Attic Insulation Novice!

RosyGirl

I have a few questions on attic insulation. I'm currently renovating a Victorian attic apartment, but have recently experienced a major financial setback which is going to slow the entire project down.
The entire top floor of the flat is built in under the eaves of the roof and has no insulation whatsoever - this means that the bedrooms upstairs are freezing in winter and roasting hot in summertime. I was hoping to get a builder in to insulate the bedrooms correctly for me in the New Year sometime but, thanks to major lack of money, I'm going to have to roll up my sleeves and do a lot of the renovation myself. Obviously, the walls will have to be done professionally, but I'm sure the attic spaces (there are two of them housing a variety of water tanks) could be insulated easily enough by me.

Are there any special rules as regards attic insulation in a Victorian house? Should I leave specific gaps to let the building breathe?

Where can you buy rolls of insulating material on the southside?

Don't laugh - I've access to plenty of old woollen blankets which have seen better days. Could I conceivably use these as attic insulation between the joists? After all, they use sheeps' wool to do it, don't they? What about old duvets? Bear in mind here, I'm strapped for cash!!!

One other problem with these attic spaces is that the plumbing gurgles loudly everytime someone in the building (other tenants) flush their toilet or have a shower. Is it acceptable to throw insulating layers (ie, my old blanket/duvet collection!) over the tanks to muffle the noise? I'm aware that you never insulate beneath water tanks, but what about covering them???

Many thanks in advance!

Outkast_IRE

Ok you are in the southside of where ??? dublin i assume ?

Ok im unaware of any particular things different with victorian buildings , and i would say its nearly impossible to advise you otherwise without seeing the job.

1. Do you have soffit vents in the eaves of the attic ? If so these vents allowing air in to cirulate in the attic must remain open and clear so they can continue to circulate air.

2. I wouldnt reccomend using the wool from old blankets , i would highly reccomend that whatever product you end up using to insulate you insulate the entire attic with it, its far better to have a unifrom depth etc throughout the attic.

3. There would be nothing wrong with using the duvets to insulate the water tanks but i would highly reccomend you try and make a cover so the duvet cannot fall into the tank under any circumstances. Insualte the sides and top. Maybe use string or duct tape to hold in position

paddy147

RosyGirl wrote: »

I have a few questions on attic insulation. I'm currently renovating a Victorian attic apartment, but have recently experienced a major financial setback which is going to slow the entire project down.
The entire top floor of the flat is built in under the eaves of the roof and has no insulation whatsoever - this means that the bedrooms upstairs are freezing in winter and roasting hot in summertime. I was hoping to get a builder in to insulate the bedrooms correctly for me in the New Year sometime but, thanks to major lack of money, I'm going to have to roll up my sleeves and do a lot of the renovation myself. Obviously, the walls will have to be done professionally, but I'm sure the attic spaces (there are two of them housing a variety of water tanks) could be insulated easily enough by me.

Are there any special rules as regards attic insulation in a Victorian house? Should I leave specific gaps to let the building breathe?

Where can you buy rolls of insulating material on the southside?

Don't laugh - I've access to plenty of old woollen blankets which have seen better days. Could I conceivably use these as attic insulation between the joists? After all, they use sheeps' wool to do it, don't they? What about old duvets? Bear in mind here, I'm strapped for cash!!!

One other problem with these attic spaces is that the plumbing gurgles loudly everytime someone in the building (other tenants) flush their toilet or have a shower. Is it acceptable to throw insulating layers (ie, my old blanket/duvet collection!) over the tanks to muffle the noise? I'm aware that you never insulate beneath water tanks, but what about covering them???

Many thanks in advance!

Get yourself down to the selfbuild and home improvement show this weekend in Citywest Hotel and Convention Centre..


http://www.selfbuild.ie/

http://www.selfbuild.ie/exhibitions/next-show


Lots of various trade stands showing people how to improve their homes and build from the ground up.

Lots of plumbing and also insulation stands and companies there that will advize you.

10 euro entrance fee,or free in with a pass card (available from any builders providers).

We were there this morning and theres lots to see and do and lots of free advice and demonstrations too.:)

RosyGirl

Thanks to you both for your really useful replies. I'm sadly working all weekend so can't make it out to CityWest - maybe next time.

I just have one more query about this - because one of the small attic spaces is actually on a level with one of the bedrooms, (it's like a large cupboard hidden behind the bedroom wall), rather than up above it, would it better to insulate the roof of this space instead of the floor? Or perhaps do both the floor and the ceiling to help keep the heat of the building in?

Outkast_IRE

RosyGirl wrote: »

Thanks to you both for your really useful replies. I'm sadly working all weekend so can't make it out to CityWest - maybe next time.

I just have one more query about this - because one of the small attic spaces is actually on a level with one of the bedrooms, (it's like a large cupboard hidden behind the bedroom wall), rather than up above it, would it better to insulate the roof of this space instead of the floor? Or perhaps do both the floor and the ceiling to help keep the heat of the building in?

I would imagine you would want to insulate the floor of this space as that would be the celing of the room under it, and the walls of this space which it shares with an interior room if that makes any sense to you.

RosyGirl

Thanks, Outkast, all this information is incredibly helpful. I'm going to head up to the attic spaces with a torch and a measuring tape and take a much closer look at what I have to do.
I can get the builder to insulate the wall between the attic and the bedroom (there's only one shared wall in question here) and I'll put down the insulation material on the attic floors myself.
Another little job off the ever-increasing list!