Loft Insulation in Bradford

Homes in Bradford and their lofts

Bradford grew fast in the 19th century on the wool trade, and much of the city was built in that period from local sandstone. Its housing falls into a few broad groups, and each one has its own loft issues.

Stone terraces and back-to-backs

Like Leeds, Bradford built a large number of back-to-back houses, and many remain, alongside long rows of stone through terraces. You find them across the inner city, in areas such as Manningham, Girlington, Great Horton, Little Horton, Bowling and Undercliffe. Their lofts are often small and low, sometimes partly converted, and the insulation in them is often old, thin or uneven. Stone-built houses on Bradford's hillsides also catch the weather, so we pay attention to damp, the condition of the felt and timbers, and keeping the eaves clear for airflow.

Victorian villas and larger homes

Parts of Manningham have larger Victorian houses built for the city's merchants and mill owners. These can have big, steep roofs with rooms in the roof or old storage areas, and a mix of old materials up there. Sometimes it makes more sense to remove the old insulation and start again than to lay more on top.

Council estates and suburbs

The 20th century brought council estates such as Buttershaw and Holme Wood after the Second World War, and suburbs grew out to places like Idle, Eccleshill, Wibsey, Allerton, Thornton and Queensbury. Many of these homes have 50mm to 100mm of mineral wool laid decades ago, short of the 270mm recommended now. A loft insulation top-up laid across the joists usually brings it up to depth without disturbing what is already there.

Common loft problems we look for here

Bradford is a hilly city that gets plenty of cold, wet weather, so condensation and damp are things we check in every loft. Other common finds are insulation squashed under storage boards, gaps around the hatch, old water tanks and pipes that need lagging, and mice getting in through gaps in older stonework. If you want to keep storage up there, raised loft boarding lifts the floor above the insulation. If you have seen black spots or damp patches, read our advice on loft condensation and ventilation.

What happens when we visit

We start with a free assessment of your loft in Bradford. We look at the depth and condition of any insulation, the access, the timbers, the ventilation and anything stored up there. You then get a written quotation that sets out the scope, the materials and the price before anything is agreed. We use Knauf Earthwool mineral wool loft roll, which is rated Euroclass A1 and non-combustible. The work is carried out by The Insulation Company or an approved installation partner, and we finish with completion checks. Eligible installations come with a written guarantee of up to five years, with the terms set out in your quotation.

Storage, ladders and ventilation

If you use the loft for storage, raised boarding keeps the full depth of insulation underneath, and a metal loft ladder makes getting up there safer. Where we find condensation or damp timbers, we deal with the ventilation as part of the same job rather than leaving it for later. In older stone houses with rooms in the roof, there is often no space for thick mineral wool on the slopes, and SuperFOIL multifoil can be an option there. We will set out what is possible in your quotation.

Areas of Bradford we cover

We cover Bradford across postcode districts BD1 to BD15. That includes the city centre and Little Germany (BD1), Eccleshill and Bolton Woods (BD2), Barkerend and Bradford Moor (BD3), Bierley, Tong and Holme Wood (BD4), Little Horton and West Bowling (BD5), Buttershaw, Wibsey and Odsal (BD6), Great Horton and Lidget Green (BD7), Manningham and Girlington (BD8), Heaton and Frizinghall (BD9), Idle, Thackley and Greengates (BD10), Birkenshaw and Drighlington (BD11), Low Moor and Wyke (BD12), Queensbury, Thornton and Denholme (BD13), Clayton (BD14) and Allerton and Wilsden (BD15).

Bradford is at the far southern edge of the area we cover, roughly 70 to 75 miles from Middlesbrough, so we plan visits in advance and agree a date with you. We also work in nearby Leeds, Skipton and Harrogate. Find out more about our loft insulation.

Not listed? Call 0800 229 4668 or send us your postcode.