Your Ultimate Guide to Blown Insulation UK

As homes in the UK grapple with rising energy costs, homeowners are seeking effective and affordable methods to upgrade their domestic thermal efficiency. As such, home insulation has become a big focus. Blown insulation is a popular option due to its versatility, effectiveness and relative budget-friendliness.

Using loose-fill materials such as cellulose insulation, mineral fibres, or fibreglass, blown in insulation is best suited for lofts, cavity walls and stud walls, slashing your heat loss by more than half and bringing you staggering energy bill savings. But what exactly is blown in insulation, and is it suited to your needs?

This GreenMatch UK guide will guide you through blown in insulation, material types, pros and cons to give you the best idea of what to expect. 

Ready to insulate your home? Look no further than GreenMatch UK for all your needs. With our services, you can receive up to 3 free home-tailored quotes from pre-vetted installers in your area. All you need to do is fill out our simple 30-second online form and leave the rest to us. No charges or obligations apply. Click the button below to begin!

Blown in insulation is when loose-fill insulation material is blown into spaces such as cavity walls or lofts using specialised industry equipment. It’s commonly used for various insulation upgrades, such as blown cavity wall insulation, interior stud walls, and lofts. 

Usually, blown in insulation uses loose-fill fibrous materials such as mineral wool, fibreglass, or cellulose. These materials tend to be more sustainable, recyclable and affordable than most other insulation materials on the market. 

The material is installed differently depending on the area of your house you are installing, but in general, this is what you could expect:

The whole process of blown-in insulation takes no more than a few hours and is entirely handled by professional installers. It’s recommended to work with an accredited installer to make sure the job is done with good craftsmanship and can bring your home decades of comfort.

Blown insulation is a wonderfully effective home upgrade for thermal performance that comes with plenty of positives worth considering. Here are just some of the key benefits you can expect:

With all things considered, blown insulation emerges as a great home insulation upgrade fit for most budgets and home types.

While beneficial, blown insulation comes with its downsides like any other insulation approach. Most of these downsides are avoidable with a professional but can become a problem with faulty jobs and inexperienced installers.

While a DIY installation may be tempting, a proper installation will ensure that you do not have to face these problems. That way, you can save hundreds on burdensome repairs and enjoy decades of thermal comfort in your home.

Blown in insulation is usually carried out with a few key materials; cellulose, mineral wool, or fibreglass. All three are relatively similar but come with slight differences worth considering. 

Here’s a breakdown of what to expect per blown fibre insulation:

With that covered, let’s take a deeper look at each blown in insulation material and what to expect.

Blown cellulose insulation is one of the most affordable and sustainable materials on the market. Made from recycled paper and wood products, cellulose comes as loose-fill insulation and can be used as blown cavity wall insulation, behind internal stud walls, and in loft spaces.

Blow in fibreglass insulation is made of tiny glass fibres that are blown into a space using specialised equipment. They are materially the same thing as fibreglass batts and blankets, only as tiny shredded particles. This material is often used as blown in attic insulation, particularly in lofts that are not used as living spaces.

One of the most popular insulation materials on the market, mineral wool can also be found as loose-fill and installed as blow in insulation. Made either from rock or glass, blown in mineral wool is effective in heat retention, relatively affordable, and sustainable. It makes great insulation for loft spaces.

The best insulation material will depend on several factors, such as your budget, insulation needs, existing insulation, and personal preferences. 

When looking at thermal performance balanced with affordability, fibreglass emerges as one of the best blown in insulation materials on the market. Not only is it relatively cheap and effective, but it’s also quite sustainable and can even be recycled. 

Additionally, fibreglass is non-flammable, electrically-non conductive, and does not release harmful chemicals. This makes it a safer bet for long-term insulation.

Blown insulation is considered to be on the more budget-friendly spectrum when it comes to insulation methods. Your blown insulation cost can differ depending on your circumstances, but loose-fill insulation materials are generally more affordable than synthetic alternatives. 

Nevertheless, the cost of insulation differs based on your circumstances. Here’s a blown in insulation cost breakdown for each material per m2:

Choosing to insulate your home is a great first step, but making sure the job is done correctly is just as important. A professional installer is a fine line between decades of home comfort and shabby insulation that keeps needing repairs. 

With the sea of installers out there, finding a bargain is no small feat. The best way to do so is to ask a large sample of installers for quote prices and narrow down your most affordable options. Luckily, GreenMatch UK can save you endless hours by handling this for you.

By filling out our simple 30-second form, you can receive up to 3 free home-tailored quotes directly from our nationwide network of pre-vetted professionals. The best part? Our services are completely free of charge and with no obligations. Click the button below to begin!