Insulation boards: types & prices
Insulation boards are, without any doubt, one of the most well-known and most frequently used types of insulation. By insulating your house appropriately, you can save a lot of money on your energy bill. Moreover, the living comfort will increase considerably. In this article, we discuss all types of insulation boards.
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Types of insulation boards
It is very important to choose the right materials if you want to insulate with boards. Below, you can find an overview of the most common insulation panels, together with their applications and main points of concerns.
PIR insulation boards
PIR boards (polyisocyanurate insulation) have a wide applicability and are perfectly suited to insulate a flat roof or a cavity wall. This material has got excellent thermal properties, even when the board is rather thin.
PIR is a rigid foam board which has a very high fire safety value. Most PIR boards are provided with a vapour barrier on both sides. Besides, PIR insulation boards are well-suited for the insulation of roofs with an EPDM -or PVC roofing.
PUR insulation boards
Polyurethane (PUR) is one of the most efficient insulation materials on the market. PUR is available in the shape of insulation boards or foam. However, the boards have a better insulation value than the foam variant.
Moreover, these boards guarantee a certain thickness in advance and nothing has to be taped over. PUR insulation sheets are recommended for floor-, roof- and cavity wall insulation.
XPS insulation boards
XPS insulation is often applied to insulate basements, overlay roofs, sarking roofs, facades and cavity walls. These insulation panels are pressure-resistant and therefore extremely suitable for floor insulation.
In addition, these boards have a good insulation value, they are easy to process and they are available with a tongue and groove system.
As for the price, XPS is cheaper than PIR and PUR but more expensive than EPS.
EPS sheets
Just like XPS boards, EPS insulation boards are made of polystyrene. It is one of the most common types of insulation sheets.
We especially know this insulation material as a protective material for household appliances.
Expanded polystyrene (EPS) is often used in styrofoam insulation materials. EPS boards are very lightweight, which is why they are so easy to use.
Supple glass wool insulation boards
Supple insulation boards can be very useful in case of uneven surfaces, such as a gable roof. These softer boards are usually made of glass wool or rock wool.
Although 99% of glass wool consists of air, it is very suitable for insulation. One frequently applies glass wool to insulate a roof.
Rock wool, in turn, is more environmentally friendly and possesses better acoustic insulation values.
Read more on: Rock wool insulation – Fibreglass insulation
Price of insulation boards
The cost of insulation boards will especially depend on the type of insulation panel you choose. In general, EPS boards are the cheapest insulation boards: you will pay about £10 per square metre.
PIR boards cost about £5 – £15 per square metre. XPS insulation panels have a price of 10 to 15 pounds per square metre, depending on the thickness.
A professional installation will entail extra costs. However, thanks to the knowledge of specialised firms you can be sure of a correct installation. This way, you avoid problems and costs in the future.
Curious about a customised price for the insulation of your house? Request prices for free and compare each type of insulation. By doing so, you will have a clear idea of which option suits your project best.
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Roof insulation boards
One often uses insulation boards for roof insulation as well. In case of pitched roofs, the glass wool panels are applied the most. Flat roofs, however, can be insulated with PUR insulation boards or polyurethane foam as well. Panels are ideally suited for roof insulation, as these boards are resistant to pressure and applicable on large surfaces. This way, one can immediately install roofing (bitumen) on an insulated flat roof.
The use of insulation boards is just one possible way to insulate. This method is very popular, as it is suited for many applications. Whether it is a roof, a floor or wall: very big and slightly smaller surfaces can be insulated with these boards in no time. This has to do with the fact that insulation panels are available in different sizes with several insulation values.
Insulation boards to insulate floors
When installing insulation boards on the open ground, one often uses polyurethane, polystyrene or mineral wool. These thermal floor insulation materials are installed underneath the supporting floor. These boards should connect closely, as this will help to guarantee a long sustainability. Given the installation on the open ground, the materials must be waterproof as well. Otherwise, the insulation boards might be a breeding ground for bacteria, moulds and vermin.
Next to that, a high compressive strength is very important. This way, you avoid crack formation in the floor tiles or in the subfloor. The insulation panels are often installed on top of the levelling screed – just beneath the eventual floor finishing.
Polystyrene (styrofoam) is frequently applied for this purpose. As the insulation value of polystyrene is not as high as the plastic variants, it is recommended to choose a slightly thicker board. In case of floor heating, the insulation boards are always positioned underneath the floor heating and the screed.
Insulate cavity walls
Finally, insulation boards are frequently used to insulate cavity walls as well. Big sizes imply a quick finishing. One often uses solid glass wool boards, although the thermal insulation material in polyurethane is suited for cavity insulation as well.