shiny plastic bubble insulation

shiny plastic bubble insulation

Builders Portugal
shiny plastic bubble insulation

You may have seen this attractive, easy to use insulation, oh and its very cheap too! Don’t all rush off to your nearest Leroy Merlin

 

I was at a friend’s house and a little like people asking doctors or lawyer professional questions in social situations my friend was eager to show me his new home office that had been constructed under his roof slope in the loft of his house.

 As many roofs here in Portugal have a concrete floor/bedroom ceiling it’s easy to take advantage of the free space and install a hobby room, guest room or as in this case attic office. Being in a roof of course it is subject to a massive amounts or radiant heat from the sun which passes into the loft or roof space sending temperatures soaring.

The work was not quite finished and my friend proudly showed me his “highly insulated”     shiny bubble wrap insulated ceiling/underside of the roof tiles. Previously the roof was not insulated at all.

At the same time I was actually thinking to myself “ It’s so hot in here I must get out very soon”  

I took a better look at the reflective bubble insulation that was being used in the ceiling as it obviously was not working.

I though at the time its failure to insulate properly was probably because it had gaps in it and in other areas it was compressed by ceiling joists. I left the office being decidedly unconvinced about the level of insulation that it offered.

Bursting the bubble

Then recently I read this – http://www.greenbuildingadvisor.com/community/forum/energy-efficiency-and-durability/30705/why-reflective-insulation-still-being-sold-hd

 

 All became clear.

 So my advice to you home owners and DIY fans is not to buy it and certainly don’t let your builder use it. My reason is it’s almost impossible to install it so that you get real insulation.

 

Believe it or not !  Only yesterday I had a quote from a builder where he had specified the same product. I called him to make sure that it was in fact silver coated bubble wrap and he started extolling the virtues of this new high-tech wonder product to lay under a concrete floor. This is the worst possible use for the product. But as it say insulation on the pack and its cheap why not use it.

I will let him down gently but he won’t be doing any work for our clients.