How to insulate a loft at the eaves

Hi All,
I’m wondering if anyone has some expert tips on how to insulate a loft at the eaves? Using a thermal camera I found a huge thermal bridge around the ceiling edges because the loft roll either does not extend all the way to the wall and is only single thickness for a distance in order to maintain air flow around the eaves. I have a 1920s cavity wall end terrace. I have a cold roof, i.e. insulation at the ceiling joist level.
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I’m aiming for high level of insulation at U = 0.1 W/m2K, which means 400m of glass wool of equivalent. I want to follow the advice to maintain a gap of a few cm to maintain air flow around the eaves. I have experimented with 100mm sheets of rigid insulation (see photo)

. It is twice as insulating as any wool but being rigid is extremely difficult to cut to shape and fit without any air gaps to prevent thermal bypass. (Also it has a significant carbon footprint from the blowing agents).

This, from Green Building Store, is way too complicated, expensive and invasive for me as it requires insulating from underneath in the rooms below. Suitable for EnerPHit but not for me. Roof eaves: insulation & airtightness for a typical W. Yorkshire terraced house - YouTube

This is a mixture of rigid board, wooden battens to maintain air flow and loft roll. High performance but tricky! Roof Insulation to eaves | Retrofit Pattern Book

I may end up just jamming more wool in and using something like this to maintain some air flow, although it is not long enough so I’ll have to jimmy up something bigger:

Grateful to hear of your experiences and any advice!
Chris

Hi Chris,

I’m new to the forum and looking around I found your unanswered post.

You need to be careful about forcing too much mineral/glass wool into the eves as the insulating properties are dependent on air trapped in the matting. Push out the air and the insulation effect goes with it. I would suggest the loft tray vent and filling the area below it with spray foam. If you have adequate access paint Blowerproof or similar over the joins between ceiling, wall and roof plate.

There are only 2 ways to prevent, rather than limit, thermal bridging. One is to literally raise the roof by 300mm and then insulate Ondrej the other is to insulate between the natural ceiling and a false ceiling 300mm below it (and on the top of any stud walls, for continuity). Actually, before fitting the false ceiling you could remove the top 300 mm of plaster from the stud wall and then insulate right through.

The 300mm is a near ideal. In most homes that would need to be reduced somewhat.

Sorry to be the barer of bad news.

Tim

Thanks Tim that’s very helpful. I’m trying to do the best I can without ripping things apart but I’ll take care not to compress the quilt.
(Its telling me you are new to the forum, so welcome!).