6 Winter Roof Insulation Tips

The winter months are fast approaching, and that usually means cosy evenings in, big scarfs, hot chocolates and sitting by log fires. However, this year with temperatures dropping and energy bills soaring, you’d be forgiven for hoping that the winter months pass by quickly and without too many chilly (or expensive) days and nights.

But let’s not make this all doom and gloom; there is some good news. You can make this colder season more enjoyable and budget-friendly by being proactive and taking the right steps. The most important being insulating your home, and more specifically, your roof.

In this guide, we will share with you some of our top tips for insulating your roof this year, so you can have the cosy, relaxing winter you deserve.

1. First, check your roof  

Before you begin to insulate your roof, it’s a good idea to give it a thorough check-over to make sure there aren’t any bigger issues at play. For example, insulating your roof is all well and good, but if you’ve got a leak, this will only last so long and only be partially effective.

It’s a good idea to check both the inside and outside of your roof. But if you’re not comfortable doing this yourself, you could always hire a professional to do this for you.

Whilst checking your roof, some of the signs to look out for include missing roof tiles or shingles, water damage, excessive moss growth or streams of light coming through your roof from the inside. If you notice any of these signs, you need to address the issue as soon as possible, particularly with the wetter, colder months coming.

2. Choose the right insulation  

You need to determine which insulation is going to be the most effective for your roof. This will depend on whether you have loft access or not and whether you have converted your loft space into a room.  

If you have a traditional pitched roof with no real loft to speak of, these sloping roofs might be best suited to solid insulation boards between the joists or using fibreglass or mineral wool batts. If you’re planning on converting your loft at a later date, it’s best to insulate your roof properly first.

Spray foam can also be a great way to insulate your roof, filling in all the gaps for extra warmth. The only problem is, this can be tricky to do alone. You might be better off getting the professionals in to help if you intend to do this.

But no matter what you do, it’s a good idea to do some research and find out what type of insulation will be best for your home. It might be better to have a professional look at this first, as they will be able to advise on whether wool, foam or boards are best for your property.

3. Insulate the floor

In a loft conversion, whether you use it as a room or just for storage, it’s also a good idea to insulate the floor for extra energy efficiency. This will typically mean using fibreglass or mineral wool again in between the joists before applying your chosen boards or flooring. 

4. Go from the outside  

You can also insulate your roof from the outside for extra protection and warmth, though it’s best to do this if you’re already doing some building or refurbishments to the roof. This is because you might need to remove all the tiles, slates or shingles to add additional insulation and roof boards. You can then re-attach these once you’re done.

5. Think about the windows

If you’ve converted your loft, you might have put skylights in. Alternatively, you might have dormer windows on your property within your pitched roof. These windows can let heat escape if not installed or maintained properly.

You might wish to have these windows changed if they are outdated, upgrading them to double glazing if they aren’t already. Alternatively, you can use foam rollers to seal up gaps that might be letting in a draught.

6. Don’t neglect the pipes  

As a final step to truly insulate your roof and home for the best results, it’s also a good idea to insulate any pipes and water tanks in your roof. As the loft can be one of the coldest places in your house, the water in your pipes can take longer to heat or, in extreme weather, could even freeze. Using foam tubes or wool insulation, you can cover your pipes and make your home even more energy efficient.