Green Home Insulation

GREEN HOME INSULATION

Are you looking to create a greener and more energy-efficient home? Look no further than Greenway Poole Ltd, your trusted partner in sustainable home insulation solutions. We specialise in providing top-quality Green Home Insulation services that reduce your energy bills and help you live a more eco-friendly lifestyle.

Book Your Green Insulation Quote Today
Greenway Insulation solution to energy crisis

Is Property Insulation a Solution to the UK Energy Crisis?


The UK is a problematic country to keep warm. It has some of western Europe's most aged and leakiest housing inventory. Generally speaking, the UK building stock is old and very poorly insulated. Over 60% of all British properties currently standing have a construction date before the government enacted the first thermal regulations. The first building regulations that impacted energy waste in the home came into play in 1965. These ordinances introduced limits on the amount of energy loss acceptable through the fabric of new houses.


A staggering nine out of ten households rely on gas boilers or fossil fuel systems, twice the EU average. The older properties, pre-1950s, use oil and solid fuel as an existing heat source. This leaky inventory of poorly insulated homes means that as soon as heat leaves a radiator or other heat source, it dissipates through floors, attics, walls, windows and doors. 


With soaring energy prices globally, the UK's reliance on gas and solid fuel threatens to plunge thousands of homes into fuel poverty and others into uncomfortably tight budgets. Even the "green deal" loans launched by the government in 2013 failed to hit the target of 14 million insulated households by 2020, with a mere 15,000 completed by the time the complicated system ended in 2015.


Click Here for the Greenway Solution
Greenway Roofing Services

FULL CONSULTANCY SERVICE


All homes are different; some houses lose heat more quickly than others. The Greenway insulation team takes a holistic approach to energy efficiency. Your home isn't just some walls with rooms inside; it is all connected. Every area is affected by the next. Taking a whole-house approach gives you the most valuable recommendations, including where to start with any insulation solution and what type of material might be best for your situation.


Following your free consultation, a qualified insulation expert presents the recommendations for your unique surroundings, the type and age of the property and whether you should start with an external or internal solution.

Did You Know?

Do you know the areas of most heat loss in your home?


Here are six main areas where heat escapes from the highest to the lowest:


  1. Basement and Ground Level Walls and Floors
  2. Cracks in Walls, Windows and Doors
  3. Poorly Insulated Windows
  4. Framed Walls
  5. Ceilings
  6. Exterior Doors


Are your floors and walls insulated!? 

Greenway encourages property owners to recognise the signs of a poorly insulated building. The Greenway team can analyse and take measures to prevent heat loss, protect against the rising cost of energy bills and keep loved ones safe from the consequences of extreme weather conditions.

Popular Insulation Spaces

A Guide to Insulation Types

Did you know that insulating your home with the suitable materials in the right areas can help save you a significant amount of money off your energy bills and protect the environment in the process? 


Yet, the many different types of insulation available for the diverse parts of your home can make it feel like an intimidating task to contemplate.


Below is a photo guide that covers the various spaces insulation can benefit your property. Hover over each image to discover what insulation works best for each area. Learn how to insulate your home, the benefits and the estimated investment involved.

Popular Property Insulation Spaces

Book Your Free Insulation Quote Today

Different Types of Insulation Solutions

Types of Loft Insulation

Different types of loft insulation include:


  • Blanket insulation is fibreglass/glass wool, mineral wool, plastic fibres and natural fibres such as sheep's wool.

  • Insulation boards are rigid insulating materials manufactured in sheet form using synthetic or natural substances. 

  • Multifoil insulation is multiple layers of radiant foil barriers crafted using materials such as aluminium, thermo-foam and polypropylene.

  • Insulation Slabs (also known as insulation batts) are commonly glass wool, mineral wool or sheep's wool and offer thermal and acoustic insulation.

  • Loose-fill and blown-in insulations are lightweight, and loose fibres spread freely into place. Cellulose, fibreglass and rock wool fibres get blown into position, and other less-common materials, such as polystyrene beads and perlite, get poured into place.

  • Spray foam insulation is sprayed into place and forms an insulating layer once set. Two types of spray insulation are available: closed and open.

  • Acoustic insulation is ideal for creating a quieter home free from noisy neighbours and stomping footsteps overhead. Acoustic insulation slabs in a loft or conversion blocks impact and airborne sound transmission through walls, floor and roof.


Book Your Free Insulation Quote Today

Types of Cavity Wall Insulation

Different types of cavity wall insulation include:


  • Mineral wool is blown into the cavity wall to form an energy-efficient insulating layer.

  • Polystyrene bead insulation involves blowing small balls of expanding polystyrene insulation (EPS) into existing cavity walls through tiny holes. Beads are quick to install, high performing and don't absorb moisture.

  • Injected foam insulation is polyurethane (PU) foam pumped into a cavity wall, where it will solidify and form a thick, water-repellent insulating barrier with impressive thermal performance. 

  • Cavity insulation sheets for new walls fit straight into the cavity during construction. Partial fill solutions leave a 25mm-50mm gap between the cavity and external wall to reduce the chance of moisture leaking into the home. The most popular options are semi-rigid batts, slabs of mineral wool, or rigid PIR boards.


Book Your Free Insulation Quote Today

Types of External Wall Insulation

Different types of external insulation for exterior walls include:


  • EPS is a popular insulation solution generally made of either expanding polystyrene or mineral wool. Technologies such as phenolic resin insulation are also available.

  • Foam board insulation requires installation during remodelling or if you don't mind tearing out your drywall. They are rigid panels made of either polystyrene, polyisocyanurate, or polyurethane. These boards come in various lengths, facings, and lengths to custom fit the wall cavities.

  • Silicone is an excellent render choice and is favoured as the best external wall insulation system. It's breathable and hydrophobic (which means it repels dirt and organic growth) and can be custom mixed to any colour you want.



Book Your Free Insulation Quote Today

Types of Internal Wall Insulation

Different types of internal wall or solid wall insulation include:


  • Rigid insulation boards come in various materials and thicknesses and deliver the highest energy-saving benefits. Some have pre-attached plasterboard, which makes the installation process more straightforward.

  • Dry lining battens fixed to the walls with insulation material fitted between them and then covered with plasterboard. This method is a good option if the wall has a lot of heavy fittings, such as bookcases and cupboards, or if the original wall is rough and uneven.

  • Flexible thermal lining comes in rolls like thick wallpaper and is glued to the wall using a special adhesive. It may provide a lower insulation level than other solutions as flexible linings tend to be no more than 10mm thick but can be a good option for smaller rooms.

  • Insulated plaster is a mix of plaster and insulating material, such as cork. The material is usually trowelled or sprayed on and is a good option for uneven walls and can help achieve a good level of airtightness. 


Book Your Free Insulation Quote Today

Types of Floor Insulation

Different types of floor insulation and underfloor heating:


  • Insulating underlay is one of the easiest and least disruptive ways to insulate your floor. Insulating underlay or polyfoam board is thin and installed directly beneath your carpet.

  • Multi-foil underlays reflect heat into the house without raising the floor height by much. They come at a higher cost than mineral wools or rigid foams, but this can save you the hassle of lifting old floorboards or digging into a concrete bed.

  • Thick carpets and rugs can go a long way towards keeping the cool air out from any crawl spaces below.

  • Solid floors are generally insulated above the top concrete or screed (a mix of sand and cement) layer using rigid insulation foam. The insulation will need to sit between a damp-proof membrane below (preventing the build-up of trapped moisture), a chipboard above, and your chosen flooring cover to top it off. This type of setup is known as a 'floating floor'.

  • Screeded wet underfloor heating systems are the most popular and effective underfloor heating. Pipes are clipped or stapled onto an insulation layer, and the screed then applied on top. The warm pipes heat the whole slab, giving even consistent heat output.


Book Your Free Insulation Quote Today

Types of Ceiling Insulation

Three main types of ceiling insulation include:


  • Fibreglass is the most common insulation material and is suitable for use between rafters, timber frame walls and cladding systems.

  • Cellulose insulation made from recycled paper products primarily insulates air noises. To mute impact sounds as well, choose a thick insulation layer. 

  • Foam insulation made from polystyrene, polyisocyanurate or polyurethane are all types of plastic and is a spray liquid squirted into position, then it sets to form an insulating layer. 


Book Your Free Insulation Quote Today

Popular Insulation Questions

Do you have a question? We’re here to help.


  • Which is better, internal or external insulation?

    We have to consider several factors before answering this fully. Solid walls can be insulated either internally or externally. Insulating externally involves fixing a layer of insulation to the outside of your wall using mechanical fixings and adhesive, before covering it with protective layers of render or cladding. You can also save money by insulating internally, but doing so will reduce the size of your room by bringing in the wall by around 10 cms.

  • Do I need to worry about dangerous chemicals in my insulation?

    It's not just chemicals that you need to consider. Three important factors for insulating a healthy home are as follows:


    1. Toxic Chemicals – Cellulose is treated with a toxic fire retardant. Mineral wool and fibreglass insulation do not contain toxic fire retardants.


    2. Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs) – Spray foam insulation off-gasses VOCs. Formaldehyde-free fibreglass insulation does not.


    3. Mould prevention – insulation is part of a whole-home approach to managing moisture and preventing mould.


    Read more about toxic chemicals in the home...


  • How do I calculate the cost of insulation?

    Different insulation products and services have different costs depending on the job requirements. Calculators are great for rough estimates for one part of a job but they can miscalculate due to the wrong measurements or the wrong type of insulation assumed for the job in hand. Also calculators do not take the 'holistic' approach, the whole property into account.


    The best thing to do is to get a professional quote for your job straight way. Not only will this give you a closer estimate but in he process you will probably get many of your questions answered and make the whole project go a lot more smoothly.


    Get a free quote here...

  • What does it cost for external insulation?

    When calculating the cost of external insulation, the area of your walls is a crucial factor, and you can expect to pay around £100 per square metre.


    You'll also need to factor in the cost of adjusting fixtures and fittings that sit on the wall, such as drainpipes and boiler flues. The most accurate quotes from a professional will include this.


    Finally, you'll need to consider the cost of the materials required to do the job. More enormous walls will need more insulation, more paint and more detail to create if you want a specific type of finish.


    There are also options for the actual insulation material, with some offering more excellent insulation and strength at a higher cost.


    External wall insulation installers charge per square metre, not per hour, as the focus is on completing the job, not their working hours. So, instead of the hourly rate, it's the price you'll pay per metre squared you need to consider, and this will vary depending on where your property is in the UK, with London and the South East being considerably more expensive.


    Just remember, you are not just paying for the professional's time, you're paying for many material and equipment costs plus fixtures, fittings and finishes. 

  • What does R-rating mean?

    The R-rating or R-value is a number given to each type of material used to insulate your home as a measure of heat resistance. Hence, the 'R' in R-rating means 'resistance' and refers to a material's resistance to heat flow or temperature conduction. When a product or home has a high R-Value, it is well insulated.

  • What's the best R-rating for my home?

    You will need to consider the kind of heating system you have as well as the climate in which you live and the area of the home you are planning on insulating. For example: The best r-ratings for typical exterior wall insulations are R-13 to R-23, while R-30, R-38 and R-49 are standard for interior ceilings and attic spaces.

  • What does U-value mean?

    U-value or U-factor is a measure of heat transfer (heat gain or loss). The U-value is not a rating on products or materials used. Instead, the factor calculates the conduction properties of various materials used to construct windows, doors, skylights and insulation, etc. U-value is expressed in SI units in most countries, as watts per square metre-kelvin: W/(m2⋅K). 


    You can find out more about U-Values and thermal transmittance here...


    So when all the R-Values are added up by a professional, they calculate the overall U-Factor of your home. 

  • What part of my property should I insulate first?

    The most important area in any property to insulate first is the attic or roof space. This is primarily because heat naturally rises, which means that the top of the property will receive most of the heat generated. During the winter, having that heat escape through the roof will push up energy bills as appliances and solutions struggle to maintain a comfortable room temperature.

The Great UK Heating Problem

The UK is a problematic country to keep warm. It has some of western Europe's most aged and leakiest housing inventory. Heat loss occurs through floors, attics, walls, windows and doors after leaving their heat source.


A staggering nine out of ten households rely on gas boilers, twice the EU average. Soaring gas prices in 2022 threaten to plunge thousands of homes into fuel poverty and others into uncomfortably tight budgets.


Even the "green deal" loans launched by the government in 2013 failed to hit the target of 14 million insulated households by 2020, with a mere 15,000 completed by the time the complicated system ended in 2015.


Book Your Free Insulation Quote Today

The Greenway Solution

What is the solution to the UK's ongoing energy crisis?


Greenway aims to insulate as many homes as possible during 2023 and 2024 in cooperation with its sister company Best Insulation Limited.


By helping to answer enquiries and offer advice, consultations and free holistic-approach quotes, Greenway will refer those most in need to Best Insulation Limited and provide safe, value-for-money solutions using the best materials available. 

Book a Free Insulation Consultation


Please enter your details for a free insulation and energy efficiency quote.

Book an Insulation Quote

Share by: