and technical competence.

What Our Customers Say

Graham Anderson

1 week ago

I foolishly had my loft insulated with spray foam, led astray by Government promotion of this type of loft insulation. I obtained a de…..

Samantha Watts

2 weeks ago

We recently used Next Generation Insulation to diagnose the cause of damp in our loft and provide the right solution. Dean was very clear..

Jane Downing

2 weeks ago

Next Generation did a fantastic job of installing loft insulation. Fitted us in at very short notice with a reasonably priced quote. Lovely team….

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