When the temperatures drop from October onwards, it becomes inevitable that you switch on the heating to keep your home comfortable. Some homes will warm up nicely and stay warm. Others simply won’t.

This isn’t something you should put up with – and, yes, your roof could be to blame.

Heat out, cold in

There are several components that affect how heat is kept inside a building. Broadly speaking, they are the walls (including doors and windows), the floor and the roof. Because they are less substantial than the others, doors and windows are often the first port of call for escaping heat.

You can usually tell when your doors and windows are letting heat escape because it will be noticeably draughty and colder around them. Older wooden doors and single-glazed windows are particularly susceptible.

If this isn’t the case, and your home is still proving difficult to heat, the roof could be the culprit. We all know that heat rises. If that heat is being kept inside a building quite well, then it will indeed rise up to the roof. If there’s no insulation stopping it from passing through, the heat will easily get out of your home, which is what’s often seen as letting the cold in.

How to fix it

If your roof is letting warm air out and cold air in, it’s well worth investing in something to stop it happening. The solution is loft and/or roof insulation.

Loft insulation

Loft insulation generally refers to insulative material like mineral wool, which is laid over and between the joists in your loft. It stops heat rising into the loft space before it has a chance to escape through the roof. For that reason, it’s also known as cold roof insulation,.

This kind of loft insulation may not be practical for some homes, where the loft is being used for storage or as a living space. That’s because the recommended 270mm of insulation may not allow boards to be laid on top – and laying boards which squash the mineral wool will impair its insulative qualities.

Roof insulation

If the above applies to your home, roof insulation can be used as an alternative – or simply to bolster the insulation for your roof space. Roof insulation is applied to the underside of your roof, and comes in various forms such as mineral wool held in place with wooden battens, polystyrene panels or expanded polystyrene boards.

When installing roof insulation, it’s important that some form of ventilation is kept in place below the roof tiles to avoid moisture build up.

Check your roof first

If you’re adding insulation to your roof, it’s essential that the roof itself is in good working order beforehand. A leaky roof will damage the insulation, leaving you back at square one. Your insulation might also mask issues with your roof, which would leave more time for the water to get in unnoticed.

DPR Roofing can provide a thorough roof inspection to make sure your roof is insulation ready, and advise you on the best course of action. To find out more, contact our Wakefield team on 01924 255 677.