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There are a lot of insulation products out there. Knowing which one is right for you and your home or flat can be tricky, especially if you’ve got a budget to stick to.

We’ve put together a quick guide to the best and most affordable roof insulation materials in South Africa  to help you find out what type of insulation you need, what R-Value is ideal and what to look for in high quality, affordable insulation.

What Is Ceiling Insulation?

Roof insulation is often confused with ceiling insulation. Sometimes the two terms are used interchangeably. Usually, ceiling insulation refers to insulation products that are installed between your roof tiles and ceiling whereas roof insulation refers to products installed below the roofing material.

Both forms of insulation materials prevent the flow of heat. Along with insulation in other parts of the home, both types of insulation help keep indoor temperatures cooler in summer and warmer in winter.

Additionally, it will cut your heating and cooling costs by up to 45%. Which in turn, reduces greenhouse gas emissions while saving you money.

What is the best type of Insulation material?

The best insulation for a roof or ceiling can depend on where you live, your price range and other features of your property. The main types are:

• Bulk insulation (including batts, boards and loose fill insulation)
• Reflective foil insulation
• Spray insulation

Bulk insulation

Bulk insulation acts like a blanket. It absorbs heat and prevents it from entering or leaving the house. Bulk insulation can be made from a variety of materials, including:

• Fibreglass (or glass wool)
• Polyester
• Extruded or expandable polystyrene
• Rock wool (made from volcanic rock)
• Cellulose (often made from recycled paper)
• Wool

Reflective foil insulation

Reflective insulation or foil-backed insulation reflects the sun’s rays away from the house during the summer to reduce heat gain.

Reflective insulation works best when used as sarking under a roof, but it needs an enclosed air space of at least 25mm to be effective. It also needs to be well maintained, as gaps and dust reduce its effectiveness.

 Spray insulation

Spray foam insulation is more commonly used to fill wall cavities, but it can also be sprayed in ceilings or combined with batts or reflective foam insulation.

When the spray hardens, it forms a thick layer of insulation with a high R value that’s resistant to moisture and sagging. The downsides are that it can be comparatively expensive and more of a fire risk.

TYPES OF CEILING INSULATION MATERIALS

When choosing the best ceiling insulation products in South Africa, there are a few main categories to choose from. Below is a list of the 6 most commonly used residential ceiling insulation products.

• Earthwool
• Fibreglass
• Polyester
• Cellulose
• Reflective Foil
• Spray Foam

The Leading ceiling insulation products are Cellulose Fibre | Knauf | Aerolite | Fabufill | Isotherm . Every insulation product comes with an R-value. Which differs according to which thickness of insulation you require. The R-value of the product determines the product’s ability to resist heat flow. The higher the R-value, the more effective the material will be.

ISOTHERM CEILING INSULATION

Isotherm is made from recycled plastic bottles that would otherwise go to landfill sites and dumps.

KNAUF CEILING INSULATION COST

Knauf is made to the EUROCLASS specifications and is made in Germany. It’s an extremely high-quality Earthwool insulation product.

Additionally, it is chemical and dye-free. Knauf has made a massive step forward in the fibreglass insulation industry trademarking the new technology.

AEROLITE CEILING INSULATION

Aerolite is made of 80% recycled glass. It saves more than 100X the energy consumed, and CO2 emitted from manufacturing.

CELLULOSE CEILING INSULATION

Cellulose insulation is made from recycled newspapers, usually post-consumer waste newsprint. Around 15% – 20% is a fire retardant such as boric acid, ammonium sulphate. Cellulose fibre insulation also has a settlement rate of up to 25%. Eco-Insulation is by far the  biggest manufacturer and installer for eco-friendly Cellulose Fibre Insulation.

For more information on ceiling insulation prices in South Africa, give one of our branches a call. Get the price in Johannesburg, Pretoria, Durban and Cape Town.

Buy the Best Roof Insulation Online Today

Brights Hardware supplies a wide range of high quality, affordable roof insulation products which perform very well in South African climates.

Order online today or call us on 0861 333 777 to discuss your project with one of our insulation specialists.