A lot of homes across Lancashire — from Preston terraces to older farmhouses out towards the Forest of Bowland — have loft insulation that was put in years ago and hasn’t been touched since. The question is: is it still actually working?
Most people assume that because insulation went in at some point, they’re covered. But insulation degrades. It gets compressed, it gets damp, it gets disturbed by animals or previous roof work, and over time it loses a good chunk of its thermal effectiveness. If your heating bills seem high for the size of your home, or your upstairs rooms feel cold in winter despite the boiler working overtime, your loft is often the first place worth looking at.
What the recommended depth actually is
Current guidance from the Energy Saving Trust recommends 270mm of mineral wool insulation — that’s roughly the depth of a standard ruler stood on its end. A lot of older Lancashire homes have somewhere between 100mm and 150mm, which was considered adequate when it was installed but falls well short by today’s standards. Anything below 100mm and you’re losing a significant amount of heat through the roof every single day.
The problem with older and settled insulation
Mineral wool — the most common type used in UK homes — is a bit like a sponge. Its insulating power comes from the millions of tiny air pockets trapped inside it. When it gets compressed or wet, those air pockets collapse and it stops working as well. In a lot of homes around Blackpool, Fleetwood and the coastal areas of the Fylde Coast, damp is a particular issue. Salt air and higher rainfall can affect how insulation performs over time, especially if there’s any issue with roof tiles or ventilation.
Old or damaged insulation can also harbour dust, mould spores and occasionally rodent nesting material — none of which you want sitting above your living space.
When to remove rather than top up
Sometimes topping up existing insulation is straightforward. Other times, particularly where old insulation is badly damaged, heavily contaminated or the wrong type for the space, it makes more sense to remove it first and start fresh. Fylde Insulation offers a full loft insulation removal service across Lancashire and beyond — clearing out old material safely before laying fresh insulation to the correct depth.
This matters especially if you’re planning to board your loft for storage, because laying boards straight on top of compressed old insulation can make the thermal problem worse, not better.
What a well-insulated loft actually feels like
The difference a properly insulated loft makes is noticeable pretty quickly. Rooms on the top floor hold their temperature better. You don’t get that cold draught creeping down from above on a January night. And your boiler doesn’t have to work as hard to maintain a comfortable temperature — which has a direct effect on your energy bills month after month.
It’s not a dramatic overnight transformation, but over a heating season the savings add up. The Energy Saving Trust estimates that a properly insulated loft can save a semi-detached home several hundred pounds a year on energy bills — that figure varies depending on the size of the property and the current state of insulation, but the direction of travel is clear.
Getting it properly assessed
The honest answer is that a quick visual check can only tell you so much. The depth of insulation matters, but so does the condition, the coverage, and whether there are any gaps around things like loft hatches, water tanks or pipework. A proper survey takes all of that into account.
If you’re based in and around Preston, Blackpool, Lytham St Annes, Garstang or anywhere else across Lancashire and you’re not sure your loft insulation is up to scratch, get in touch with Fylde Insulation. A quick survey costs you nothing and gives you a clear picture of where you stand.
Fylde Insulation serves homeowners across Lancashire, Cumbria and Greater Manchester.
Call 07912 439073 or visit fyldeinsulation.co.uk to book a free survey.
