Insulation

Would you like to save on energy bills but not compromise your comfort? Then consider insulating your home. With insulation, you can enjoy a pleasant temperature in your home all year round and contribute to the climate. Curious about prices, options and our tips? Then read on.

How much does insulation cost?

The insulation costs depend, among other things, on the insulation measure, choice of material, and the insulated surface area. Check the table below for an indication of the average cost of insulation measures for a mid-terrace.

What is insulation?

Isolation counteracts heat loss, keeping the indoor temperature constant. Insulation does this by disrupting the heat exchange between inside and outside. Outdated homes are often poorly insulated, so heat easily finds its way outside through gaps. This escaped heat is, in fact, wasted energy, throwing a lot of money away. With a well-insulated house, you can keep your home pleasantly warm in winter and cool in summer.

What insulation measures are there?

Are you still undecided about what kind of insulation best suits your home? The five most common insulation measures are briefly explained below.

Cavity wall insulation

A cavity is a space between the inner and outer walls. The purpose of this cavity space is to stop moisture from outside before it reaches the inner wall. It also has an insulating function. To really properly insulate the cavity wall, the insulation material is applied. This way, your house retains even more heat.

The advantage of cavity wall insulation is that it is relatively cheap, can be installed easily, and often lasts long.
Want to know whether cavity wall insulation is a good choice for your house? Then read the cavity wall insulation article for more information.

Floor insulation

Another option is floor insulation. It is usually chosen to insulate the floor through the crawl space. With floor insulation, you will never suffer from cold feet again. Moreover, it creates a healthier home climate. Insulating your floor actually reduces moisture in the house, resulting in healthier air, and fewer dust mites and vermin staying away.

You can opt for upper-floor or ground insulation if crawl-space insulation is impossible.

Roof insulation

Heat rises. Therefore, roof insulation is also a good choice if you want to save on energy bills. Roof insulation can be installed on a flat roof or on a pitched roof. Insulating a flat roof is done from the outside. You can choose to do a sloping roof from the inside or the outside.

Are you curious about the various options and prices? Then read our roof insulation article.

Facade insulation

If much heat is lost through your walls and cavity wall insulation is not possible or sufficient, then facade insulation can be a good option. Gable insulation is, in fact, installed against the inner or outer wall. This is usually done using insulation boards placed in a frame against the facade.

Read the facade insulation article for more information on the differences between these measures.

Glass Insulation

A lot of heat can be lost through your windows. This is mainly the case with single-glazing, but this also happens with double-glazing. Glass insulation with HR glass is a good way to keep as much heat as possible.

You have three different gradations here: HR+, HR++ and HR+++ glass. The lower the insulation value, the better the glass insulates. HR +++ glass insulates the best of all types of glass.

Why choose insulation?

An insulated house offers several advantages. It means you use less energy and emit less CO2. It also increases your living comfort all year round. You no longer suffer from cold and draughts in winter; in summer, it keeps the heat out. Another additional advantage is that insulation reduces noise.

With the help of insulation, you improve your energy label, making your house more valuable. Moreover, sustainable living is rewarded by the government. In fact, there are various national, provincial and municipal subsidy pots that you can take advantage of.

Subsidies and loans

Various national, provincial and municipal subsidy pots can make insulation more attractive.
There is a national subsidy for homeowners: the ISDE subsidy. You can claim this subsidy if you take one insulation measure, and the subsidy doubles for two measures. You can choose between cavity wall, roof, floor or wall insulation. The options also include HR++ and HR +++ glass. You do not want to take two insulation-related measures, but you do want to double the subsidy? Then you can opt for an insulation measure combined with a heat pump, solar boiler or connection to a heat network. Wondering how much subsidy you can get? Then read our subsidy article.

There is the SEEH scheme for Owners’ Associations, housing associations and housing corporations. You can apply for this subsidy for energy advice and energy-saving measures.

Loans

It is possible for private individuals to borrow money from the municipality and province using the sustainability loan. You then borrow money to make your home more energy efficient. You can apply for this loan through the Stimuleringsfonds Volkshuisvesting (SVn).

Another loan that private individuals and Home Owners’ Associations (VvE) can also take out for energy-saving measures the Energiebespaarlening (Energy Savings Loan) from the National Warmth Fund.

And finally, when buying your house, you can get extra mortgage space if you want to implement energy-saving measures. You can borrow an extra 6% of the value of your home, with a maximum of £9,000. There are some conditions attached.

What insulation materials are there?

The five most common insulation materials are glass wool, rock wool, EPS, PUR and PIR. Each type has defining characteristics and advantages and disadvantages, such as fire safety or environmental friendliness. When comparing insulation materials, pay attention to the lambda value: this number indicates how well a material conducts heat. The lower the value, the better the insulation. See below for an overview of the different materials and their characteristics.

Glaswool

Glaswool consists of sand and recycled glass and, like stone wool, falls under mineral wool. Glass wool is a relatively inexpensive option. It is a lightweight material, non-flammable, environmentally friendly, soundproofing and moisture and mould resistant. A disadvantage of glass wool is that it can cause itching and irritation if you touch it.

You can use it to insulate your cavity wall, floor or roof. The lambda value of glass wool is around 0.032 to 0.040.

Stone wool

Stone wool also falls under mineral wool but is slightly more expensive than glass wool. Stone wool is made from volcanic rock, consists of completely natural materials, and is 100% recyclable. It is also fireproof, highly sound-absorbent and moisture- and mould-resistant material. Stone wool is also subject to the fact that it can cause itching and irritation when touched.

Stone wool is mainly used for insulating roofs, floors and cavity walls. Its lambda value is similar to glass wool, namely 0.032 to 0.040.

EPS

EPS stands for expanded polystyrene, better known as Styrofoam. This material comprises only 2% polystyrene and 98% air. It is very light, moisture- and mould-resistant, durable, and easy to recycle.

The disadvantage of this material is that it is not completely environmentally friendly as it contains 2% plastic. Furthermore, it is a fire-retardant but flammable material. Thirdly, it is difficult to apply this material, making seams and cracks less well-sealed.

The lambda value of EPS is 0.030 to 0.040. EPS is suitable for the floor, walls and roof.

PUR

PUR is the abbreviation for polyurethane or PUR foam. PUR insulation comes in two types: PUR foam and PUR insulation boards. PUR has a low lambda value of 0.022 to 0.028 and thus has a high insulation value. The material is fire-retardant, moisture- and mould-resistant, covering seams and cracks without problems. You can use PUR insulation for your roof, walls and floor.

The disadvantage of this material is that it contains chemicals and is therefore not environmentally friendly. Moreover, it is not recyclable, difficult to dispose of and is the most expensive insulation material.

PIR

PIR is a widely used insulation material and is made of polyisocyanurate. PIR is the improved version of PUR, which has been further developed. PIR is more fire-resistant and has a higher insulation value than PUR. Its lambda value is 0.022 to 0.027. Furthermore, the material is insensitive to moisture and lightweight. PIR is mainly used for roof, floor and cavity wall insulation.

The disadvantage of PIR is that it contains chemicals and is therefore not environmentally friendly. In addition, it is not recyclable.

VAT rate

A VAT rate of 9% applies to the labour costs of installing insulation for homes older than two years. All surrounding work, such as demolition, does fall under the regular 21% rate, as do material costs. Look for the conditions on the website of the tax authorities.

Step plan for when you want to start insulating

Step 1: Heat scan

You have decided that you want to have your house insulated, but how do you go about it? First, finding out what is causing your heat loss is important. For example, you can easily find this through a thermal imaging scan. You can request a quick scan from many municipalities free of charge. An extensive thermal image report can be carried out by a professional company.

Step 2: Check your house

Then look at the condition of your house and the year it was built, which can often tell you which insulation measures are already in place.

You can do the improvement check on the Milieucentraal website. This tool then tells you which things you can still improve regarding insulation. It also gives an overview of the costs, possible subsidies and the savings and climate benefits it will bring.

Step 3: Ask for tenders

When you want advice or know what to insulate, you can start looking for a specialist that fits the project. You can do this by requesting quotes and comparing specialists.

One way to check the quality of the company is through quality marks. Insulation companies can join VENIN, a trade association for post-insulation. Member companies are obliged to work according to strict guidelines. They are inspected by independent institutes SKG-IKOB and Insula Certificatie to ensure quality. There is also a VCA certificate, with which companies can demonstrate that they stand for safe and healthy working.