Attic Insulation in Ireland
Attic Insulation in Ireland - what's the cost of insulating your attic? What grants are available? What savings can you expect? Does my attic need insulating? This article looks at costs, benefits and savings of insulating your attic in Ireland.
With another cold Winter nearly upon us, it's high time to check the state of our attic insulation. If it's ancient, well worn or simply not there, then it's time to do think about insulating. Yes, it will save you money (about 30% of heat is lost through the roof). It will also improve your quality of life. Without attic insulation, your house will cool down fast as soon as the heat is turned off.
Do I Need Attic Insulation
If your attic insulation is more than 6 inches deep, then spend your money on other energy improvements. Here are some areas you might have missed:
- Draft proofing your attic door
- Insulating pipe to avoid freezing
- Insulating around your water tank - not directly below.
- Getting a water tank heater
If your attic insulation looks like it's getting thin, then read on...
Costs
The SEAI website provides a couple of useful case studies.
Attic Insulation Study 1
In the first case study, a homeowner with an annual heating bill of €1,600 insulates the attic of a 4 bedroom detached house which is 400 square metres in size.
The insulation was a standard glasswool roll, fitted by contractors at ceiling level i.e. on the attic floor. Typical costs are between €700 and €1,000 (well worth while shopping for a good price there!). The upgrades was covered by the SEAI Better Energy Homes grant scheme which provided a grant of €200.
In order to qualify for the grant, the homeowner also needs to carry out a BER on the house after the work was completed. She was also provided with a grant of €80 towards the cost of the BER. In all, the homeowner can be expected to save €250 per year on her heating bill.
Attic Insulation Study 2
In the second case study, the same homeowner with an annual heating bill of €1,600 insulates the attic of a 4 bedroom detached house which is 400 square metres in size.
In this case, the insulation was 100mm of fibre glass insulation fitted between the attif rafters. Typical costs are between €2,500 and €3,500 (again well worth while shopping for a good price). The upgrades was covered by the SEAI Better Energy Homes grant scheme which provided a grant of €200. In order to qualify for the grant, the homeowner also needs to carry out a BER on the house after the work was completed. She was also provided with a grant of €80 towards the cost of the BER.
In all, the homeowner can be expected to save €200 per year on her heating bill.
