Case study
Loft Insulation Case Study — Insulation Installed Around an Existing Access Walkway, Reading
Daniel wanted to keep his central loft walkway for access to the water tank. We insulated the 41m² floor around it with 300mm of Knauf glass mineral wool, leaving the boards clear and fully usable.
What we found
- •The loft had an existing central access walkway but little insulation on either side
- •Large open joist bays were visible across the left and right sections
- •The hatch and walkway provided good access but created edges that needed accurate fitting
- •The upstairs rooms were losing heat despite the loft being easy to reach
The problem
Daniel wanted to improve the insulation without losing the central access route used to reach the water tank and roof services. The loft had a practical walkway, but most of the surrounding floor was uninsulated.
The lack of coverage on both sides of the boards meant heat was escaping through a large proportion of the ceiling. The access route itself also created narrow gaps that needed to be filled carefully without covering the boards.
Our assessment
The loft floor measured approximately 41m², excluding the existing central walkway. The walkway was stable and could be retained. We recommended 300mm of Knauf glass mineral wool around it, using a 100mm layer between the joists and a 200mm cross-laid layer above.
The installation
The open joist bays were cleaned and checked before 100mm Knauf wool was fitted between the timbers. Rolls were cut precisely along both edges of the walkway and around the hatch opening.
The boards remained uncovered and fully usable, while the insulation was brought neatly up to their edges. Ventilation routes and service access were maintained.
The result
The completed loft retained a clear central access route while gaining full-depth insulation across the surrounding floor. Daniel reported that the landing and bedrooms felt warmer and that the walkway remained easy to use for future maintenance.
The installation helped to
- Preserved safe access through the loft
- Reduced heat loss on both sides of the walkway
- Improved upstairs comfort
- Maintained access to roof services
- Provided 300mm insulation without covering existing boards
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