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Insulation

Insulation is a cost effective way of improving a home’s overall energy efficiency and can result in dramatic reductions on your energy bills.

See our guide below for step by step instructions on how to install insulation and our range available at your nearest store.

Step by Step easy installation guide

To install your wall or ceiling insulation you will need:

Sharp knife (saw for underfloor polystyrene)
Cutting board
If dusty - cap, goggles and dust mask

Ceiling applications may also require:

Insulation poker
Torch or lamp
Stepladder and knee board

Wall applications may also require:

Polypropylene tape
Staple gun

Underfloor Insulation may also require:

Saw or knife for cutting polystyrene
Staple gun
Nylon/stainless steel fixings

Step 1: Plan your work

First things first - the best thing is to plan our what you are doing - make sure you have all the tools you need and that you're going to buy the right amount of the right product.

Step 2: Choosing the right level of insulation

This is done using a measure called 'R-value'. These values measure the ability of the insulation to resist heat flow or sound. The higher the value, the greater the effectiveness of the insulation. Bunnings offer a full range of R-values that are clearly shown on the pack - a simple rule of thumb is the more temperature fluctuates in summer and winter where you live, the higher the R-value you will need.

Step 3: How much insulation will you need?

To work out how much insulation you need, calculate the m2 area you intend to insulate. Use the total m2 area to select the right number of packs required. To calculate, draw a plan of the outside of your home and measure the perimeter of each area to be insulated in meters, multiply the length by the width to give the total area in m2.

Installation For Ceilings:

	Step 1 - Place the packs onto the roof area. Start from the farthest point from the manhole and work
	from one pack before opening the next.

	Step 2 - Stand on joists only, fit knee board over at least two joists. Fit batts snugly between the
	joists, using your batt poker to slide the batts to the outside edge of the wall plate. Ensure batts are fitted with no gaps.

	Step 3 - Leave a 25mm minimum clearance around vents, chimneys and downlights. Do not
	cover light transformers

Note: Lay batts under electrical cables where possible. Short runs of cable may be covered. For older homes, check with a qualified electrician regarding the covering of wiring.

Installation For Walls: Note if there is building wrap on the outside of your studs go to step 3 and press the insulation against the building wrap.

	Step 1 - Clean off excessive mortar from brickwork and studwork.

	Step 2 - Run 1 or 2 vertical tapes between studs. Attach tape to the top plate, noggin and bottom plate by
	stapling. This prevents wall batts from bridging the brick cavity.

	Step 3 - Fit the batts to the frame between studs. Press the batts into place so that the insulation fits flush
	with the face of the frame. This will avoid the batts touching the external brick wall.

Note: Batts can be cut to fit odd-sized spaces. Batts should be cut 5-10mm oversize for a tight friction fit, and cut around power point plates. Check back of pack for complete installation directions.

Installation For Floors: Floors can be insulated with rigid ploystyrene (Expol), glasswood/polyester (Greenstuff) or foil (Thermakraft)

Polystyrene - Select the correct panel width for the correct joist spacing. Fit the panels with the 20mm ridges touching the
underside of the floor. Trim edges to fit snugly between joists. Expol fixings are only required for loose panels or where the
underfloor is subject to wind. Most panels will self support between the joists with a friction fit.

Polyester – Fit the roll between the joists and adjust so the side edges are folded down equally on either side. Staple in place
every 300-400mm through the fold-down and to each side of the joists. In coastal areas you should use a stainless steel staple to
eliminate corrosion.

Retro Foil – Run the membrane in the same direction as the run of the joists, with the foil side up. Allow 75mm overlap on each run.
Staple at 150mm centres to the face of the joists. Seal all laps with foil tape. In coastal areas you should use a stainless steel staple
to eliminate corrosion.

SAFETY HINTS

Installing insulation is hot physical work and roof cavities can warm up significantly in summer, so be sure to have adequate relief from the heat and plenty of water to avoid dehydration while you work.

When installing your own insulation, you must be extremely careful with the electrical wiring. Wiring should be kept clear of insulation in general. It's important that foils are prevented from touching any electrical fittings and contacts as they will conduct electricity. Some wiring and appliances, if covered by bulk insulation, may overheat. Allow clearance around appliances and fittings - you should not install insulation within 200mm around commonly used unprotected halogen downlights, with other types of recessed downlights and protected halogen downlights perhaps requiring lesser clearance requirements.

Where possible, keep the wiring visable by placing wires on the outer side of insulation, or use a spacer to create an air gap. Ideally, old wiring should be replaced to comply with government regulations before insulation is installed.

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