How To Install Ceiling Insulation A well insulated home means increased comfort and decreased heating bills. And if you follow the safety and installation instructions, putting in your own insulation is actually a pretty straight forward DIY project... Read The Full Guide More Popular Guides ... How To Install Under Floor How To Install Wall Insulation How To Use Silicone Sealants How To Lay Paving

I have insulfluff in the ceiling. I'm not sure if it's working? Is there any way to tell before I replace it with Pink Bats? Also, with recessed lights, how far around them would I need to cut out to be safe

We cant really tell if insulfluff is still working properly. It will depend on how old it is. The question is: are you cold at home? Do you want a warmer home? If yes, then you can insulate your place with Pink® Batts®. The good news is you dont have to replace the old insulation; you can lay Pink® Batts® on top of the existing one. I would suggest you get it installed by Pink® Fit®, [0800 PINKFIT (0800 746 534)] which will guarantee that the job is done correctly, but if you want to go ahead and do it yourselves, you can look at: http://www.mitre10.co.nz/how_to_guides/interior/installing_pinkr_battsr.cfm?section=8 and find how to install it. You will see answers to almost every instalation question you have on the above page, including : A 150mm gap should be provided between insulation and recessed light fittings. Hope it helps

 

 

WHAT TO WEAR

 

Old roof cavities and underfloors are dusty places at the best of times, and glass wool insulation can produce skin irritation so it pays to wear protective clothing.

Disposable overalls and taking a cool shower straight after the job is the ideal way to keep things comfortable.

Correct Clothing
Loose fitting, full cover clothing – long sleeves, long pants, or better still, overalls – will lessen the chances of skin irritation.
Dust Mask
A disposable cotton pad mask is generally suitable to help prevent discomfort. Increased protection is available with a more sophisticated mask such as a R1000 Respirator.
Safety Glasses
Safety glasses are also a good idea, particularly when installing underfloor insulation where you’re working underneath/looking up at the job.
Gloves
Rubber palmed gloves are recommended to help prevent skin irritation. Washing up gloves are fine.
Footwear
Sturdy footwear is also necessary to maintain safety. And because you’re going to be working around electrical wiring, rubber-soled footwear is a must.

 

 

INSTALLING CEILING INSULATION

 

- Measure up your ceiling area (basically the same as your floor area).

- Select the correct insulation for the job (ceiling insulation) and the correct R-rating for the area you live before you calculate how many bales of insulation you need. Coverage area per bale varies with different types and grades of insulation.

- Before you start, set up your ladder, get up through the manhole/access with a couple of planks and a worklight and just have a look around. You’ll get a better idea of what the job involves (it is possible to install new insulation over old insulation, provided the old insulation is level) and you’ll be able to see if anything needs tidying up before you start. Check for exposed nails, damaged or exposed wiring and pests such as bees or wasps. Avoid working in the heat of the day as temperatures can get dangerously high in the roof cavity, and always treat all wiring as live.

- Once you’re ready to start the job, get everything set up – planks, work light, tools, a couple of bales of insulation, and get back up there with all your gear on – overalls, mask etc.

- Start in the area furthest away from the access and measure up the space between the framing. Use your cutting board and straight edge to cut 10 to 20mm oversize for a snug friction fit. You don’t want to leave gaps but forcing too-big insualtion between the framing reduces its effciency. Use your cutting board. DO NOT CUT AGAINST FRAMING and risk cutting through electrical wiring.

 

 

	Handy Hint When you’re putting in ceiling insulation, you probably only want a couple of bales of insulation up into the ceiling at a time but get each bale up there BEFORE you cut it open. The insulation expands so much when you cut the plastic wrap, you’ll end up having to get it up through the ceiling access one sheet at a time.

 

 

Use the push rod/broom handle to push the insulation carefully into areas you can’t reach.   When putting the insulation in place, ensure there is at least 25mm between the top of the insulation material and the underside of the roofing material or roofing paper. This prevents any moisture in the underlay from wicking into the insulation. It may be necessary to cut away a small section of the insulation to achieve this.   Never cover downlights with insulation. Downlights require the insulation to be cut around them to provide clearance so heat from the light is not trapped. Failure to do so can result in fire through overheating. The new, CARated, recessed downlights don’t require any clearance and incandescent lights need 50mm clearance but if you’re not 100% sure of the rating of your downlights, YOU MUST LEAVE MINIMUM CLEARANCE of 200mm. Talk to staff in the lighting department for advice on downlight ratings.   When working around plumbing or pipes, cut a slit in the insulation and wrap it snugly around the pipes.   When working around wiring, slip the insulation underneath the wiring if possible as wiring that is covered (especially in older homes) can overheat.   Don’t forget to measure and cut one last piece of insulation to fit over the access panel. Once you’ve cleared up and are ready to exit the roof space, just position it so it lowers into place as you close the access panel cover.