By insulating the attic and walls that face outwards, you will halve your energy bill, which is far from being a myth. But you still need to choose the right insulation. This task is not difficult in itself, but for your investment to be profitable, rely on the valuable advice we provide in this guide dedicated to the best thermal insulation.
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Our selection
"Polystyrene sheets are among the most used insulators in interior renovation. Once installed, these sheets will insulate your home from the cold and humidity with…"
"Cellulose wadding does not have a good reputation and yet it is the ultimate all-purpose insulator. These high density air trapping flakes are perfect to…"
"Are you looking for a high-performance solution to insulate your attic? These glass wool rolls will allow you to obtain excellent thermal results. These 10…"
"In addition to an excellent insulation coefficient, natural cork sheets retain the heat to restore it inside. Not only will these insulations reduce your energy…"
Polystyrene sheets are among the most used insulators in interior renovation. Once installed, these sheets will insulate your home from the cold and humidity with great efficiency.
56,48 £ on ManomanoThese 7 sheets of extruded polystyrene are especially recommended for the insulation of walls by the interior. They are intended to be glued against walls where heat loss is important. In principle, these insulations should reduce the heat and energy losses of your home once installed. For aesthetic reasons, it is advisable to apply an undercoat of paint as well as a primer on these plates.
This way, you can put wallpaper, new paint or fiberglass on top. These insulations are favored by building professionals because they accelerate the temperature rise in a house. By protecting the interior from humidity, these sheets clean the air and prevent the formation of mold.
Cellulose wadding does not have a good reputation and yet it is the ultimate all-purpose insulator. These high density air trapping flakes are perfect to protect a house from summer heat and winter cold.
6,96 £ on ManomanoContrary to popular belief, cellulose wadding is a product that does not catch fire easily. Indeed, this insulation is treated with fire retardant additives that allow it to resist flames, but also vermin. Remember that cellulose wadding is obtained from the recycling of unsold paper and newspapers, so it is an environmentally friendly material.
Multifunctional, this thermal insulation is mainly used for floor insulation, but it is also suitable for other uses. Ceilings, walls and other types of floors can also be insulated with this loose insulation. It is somewhat difficult to install because it can only be blown in by air.
Are you looking for a high-performance solution to insulate your attic? These glass wool rolls will allow you to obtain excellent thermal results. These 10 rolls of glass wool cover an area of 96 m².
314 £ on ManomanoThanks to its high thermal performance, glass wool is a leading solution in terms of insulation, but also in terms of energy saving. As these glass wool rolls are obtained from a mixture of sand, cullet and recycled glass, they are environmentally friendly and particularly efficient. In addition to having excellent thermal performance, these rolls are also perfect sound insulators.
Their porous and elastic structure absorbs airborne noise and noise pollution from the outside. Note that glass wool is non-combustible. It does not support fire and does not propagate flames. Rot-proof and non-hydrophilic, these thermal insulators will last for years.
In addition to an excellent insulation coefficient, natural cork sheets retain the heat to restore it inside. Not only will these insulations reduce your energy consumption in winter, but they will also offer you a comfortable summer.
24,64 £ on ManomanoThe thermal and acoustic properties of these raw natural cork sheets are exceptional. Whatever the season, they retain heat and direct it towards the interior. They are also appreciated for their resistance. They are able to keep their qualities indefinitely. In addition, they do not require any particular maintenance. Being very dense, these insulations prevent sound vibrations from filtering through the floor.
If you are looking for a solution to soundproof your home, raw natural cork sheets are an excellent alternative. It should be noted that natural cork sheets are insulating materials only. They cannot be used as wall finishes.
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The best thermal insulation in 2021
The best entry-level thermal insulation
The best high-end thermal insulation
The best thermal insulation for interiors
Your guide :
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| THE BEST | CHEAP | HIGH END | EXCELLENT | |
In accordance with our commitment, this buying guide does not contain any sponsored products. |
8/10 |
7/10 |
9/10 |
9/10 |
| OUR SELECTION |
Depron lot of 7 polystyrene plates
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Ouattitude cellulose wadding in bulk - 10 kg bag
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URSA TERRA MNU 40 lot of 10 rolls of glass wool
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Alsabrico Natural cork sheet - 0.5 m² panel(s)
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Polystyrene sheets are among the most used insulators in interior renovation. Once installed, these sheets will insulate your home from the cold and humidity with great efficiency.
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Cellulose wadding does not have a good reputation and yet it is the ultimate all-purpose insulator. These high density air trapping flakes are perfect to protect a house from summer heat and winter cold.
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Are you looking for a high-performance solution to insulate your attic? These glass wool rolls will allow you to obtain excellent thermal results. These 10 rolls of glass wool cover an area of 96 m².
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In addition to an excellent insulation coefficient, natural cork sheets retain the heat to restore it inside. Not only will these insulations reduce your energy consumption in winter, but they will also offer you a comfortable summer.
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Main application
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Thermal insulation of walls from the inside
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Attic floor insulation
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Attic thermal insulation
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Thermal insulation of partitions, attics, ramps
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Possible application
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Thermal insulation of ceilings
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Wall, ceiling and floor insulation
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CE ceiling insulation - NF EN 13162 - ACERMI
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Thermal insulation of the ceiling
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Standards and certifications
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DIN 4108
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ACERMI
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Euroclass E
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Thermal efficiency
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100 mm
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Thickness
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9 mm
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Packaged in 10 kg bag
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60 mm
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To evaluate the performance of an insulator, you must take into account its thermal conductivity, in other words, its ability to transmit heat. This conductivity is expressed by the coefficient λ. The lower this lambda value is, the better the insulating efficiency of the panels or flakes. As for the thermal value expressed by R, it measures the resistance encountered by the heat when passing through the material. The higher the value, the better the insulation.
Insulating materials come in different forms. You will have the choice between insulation to be blown or poured in bulk which is recommended for hollow and difficult to access spaces. As for rigid or semi-rigid boards, they are mainly used for roofing or interior walls. Exterior walls are usually insulated with high-compact foam. The density of insulation is measured in kg/m³ and it differs from one insulator to another.
To optimize the effectiveness of insulation, it would be best to entrust its implementation to a professional. However, if you plan to do it yourself, note that there are ready-to-use insulation kits on the market. You must then choose the material according to the surface to be insulated, the desired performance and your budget.
It is important to pay attention to the reaction to fire of the chosen insulation. The Euroclass classification delivers an index of the behavior of the insulators on the market in case of fire.
- A1 and A2: the insulators are non-combustible.
- B: the insulators are slightly combustible.
- C: the insulating materials are combustible.
- D: the insulations are highly combustible.
- E: the insulators are highly flammable and are flame-spreaders.
- F: the insulations are not tested, therefore not classified.
Whatever the house concerned, class A1 or A2 thermal insulation is recommended.
Certifications provide details on the quality of insulation. The CE, ACERMI, NF or CSTBat markings evaluate the thermal resistance of the insulation. As for the AEV certification, it evaluates the performance levels of the exterior joinery (permeability, waterproofing and wind resistance of the openings).
Are you convinced that the time has come to insulate your home? The roof, attic, exterior walls, interior walls and basement must be insulated to reduce heat loss from your home. Different techniques exist so that your house can efficiently conserve heat.
Blown-in insulation: This technique is widespread and inexpensive and is suitable for most roof structures, including attics that are difficult to access. Unfortunately, this method of insulation is not suitable for lost attics.
Blown-in insulation: somewhat similar to blown-in insulation, blown-in insulation involves using insulation in the form of flakes in the attic.
Insulation with rolls: this technique is compatible with the lost attic and the convertible attic. However, to obtain a better performance, the roof should be insulated with BA13 panels. This technique can only be used if the attic is easily accessible.
Insulation with panels: this technique is ideal for convertible attics. However, rigid or semi-rigid thermal panels are quite difficult to install. Their installation takes more time than the other techniques mentioned above.
Yes, it is possible to insulate every part of the house, from the roof to the basement. However, insulating these areas requires different thermal insulation. The person in charge of your project may suggest two or three different types of insulation depending on the work to be done.
A poorly insulated house can be recognized mainly by the feeling of discomfort, especially in winter. The amount of the bill is also an indication to be taken into account. If it keeps increasing, it means that the thermal losses of your house are too important.
Mineral insulations are mainly used to insulate the roof, attic, terrace or floor. Among the most solicited, we find rock wool and glass wool. If the first insulator comes from basaltic volcanic rock, the second comes from glass. These insulators come in the form of flexible mats or semi-rigid panels. They are fire resistant and durable. For walls or roof terraces, cellular glass from recycled mineral materials is mostly used.
Less expensive than mineral materials, synthetic insulation is recommended for outdoor use. These insulations are not recommended for attics because they are combustible. The fumes released in the event of a fire can intoxicate the occupants of a house. Synthetic insulation is light and easy to cut. However, they are thin. Therefore, another insulation must be used to complete the insulation.
This category of insulation is of plant, animal or recycled origin. Among the most popular are wood wool, sheep wool, hemp wool, flax wool, cellulose wadding (obtained from recycled paper or textile) and goose feathers. Biobased thermal insulations are expensive, but they provide an excellent ecological balance and good phase shift performance. Simply put, they slow down heat transfer, which optimizes performance.
Mineral materials generally offer the best performance/price ratio. Because they are composed of a tangle of tiny fibres, they trap air that cannot escape from the home. Mineral materials are versatile and can be used to insulate all parts of a house, from the roof to the floor.
These materials are especially appreciated for their excellent thermal and ecological balance. Available in sheets and rolls, these insulating materials are mainly used for walls, floors, ceilings and attics.
The thermal performance of mineral materials and biobased materials are not the same. If you wish to acquire an insulating material with a better insulating power and which comes from a mode of transformation respectful of the environment, turn to the biosourced materials.
A poorly insulated house is a real economic sink. Indeed, thermal losses are heavy in consequence, notably on the energy bill. To reduce the amount of this bill, a good thermal insulation is essential. Financial aid is available to families who plan to undertake this type of project.
A feeling of discomfort called cold wall will be felt when a house is badly insulated. Sometimes this occurs when the difference between room, wall, floor and window temperatures exceeds 3°C. Insulating the walls is enough to silence this feeling of discomfort. Be aware that poorly insulated walls bring a feeling of discomfort in winter as well as in summer.
By insulating your home, you contribute to the fight against global warming, because you limit the release of greenhouse gases into the environment. If in winter, a good insulation allows to reduce energy consumption and CO2 emission, in summer, it will reduce the use of air conditioning which is energy consuming.
Thermal insulation adds value to a house. If yours is well insulated, you can put this argument forward during sales negotiations. You can be sure that your house will sell for a higher price. If not, buyers will have to anticipate this work, which will reduce your capital gains on the sale.
Most thermal insulation products are also excellent acoustic insulators. Therefore, by undertaking a project that goes in this direction, you will optimize the thermal insulation and the acoustic insulation of your house.
In our opinion, the best brands of thermal insulators in 2022 are :
Located in Noisy-le-Grand in the 93, Ursa Terra has made it its mission to provide users with the best thermal insulation solutions. A mission that it has fulfilled with brio if we take into account the superb sales achieved by this manufacturer.
In operation for about ten years, this company based in Servian is a reference in the manufacture of cellulose wadding for home insulation. Don't be mistaken, the insulating materials offered by the company are made from newspaper. They are 100% eco-friendly.
After having made its first steps in wall glues, Quelyd reoriented its activities to turn to thermal insulation. Its flagship product, Depron, is renowned for its insulating efficiency and ease of installation.
Alsabrico has established itself as the specialist in natural and ecological materials for the home. This company based in Turckheim manufactures insulation from plants or from recycling.
Aside from excelling in the design and distribution of cork insulation, Alsacork also offers tapestries, wallpapers and leather goods accessories.
The diagram below will help you to get an idea of the typical prices for each price range (entry-level, mid-range and high-end).
However, more expensive does not necessarily mean better.
We therefore advise you to always consult our ranking before deciding, rather than blindly relying on price ranges.
Delineate insulation priorities
Insulation needs are not the same depending on whether you are building or renovating. For the construction, it will be necessary to insulate all the walls, which will not be the case for the renovation. For the latter, you must proceed by zone. Also, try to determine the priority targets.
Insulate walls and roof first
The roof and walls are the main thermal bridges in a house. Focus on these areas first before considering floor insulation.
Check insulation compatibility
All thermal insulations on the market have their own specificity. To ensure that your home's insulation can be optimal, read the manufacturer's data carefully. Normally, the locations suitable for the relevant insulators are clearly specified on their packaging.
Improve your home's airtightness
The insulators will lack effectiveness if there are still air inlets in your home. Therefore, fill all air entry points in your home with airtight membranes.
Get help from a specialist
The thermal insulation of a home is an important life project that is best handled by a professional, starting at the planning stage. A professional will provide you with valuable assistance, particularly in the choice of insulation best suited to your home.
A well insulated house offers many advantages, the first of which is the possibility of reducing your energy consumption and therefore your bill. It will also allow you to enjoy more comfort, whatever the season. In summer as well as in winter, the interior of your home is maintained at the right temperature.
If you plan to insulate the floor of your home, polystyrene or polyurethane boards offer excellent performance. Nevertheless, you can also use softer insulators like glass wool. Cork sheets also make good insulators for the floor.
It depends on where you want to insulate. For floors, rigid insulation is recommended. For walls and attic space, however, semi-rigid insulation is better. Flake insulation is also an excellent choice for roof frames and attics.
Glass wool rolls are available in thicknesses starting at 60 mm, which always increases by about 20 mm. Depending on your needs, you can use rolls of 80 mm, 100 mm, 120 mm and so on. For the roof, glass wool of 160 mm is recommended.
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