Insulation in your home is basically the best way to get the most out of your home's heating and cooling, while reducing household energy costs. Your roof forms a major structural part of your home, and it cops the full force of Mother Nature's moods. By insulating your roof properly, you'll be able to help control the temperature inside your house.

What are the benefits of roof insulation?

Installing proper insulation isn’t just great for the environment - in the long run, it'll improve your energy costs as well. The benefits of installing quality roof insulation include:

• Boost cooling and heating performance: Cooling and heating systems in your home will work better, and ultimately reduce your energy costs
• Bump up your property value: Due to the mandatory aspect regarding roof insulation, new or existing homes that comply with the regulations will be more sought after, increasing the value of your house
• Cut down on noise: Insulation for heating and cooling also has the added benefit of reducing noise, making your home a more peaceful and quieter place to live
• Fire safety: Insulation materials can slow down the spread or intensity of fires by preventing air from leaking from your roof
• Environmentally friendly: As less energy is needed to heat and cool your home, it'll automatically result in a decrease of greenhouse gases being emitted

How to measure the effectiveness of your roof insulation

The effectiveness of roof insulation is measured using a rating model called the 'R' rating. With this model, each material gets an 'R' value based on their insulating abilities. This model rates material on a scale of 1 to 4, with 4 being the best score. Certain areas have larger changes in their temperatures (think super hot summers into freezing winters) and therefore require higher 'R' ratings to get adequate insulation. When installing your roof insulation, make sure you know the minimum R-value requirements for your area.

What are the different types of roof insulation?

Today, a variety of roof insulation products are available on the consumer market. There are two main insulating categories, namely bulk insulation and reflective insulation, both of which can be installed in your roof for the best insulation against heat and cold.

Bulk insulation

The primary types of bulk insulation include:

• Treated sheep wool
• Rock wool
• Fibre glass
• Polyester

Bulk insulation is usually packaged in blanket rolls or in loose bulk packaging. When using bulk insulation, the waterproofing on your roof must be watertight as any dampness or moisture will reduce the performance of the insulation.

Reflective insulation

The main use of reflective insulation is to reflect the sun's rays away from your home. Various roof paints also contain a reflective additive which will really help in optimising the insulation of your roof. Usually, the primary materials used in constructing reflective insulation include:

• Foil
• Batts foils sheets
• Foil boards

As reflective insulation is only really good for insulating against excess heat, reflective insulation in areas with massive fluctuation of heat and cold should be combined with bulk insulation for the best results.

How does roof insulation installation work?

Certain areas in Australia have rebates and grant programs available for insulation. Property owners should visit their local authorities and find out if these benefits apply to them. In doing so, it'll also give a good indication of what your local area's minimum insulation 'R' value requirements are.

When installing certain insulating materials such as rock wool and fibre glass, make sure you use protective clothing such as safety glasses, face masks, work gloves and body coveralls.

The most recommended option for installing insulation is to use the services of a registered professional builder or insulation installer. In doing so, and should installation be done improperly, you'll have some recourse against the installer. The internet can be a useful tool to find the right professional, or you can check out the local business directory.