When it comes to home roof insulation. There are a lot of bad choices you can make. Some older home insulation products can be both flammable and toxic, while others are extremely harmful to the environment. But this doesn’t mean you’re stuck only with bad choices.

There are plenty of wall and ceiling insulation products that are not only good for the environment, but are also safe, affordable and provide premium insulating properties.

So, let’s have a look at 5 eco-friendly insulation materials.

1.   Sheep’s wool

Wool may be the most natural and sustainable of all insulation materials. A single sheep can produce up to 13 kilograms of wool in a year, depending on the breed. That means that wool is a plentiful and renewable resource.

Wool fibres create a thermal barrier by forming millions of tiny air pockets. That means it traps air, creating a powerful thermal barrier.

Sheep’s wool is also fire retardant and helps to regulate humidity in your home.

2.   Cotton or denim

Cotton – and denim, which is made from cotton – is a natural and renewable resource. Denim insulation is made from shredding and recycling fabric off cuts that would otherwise go into landfill.

While cotton isn’t naturally fire retardant, cotton insulation is treated with a borate solution to ensure it’s 100% fire safe. Cotton is also a natural insect repellent.

Cotton and denim insulation are more expensive than traditional fibreglass insulation. However, an eco-friendly choice is money well spent.

3.   ThermaCork

ThermaCork is a revolutionary eco-friendly insulation material. It actually has a negative carbon footprint and is natural, renewable and biodegradable. Even better, it also has no toxins and has sound-cancelling qualities.

ThermaCork is made from the outer bark of cork oak trees. No trees are cut down to make this insulation and any waste is used to fuel the manufacturing process. Up to 93% of the energy required to make ThermaCork comes from its waste products.

4.   Aerogel

Aerogel is one of the most effective insulation materials on the market. It’s made by placing silica under high temperature and pressure, then removing the liquid. The end result is a material that is more than 90% air. This molecular structure creates a strong thermal barrier.

Aerogel has an R-value of 10.3 per inch of thickness. The R-value measures a barrier’s resistance to heat flow. The greater the R-value, the greater the resistance to heat transfer, and the greater the insulating effect and subsequent energy savings.

To put that into perspective, wool has an R-value of 3.5 to 3.8 per inch of thickness, and fibreglass and cotton have an R-value of 3.2 per inch of thickness.

Aerogel insulation can be one of the more expensive insulation options. However, it’s incredible R-value makes it a highly effective insulation choice and will help to significantly reduce energy costs.

5.   Icynene

Made from castor oil, Icynene is another sustainable insulation choice. This oil is made into a spray foam that expands to nearly 100 times its original volume. As it foams, it traps air bubbles, creating a thermal barrier.

Because of its expansion properties, Icynene will tightly seal any gaps so you may need to install a ventilation system alongside the insulation.

These are just five of the eco-friendly insulation options on the market today. Other options include cellulose, polyester and earthwool.

Before deciding on insulation for your home, it’s worth considering the eco-friendly choices. There’s a wide range to choose from, with most performing just as well as the less eco-friendly options. So, make the green choice today.

If you’ve got work that you need to do on the roof, then it’s vital that you take all the proper safety precautions. Many injuries and even deaths are a result of roof cleaning accidents. You can easily slip off the edge or fall through the roof if you aren’t careful.

Before clambering up onto your roof, take a moment to read these tips for staying safe.

Be aware of hazards

There are plenty of hazards on a roof, these are just the most common:

• Edges: Whenever possible, stay away from the edge of the roof and try to keep it in your line of sight. It’s incredibly easy to take a step back and realise too late that there’s nothing under your foot. You can install edge protection and railings to prevent this.
• Fragile areas: This includes skylights, areas that have been damaged and the middle of tiles. Do not walk on fragile areas. It may be worth setting up barriers around fragile areas while you’re working on the roof.
• Poor weather conditions: Do not go on your roof if it is windy, raining or has rained recently.
• Steep inclines: If possible, avoid having to climb a steep incline on your roof to prevent overbalancing. If you do need to work on a steep incline, you should consider using a safety harness system.
• Slippery areas: Avoid stepping on areas of mould, algae or moss. They can be deceptively slippery and this can increase the risk of falling.

Always wear safety equipment

When working on a roof, you should be dressed appropriately. For starters, avoid loose clothing that can snag or catch on anything. Similarly, you do not want to be wearing anything so tight that it restricts your movement.

You should invest in a good pair of rubber-soled shoes with a non-slip tread. These can help stop you slipping and injuring yourself or damaging the roof.

For extra protection, you can also get a safety harness. The safety harness attaches to an anchor point so if you do slip and fall, you will be caught before you hit the ground. Make sure the safety harness is anchored correctly and fits properly.

Always have safe access

You should be able to access your roof safely. Use a ladder to get onto your roof. The ladder’s non-slip feet should be firmly on the ground and the top anchored to the roof. Have someone hold the ladder securely as you climb.

The ladder should not lean against guttering. Guttering can easily pull away from the roof and the ladder can slip and fall.

Never work on a roof alone

In case of an emergency, you should never work on a roof alone. A partner or team can also minimise the time you need to spend on the roof and help prevent accidents.

Ensure you work together safely. Make it clear if you are moving behind someone or coming to stand on the same area. Try to distribute weight evenly so the roof does not break.

Roof cleaning and maintenance is part of looking after your house. It can be dangerous, so take precautions to keep yourself safe. Alternatively, you can hire a professional roof and gutter cleaning service.

Bunnings has a great guide for cleaning a tile roof if you want to handle the job yourself.

However, it is also one of the areas of the home which is ignored. But with the well-serviced and maintained roof, you will get a lot of advantages. So, is your roof looking worn? Has it been leaking? Is it near to the end of expected lifespan? Confused about the restoration or it should be completely replaced? Then below are the reasons why roof restoration and roof repairs can be your best choice for your home.

• With efficient materials used by experts for restoration and repair purpose, you can ensure that your roof will safe from harsh weather conditions.
• With the help of roof repairmen who are trained and skilled, you can relax and sit back as there are no more risky-roof problems for you and your members of the family.
• By undertaking roof restoration in Melbourne, the overall value of your house increases or at least keep your home worth intact.
• With proper roof repair in Melbourne, one can ensure longevity for your roof and make sure that replacement is not the only option.
• Spending money on Roof restoration and repair is less expensive than ignoring the whole process and then having to pay for even more money to replace the roof when it completely breaks down.

In short, whether your roof is old or new, there are a number of things that can put your roof’s reliability at risk. So, for you, Roof Restoration and repair is the best option when you talk about addressing roof problems.