Retro Fit Earthwool Installation Not for the Faint of Heart

If you’ve never been up in a roof-space, you don’t know what you’ve missed out on. While no two roofs are identical, there are a couple of aspects of a roof insulation retro-fit installation job which every experienced installer is keenly aware of. For readers who didn’t know, “retro-fit” installing refers to the installing of insulation in an old or in any case, an existing house – as opposed to installing the insulation while the house is under construction. When new homes are built, there is generally the option to install the Earthwool insulation batts (or other insulation) before the ceiling is lined – this process is usually done from underneath, and installers use long sticks to lift and push the ceiling insulation into place above their heads. However with old houses you don’t have this option, so it’s up the ladder and through the man-hole to do what needs to be done.
Apart from the weather on the day (roof spaces can become dangerously hot in summer time, especially in the afternoons) there are two factors which can greatly impact the level of difficulty with installing insulation in an existing ceiling.
The Height and Angle of the Roof Pitch
Experienced installers can tell at a glance what they’re up against when they pull up outside in their van or ute. A low, sloping roof spells a challenge, as it means there’ll be less room to move around, no standing room, everything is more tight and cramped, and accessing the far edges of the ceiling can be nigh-impossible. At their toughest, some ceilings can only be accessed while in a crawling, or worse still, lying down position. At the other end of the scale is the generously, high-pitched roof. Sometimes the pitch of the roof may be so high and steep, that it’s possible to walk around upright for most of the job. This is of course a dream for every retro-fit installer, but unfortunately such houses are few and far between in most areas of Sydney and Melbourne.
Manhole Access – Too Tight Spells Trouble for the Installers
A surprising number of people don’t even know where the ceiling manhole is located in their home, let alone its dimensions. However the latter factor – its length and width, can make all the difference to how much time is saved or spent on getting the insulation batts successfully up into the ceiling. In short summary, if the manhole opening is smaller than the un-opened insulation bag, the installers may need to split open the bags inside the house, and feed the Earthwool batts one segment at the time, up through the manhole – a tedious task to say the least. Even where the access hole is large enough, care should be taken when feeding the insulation bag through the hole, as it can be a fiddly and time-consuming task to repair or repaint a damaged manhole.

Need more tips? Pricewise Insulation supplies thermal, acoustic and commercial insulation to practically all areas of Australia, as well as providing a professional installation service in the major capital cities. For advice on ceiling insulation, or to get quote, please visit their website – www.pricewiseinsulation.com.au


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