Pitched roof insulation
When the loft floor cannot take insulation — because it is boarded for storage, full of tanks and services, or the roof is being renewed anyway — insulating at rafter level turns the roof itself into the warm layer.
What it is
Insulation fitted between and under (or, when re-roofing, over) the rafters of a pitched roof, rather than on the loft floor. Rigid PIR boards or breathable mineral-wool slabs are fixed between the rafters with a ventilated gap or a breathable membrane above, then a continuous layer is added beneath to stop cold bridging through the timbers. The result is a warm loft space that can be used for storage or, with the right build-up, converted later.
Why it matters for 2030
The EPC treats an uninsulated roof harshly, and a boarded loft with crushed or missing insulation scores the same as an empty one. Rafter-level insulation gives you the roof points without giving up the storage space many tenants rely on, and where a re-roof is due it adds relatively little to the job. It is the fabric-first step the 2030 standard expects before you move on to heating.
Which homes suit it
Properties with a boarded or heavily used loft, roofs with water tanks and pipework that make floor insulation impractical, houses due a re-roof, and homes where a future loft conversion is on the cards. Where the loft is empty and accessible, loft insulation on the floor is cheaper and we will recommend that instead. Existing converted lofts are covered under room-in-roof insulation.
Grants that apply
Rafter-level insulation is treated as roof insulation under the Warm Homes: Local Grant for eligible Greater Manchester tenants and under ECO4 while it runs (to 31 December 2026). The insulation is zero-rated for VAT until 31 March 2027. Roofing works themselves are priced separately. The grants page explains who qualifies.
How we do it
Surveyed and coordinated to PAS 2035, with a condensation-risk check on the proposed build-up, then installed by our accredited partner LAMTANS Engineering to PAS 2030 standards and lodged with TrustMark. Downlights, electrics and ventilation are handled properly so the roof stays dry. You get a fixed price from our own price book and the evidence for your post-works EPC.
Common questions
Is this the same as loft insulation?
No. Loft insulation sits on the loft floor and leaves the loft cold. Pitched roof insulation sits in the roof slope, so the loft itself stays warm and usable.
Can it be done while the tenant is in the property?
Yes. Work is confined to the loft, usually over one to three days, and needs only loft access.
Related: loft insulation · room-in-roof insulation · flat roof insulation