When it comes to re-roofing there are strict regulations to help improve the insulation at the same time the roof is opened. The roof is not only there to protect a property from weathering, but also accounts for 25% of a building’s heat loss.
Newer homes are built with better insulation and hold a lower U-value, but older homes require improvement. The increased insulation will help a home become more energy efficient – thus increase savings on heating bills. The cheapest way to save energy is to upgrade the natural resources we already have available, and there are two ways of insulating a roof.
- Cold loft, where the insulation is installed immediately below the roof.
- Warm loft, where the insulation is installed immediately above the ceiling on the highest floor.
The minimum standard the government have implemented at the point of re-roofing is that you should top up the insulation to at least 270mm.
The recommended U-value of an existing building in England, after being re-roofed, is 0.18.