This is the ceiling insulation DIY guide. If you are prepared to install the insulation yourself and save a bit of money, follow our DIY roof insulation guide. It will help avoid many potential problems that may arise.
Before you start installing the ceiling insulation
Make sure you are up for a challenge. You will have to crawl around in a pretty confined space. It will also be dirty and full of dust up there.
Before you commit to this DIY insulation project, make sure you are comfortable working in small spaces. You have to be able to manoeuvre the bulk aerolite or isotherm rolls in your roof. After all, you will be up there for quite some time.
It’s probably good to take a look what is in your roof before you start. Usually, you will find lots of dust, spider webs, and some ants. Occasionally we will come across a wasps nest. It’s a good idea to have someone to help you. When we install insulation in the roof, we always work in teams of 2-3 installers. Not only does this help with speed and safety, but helps you move the bulk roof insulation aerolite or isotherm rolls from one end to another comfortably. Having someone to help makes a huge difference.
Remember: You will be installing it around a lot of wiring and cabling in your roof. Look out for any potential roof hazards in the ceiling before you begin installing.
Measuring & Buying DIY Roof Insulation
When you are ready to buy the insulation for the DIY installation, take a look at the different products available. The most common products on the market include polyester and fibreglass. There will be a range of pricing on all the different thicknesses available. But don’t forget you always get what you pay for. It’s best to stick with the recommended thickness and R-value for your climatic region in South Africa.
DIY aerolite insulation can be quite a difficult task. You will need to wear protective gear from head to toe to avoid the fibreglass insulation. Fiberglass is generally very unpleasant to work with in your roof. It can cause skin allergies. Make sure you are wearing a face mask with goggles, gloves and overalls. We recommend installing DIY isotherm insulation in your ceiling. The product is none-itch and allergy free.
When measuring up your home, make sure you measure accurately. You need to make sure you buy the correct size for your beam distance width. Isotherm comes with a pre-cut 750mm wide roll for homes with tiled roofs. This means less cutting in the roof when installing. You just pull the product out of the bag and fit it snuggly between each beam.
Don’t buy too much insulation for the DIY aerolite or isotherm install. Once you have taken the measurement buy enough product to insulate around 85% of your home. You can always return to the supplier and buy a few more rolls if you are short. Sometimes it’s difficult to return rolls to the supplier once it has been purchased.
Installing ceiling insulation DIY – doing it right
One of the most important things when taking on a DIY aerolite or isotherm installation is to make sure you leave no gaps. The heat will flow through any gaps you have left after installation. The quality of your installation makes a huge difference on the chosen products ability to restrict heat flow. It will comprise your entire DIY roof insulation project for sure!
Certain areas of the installation will require you to leave gaps. Areas with downlights and Chimneys for example. Downlights pose a huge fire risk if any home insulation product was to cover them. Sufficient space must be left around each light.
Mind your step in your roof when installing. It is quite a challenge moving yourself and bulk insulation rolls around with you as you install. If you where to put your foot through the ceiling, you would end up losing all the money you were trying to save doing the DIY.
DIY or Professional Installation?
If all this seems a bit much and you would rather have professionals in to do the installation. Let us know and we will send a team out to do the installation quickly and hassle-free. Our teams of installers are fully qualified to insulate homes. Our install price per square metre is reasonably modest considering the difficulty of each installation we do.
