All building materials used to construct a house provide a level of thermal insulation, however to comply with today's increasingly stringent Building Regulations, a specialist type of high performance insulation is required.

The main types of insulation are:

• Glass wool
• Stone wool
• Rigid foam boards

Glass wool

Both glass wool and stone wool, work on the same principle as ‘sheep wool' - by trapping air in voids to reduce thermal conductivity from one surface to the other. They are easy to install in walls and lofts and are the most cost effective insulation solution available on the market.

Stone wool

Glass wool and stone wool are both available in rolls, slabs or loose (for blowing into cavity walls) however, weight for weight, glasswool is a more efficient insulating material. Importantly, both glasswool and rock mineral wool have the added benefits of blocking outside noise and are non-combustible, and it is for these reasons these products are often specifically requested by home owners.

Extruded polystyrene

These are most suitable for use under floors, but may also be used in walls and roofs where acoustic performance and fire resistance are not a priority for the home owner. The cheapest form of foam board insulation is white polystyrene while the thinnest, most effective and most expensive is polyurethane foam.