Insulation Types

If you’re looking to minimise heat loss in your home and slash annual energy bills, then having the correct type of insulation throughout your home is vital. This means that all parts of your home should be fitted with insulation, such as loft insulation, wall insulation and floor insulation.

There are many types of insulation for you to choose from, so it can be difficult to choose the right thermal insulation for your needs. Different insulation types each have their own advantages, including improved acoustic insulation, breathability and more. We’ve written a handy guide below to each insulation type to help you make the right decision for your project.

Types of Insulation

There are numerous types of insulation available to homeowners and tradesmen. These include insulation boards, rolls, slabs and foil. Each insulation type is manufactured using a different process, and is therefore supplied in a different form, each suited to different areas.

We pride ourselves on offering an excellent variety of insulation products, from different insulation types, materials and top-quality brands. Ideal for preventing heat loss throughout your home and saving on energy bills.

Insulation Boards

Supplied in a rigid form and typically produced from polystyrene, insulation boards are perfectly suited for vertical applications. But they can be used in almost any part of the home, including the floors, walls and loft space.

This type of insulation is available in a variety of thicknesses, allowing you to achieve the required U-value. As this insulation is sag-free, you needn't worry about gaps around the edges from allowing heat to escape.

Insulation boards are manufactured by several reputable brands, such as Celotex, Kingspan, and Kay Metzeler. They include standard boards as well as those bonded to plasterboard.

Insulation Rolls

Typically produced from mineral or glass wool, insulation rolls can be utilised throughout the home to minimise heat loss. This can include insulating the attic space, cavity walls and more.

Unlike other insulation types, rolls are very flexible. This ensures that there are no spaces around the edges for either heat conduction or convection to occur.

Insulation rolls are available from Superglass, Knauf and various other manufacturers. Each of whom has a long and illustrious history of producing insulation for residential and commercial properties.

Insulation Slabs

Usually manufactured from mineral wool, insulation slabs are far denser than rolls whilst being more flexible than boards. Making them suited for use in roofs, walls, floors and much more.

This type of insulation features millions of air pockets, which plays an important role in preventing heat transfer. The density also offers superb acoustic insulation in many circumstances.

Rockwool, Knauf and Superglass are just a handful of the brands that supply slab insulation. All of which provide incredible thermal insulation as well as excellent fire protection.

Multifoil Insulation

Despite it being incredibly thin, multifoil insulation provides superb thermal insulation through the combination of a foil face and insulating fibers. Allowing a 35mm roll to provide the same thermal insulation as 210mm worth of mineral wool.

The unique foil face is designed to combat thermal bridging, which occurs when there is direct contact with an exterior material. This insulation type is suited for use around your rafters, particularly if you've got little space to play with.

Multifoil insulation is produced by several brands, such as Actis. Whoever the manufacturer, you can have confidence in its ability to prevent heat loss, remain airtight, and control vapour.

Natural Insulation

Natural insulation is a modern development in insulation using entirely natural materials such as hemp or sheep’s wool. These types of insulation are favoured due to the fact that they’re very eco-friendly with a low carbon footprint. They’re also non-toxic and non-irritant, requiring little personal protective equipment or precautions during installation, unlike traditional synthetic materials.

Have More Questions About Insulation Types?

If you have more questions about our range of insulation, simply call our team on 01295 565 565. We'll help you pick the perfect type of insulation for your project, whether you're aiming to increase the thermal efficiency of an attic space or acoustic insulation of cavity walls.