DIY AEROLITE INSTALLATION GUIDE
In this DIY aerolite guide we will tell you exactly how to install aerolite in your roof. Make sure you are getting the right thickness installed for your climatic region. Johannesburg, Pretoria and Western Cape require the 135mm aerolite to be compliant.
It is not an easy product to install. People often wonder how to cut insulation. That’s why we do recommend you have aerolite installed by an insulation expert!
If you feel like you are up to the challenge of being an aerolite installer for a day this guide will help you down the right path. More information on insulation products.
PREPARATION STEPS BEFORE DIY AEROLITE INSTALLATION
- Safety clothing
- Dust mask
- Long-sleeved pants and shirt (fiberglass can be itchy)
- Measuring tape
- Stepladder
- Portable light
- Saw (used to cut the aerolite in the plastic, see video below)
MEASURE BEFORE AEROLITE INSTALLATION
Make sure you have enough aerolite to cover the entire roof area. Measure up you home and then add on a little bit to the final measurement to allow for overlaps. Generally, when installing aerolite roof insulation you need to allow an extra 8% – 10% for overlaps.
WHY DO YOU NEED A BIT EXTRA MATERIAL FOR OVERLAPS?
Never take an inside measurement of your home when you are installing aerolite. Always take an external measurement because it closer to the final roll usage on completion. Remember that when installing the product in your roof, you will be covering over the walls from above. You will also be overlapping between beams. Make sure no gaps are left once the installation has been completed.
For example, if your beam distance is 700mm wide. You will need to cut the aerolite roll around 750mm wide. The aerolite must fill the beam width. Additionally, there must be a little bit extra material left on either side of the beam as an overlap, to ensure no gaps are left.
COMPRESSING AEROLITE
First off, you need to make sure the product is not compressed once rolled out of the plastic. The ability aerolite has to resist heat flow comes from tiny air gaps in the product. So make sure it is not squashed or compressed in any way once it has been laid.
MEASURE BEAM DISTANCE
As mentioned above, you will need to measure the distance of your beams in order to accurately cut enough aerolite. Always but a little bit extra to allow for the overlaps. You want to make 100% sure no gaps in the aerolite are left.
HOW TO CUT AEROLITE INSULATION
The product is fairly easy to cut. Once you are satisfied with the measurement. Simply take your saw and begin to cut through the material while it is still inside the plastic. It’s easiest to cut when it is compressed in its initial roll form. Make sure you make a nice clean cut, straight through the roll.
WHAT TO DO WITH AEROLITE ONCE CUT TO SIZE?
Now that you have successfully cut through the roll, you will be left with two different roll sizes. Firstly, take the roll that has been cut to size. Pull the plastic off and you will see the product will start to un-compress itself slowly. The other half of the roll will not be enough to cover the entire beam width on the next beam. Use this off-cut piece along with the next rolls off-cut piece to fill the gap.
HOW TO INSTALL AEROLITE INSULATION
What you need to do is roll the product between the beam and flat on the ceiling board. Additionally, make sure the material fits snugly between the beams and no gaps are left. You need to make sure that all wiring is left on top of the material. In case you need to access those wires at a later stage. This can be quite a difficult task. Which is why we do recommend using an insulation expert to install the product.
CUT BREATHING HOLES AROUND DOWNLIGHTS
This is an extremely important thing to remember when installing aerolite in your ceiling! Make sure every downlight has a circular hole cut around it. So the downlight heat does not get trapped around itself and cause a problem in your roof.
DONT FORGET TO COVER THE TRAPDOOR
Once you have completed installing the aerolite between all the beams. Have managed to cut around all the downlights. Have left all the wires in your roof exposed and on top on the insulation. You need to cut a piece of aerolite. That fits snugly on the top side of your trap door to finish off the installation.