Installing Insulation whilst insulated from the cold

So here we go 

Having unloaded the Quinn Therm (same stuff as Celotex/Kingspan) into the master bedroom for storage it looked like this and nearly filled what is a bloody big room. 



We decided to start insulating up in the top of the mezzanine which is over the bathroom and opens out onto the office.
We cleared the bathroom floor and set up a cutting station there. 
The chosen item for cutting was a “Green River” deck knife with a stainless steel blade that was very well sharpened.
The other equipment need was a 2 meter straight edge and an easy to see tape measure.


Due to the space we were to work in and positioning of the Purlins we decided to do the 30mm (between chevron) insulation in 1200mm lengths. We went up into the space and measured between the chevrons. One measure for the top and one at 1200mm down. The chevrons were laid with 40mm centers so the gap between them was usually about 360mm. although it could be several mm difference over the 1200mm.
Cutting them 2mm oversize was the idea so that they fit into the gap firmly, neatly, with no air gaps and stayed in place with friction.
Once we have half a dozen to cut we went down and laid the straight edge over the sheet to be cut. Made our marks and then knelt on to the straight edge and made the cut. 

Here is MrsB demonstrating the technique.









You don’t have to cut all the way through as once you have gone over halfway it will break neatly along that line as long as the line is the full width of the board. Then just stand the board on its side bend it along the cut and then just cut through the silver foil form the other side and “voila” there is your ready to install board. 

This is where they had to go and as I mentioned earlier it leaves a 33mm gap behind the insulation and the membrane to allow for airflow and therefore no condensation problems 




First few bits in





These bits have been put in at the bottom first as it was easier to pup the top bits in over the top so they slipped up into the gap in the ridge and then we could bosh the bottom ones up to meet and get a good join ready for taping 





Here is the trimming process in action making sure you get a tight snug seal. We cut the bits a little oversize then cut a taper into the board. Then you fit it in and apply a bit pressure and lines made by the chevron will show you where to trim the rest from. Simple and effective.


 


Here we are coming to the edge so I have insulated over the gable and then cut a piece of 30mm so that when I put the big stuff up under the chevrons it fits against the gable as snug as you like and allows for no draughts or gaps.




Here are a few more bits further down the roof into the office and hopefully show the taping and how important it is to get into every gap, as fiddly as it can be. 













Here is a close up of the thick stuff on next to the Velux. 
You can see the counter batten holding the big bits up (at 30mm centers) and how tight and snug it is to the insulation around the velux itself.





And this is what it looks like when you have cut and fitted 
the big stuff over the top and counter battened ready for the placo to go on. 






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Here we are making a start in the master bedroom using the tower scaffold to get it into place



You can see the air gap between the Insulation and the membrane and you can see my foil sandwich

that is to prevent draughts from the gable end.  




This is what it looks like when it is all taped up and ready to take the big stuff





And here you can clearly see the taping which is important to stop draughts. 





At the outer gable I have used multi foil with taped edges and two layers thick stapled to the outer slate holding chevrons and then I cut a piece of 30mm and laid it against that so that when I slide a big piece in against it, it forms a secure draught fee seal. You cant see that detail on here but it is there.

This is what it looks like after the first big piece goes up and if you look at the gable you can see some of my extra insulation there





The odd sized piece is basically the first one up to hold it in place while I get the proper batten ready and put in. 
We have marked the purlins in line with the middle of the chevrons so we know that when we drill through we will always find one. We then have a piece of wood with 30mm marks so that it makes lining up the screws easy.
The batten is offered up plain then marked, predrilled and countersunk. Finally it is offered up again and in go the 180mm screws which tighten everything up. 

At the moment we have done about a third of the roof and yet used half the material so I will have to get some more over here later but as spring and summer approach the insulation will be rainy day job. That said we will have to get on with it as we will have plenty of visitors coming soon    .