Insulation - Kingspan/Quinntherm/Xtratherm

sasol

Hi,

I'll be starting a self build in the coming months - probably early in the new year.

At the moment I am pricing around various things including insulation.
I will be going for 100mm in the floors, 60 mm in the cavity walls and 42.5 mm insulated plasterboard on the external walls. I haven't really thought about the roof/attic yet. Is there much difference between the insulation options that Kingspan/Quinntherm/Xtratherm have to offer ??


I am hearing different stories depending on who I ask. I have done some searches on-line and the Thermal Conductivity of each is in the region of 0.022 to 0.023, so am I correct in assuming that with such little difference between each , my choice effectively comes down to cost ? Or am I missing out on something ?

A local builder provider told me that Kingspan or Xtratherm was the way to go and stay away from anything else - a friend of mine who recently built said the same. Another builder provider (who only stocked Quinntherm) told me that Quinntherm was the very same as Kingspan.

Any advice would be greatly appreciated, particularly around the pricing of each and if the quality of the higher price products justifies it ?

muffler

Its not simply a case of picking individual components of the house and saying type X insulation will be sufficient. From a BER point of view what will work with one house will most likely not work with another house unless of course they are identical.

You need to get a BER assessor to go though your plans/proposals or discuss it with your architect/technician/engineer.

Heatherview

Hi Sasol
You need to consider a few options
1. What BER rating do you want to achieve. A,B,C,D ???? Which ever will determine the insulation values you require to achieve the standard you want.
2. Energy prices and how they are escalating.
3. Renewable energy alternatives.
4. The better you insulate now while building, will pay off in the future do not skimp on insulation, you only get one shot at it DO IT RIGHT NOW you have the chance to do so now

Give it plenty of thought, most essential for energy conservation in future
Heatherview

RKQ

Heatherview wrote: »

The better you insulate now while building, will pay off in the future do not skimp on insulation, you only get one shot at it DO IT RIGHT NOW you have the chance to do so now

Give it plenty of thought, most essential for energy conservation in future

I agree fully, insulate, insulate, insulate! The more the better.

topcatcbr

Along with insulation remember Airtightness. Insulation will only do so much. If you have a very porus bulding all your heat will pour out through the gaps in your building costing you a fortune.

RKQ

True, airtightness is very important.
Maybe consider widening wall to 320mm overall, allowing for 80 cavity insulation with 40mm clear cavity. 20mm increase should be worth it. Subject to costs and BER calculations.