Attic Insulation

Open cell spray foam insulation is used in residential applications and this includes attic insulation. It has outstanding thermal resistance and creates an airtight seal. 

In Ireland, with our cold winters, keeping a house warm can be expensive. Especially since the introduction of the Carbon Tax, which has consistently increased from Budget to Budget, meaning that the cost of home heating will continue to increase. One solution is to put on extra clothes and suffer with the cold. The other; is to use proper attic insulation, and literally put a lid on an expensive heating bill. Properly insulating your attic will:

• Reduce your heating bills by improving your energy efficiency
• Increase your home comfort levels
• Support the climate by reducing your own greenhouse gas carbon emissions

What is the best type of insulation for an attic?

Spray foam insulation is widely recognised as the best form of insulation in achieving an airtight seal in your attic. As well as not being able to provide an air-tight seal, traditional insulation types such as particle based fibreglass can lead to health issues such as respiratory ailments due to the inhalation of particles.

Here is a case study from the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland (SEAI) where a homeowner has replaced fibreglass insulation with spray foam insulation:

Mary has a four bedroom detached house with a footprint of 150m2. She has an annual heating bill of €1,600. Mary previously had 100mm of fibreglass insulation between her rafters but decided to upgrade the insulation in her attic to a spray foam insulation. Mary now benefits from more comfortable living conditions as well as a cost saving of over 200 each year on her home heating bill.

At Pro Spray Foam Insulations we use EZero 500 from CPI FOAM and Synthesia Technology  from Red Letter Supplies which have both been tested by the National Standards Authority of Ireland (NSAI) and been awarded its coveted Agrément Certificate.

Do you need attic ventilation with spray foam?

Build regulations stipulate that a 50mm air gap is required between insulation material and the roofing felt unless the roof has been counter battened. To achieve this 50mm air gap we employ CPI Foam’s unique rigid breathable vent card. The breathable vent card is attached to the rafters 50mm from the roofing felt then the foam is sprayed directly on the card between the rafters leaving an air gap for water vapour to mix with the outside air. The vent card allows your roof timbers to breathe while maintaining a continuous airtight seal. CPI’s vent card is the only card that has been tested in Irish climatic conditions by the NSAI.

How much does it cost to spray foam insulate an attic?

The cost of spray foam insulation in Ireland depends on a number of factors:

• The type of spray foam insulation you require. For most residential of office applications we use open cell spray foam, but for commercial and Industrial application on metal or concrete surfaces we use closed cell spray foam.
• The area that you require to insulate. When insulating a large area the economies of scale will reduce the costs.
• The depth of the foam required. Depending on the required U value, the depth of the foam required will vary, as will the cost of the spray foam.
• Access. If scaffolding or a crane are required, or if your attic is hard to access, this will change the price too.

To get the best insulation for your attic, give Pro Spray Foam Insulations a call. Our installers are fully trained and NSAI Certified.