Why We Finally Insulated Our Attic Last Winter and What It Actually Cost Us

We put it off for years. Every winter the same conversation: the heating bill arrives, someone mutters about the attic, and then life moves on and nothing gets done. Last January we finally stopped talking about it and actually got the work done. Here is what it cost, what happened, and whether we think it was worth it.

What pushed us over the line

The house is a semi-detached in Cork city, built in the late 1980s. There was some old fibreglass roll insulation up there already, maybe 60mm of it, the kind that had been sitting for thirty-odd years and had compressed into something about as useful as a damp blanket. The attic hatch was cold to the touch. In the back bedroom you could feel the draught from above on windy nights. We knew it was costing us money. We just kept convincing ourselves it was grand.

What finally did it was a friend mentioning her electricity and gas bills had dropped noticeably after she had her attic done. Not a dramatic figure, just enough to make us feel stupid for waiting. We started making calls in November and had the work done in January.

Getting quotes

We got three quotes in total. The first company was very quick on the phone and gave us a number without seeing the house, which put us off immediately. The other two came out and had a proper look.

The job was to remove the old insulation, treat for any pest issues if found, and install 300mm of mineral wool across the entire attic floor. We also asked for the attic hatch to be insulated and draught-sealed, which is something not every quote automatically includes, so it is worth asking about specifically.

The quotes we got back were around 1,400 euro and 1,650 euro respectively. We went with the lower one, not just on price but because the contractor was local, came recommended by two people we knew, and was clear about what was and was not included.

What the work actually involved

They were in and out in a day. Two lads, started around half eight and were finished by mid-afternoon. The old insulation came out in bags. The attic was checked over for any damp or issues before anything new went in. The new mineral wool went down in two layers at different angles to reduce gaps, which the contractor explained is what gets you close to the full performance of that 300mm depth. The hatch got a foam seal and an insulated cover fitted on top.

The house was dusty that evening and we kept the attic hatch closed for a day. That was the only inconvenience.

The grant situation

Before any of this, do yourself a favour and check what support you might be entitled to. The Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland runs grant schemes for home insulation, and depending on your circumstances and the type of home you have, attic insulation is one of the measures covered. The amounts vary and the scheme details do get updated, so look at the current figures directly rather than relying on anything you read elsewhere, including here.

We did not end up applying in our case because of the way our ownership situation was structured at the time, but we have since sorted that and would absolutely use it for anything we do next. Do not assume you are not eligible before you check properly.

The honest outcome

We are about eight months on from having the work done. The house feels warmer in a way that is hard to put a precise number on. The back bedroom is noticeably less draughty. We are not going to claim some dramatic reduction in bills because there are too many other variables, the weather last winter, how much we were at home, gas prices generally.

What we can say is that the attic hatch, which used to feel cold on any overcast day, no longer does. The heating seems to hold longer in the evenings. And we are not having the same conversation every time a bill arrives.

If your attic insulation is original to the house and has never been touched, it is almost certainly well below what current standards recommend. Get two quotes, ask specifically about the hatch, and check the grant options before you book anyone.