Roof and loft questions

[vicky whitworth]

Hello, I have a couple of questions.
Does anyone know anything about some sort of very thin insulation material that you can attach to the inside of a sloping bedroom ceiling, that's very thin, unobtrusive and can be painted or papered over? It has been recommended to me but it sounds horrible so I want to know if it's better than it sounds.

Secondly do you know if it's possible to buy roof vents that you can't see from the outside ie: like lap vents, from a DIY or builder's merchants place?

 

[Penners]

The problem with insulation, vicky, is that it works on the principle of trapping air. So, the thinner it is, the less air you trap and the less effective it is as thermal insulation.

There is a thin metallic foil material that claims to reflect heat back where it came from, but its credentials have been very called into question, recently. However, even this stuff can't be painted or papered over - it's flexible.

The only stuff I can think of that vaguely fulfills your specification is insulated plasterboard. But it's not particularly thin. Here's a thread on another forum that will tell you a bit more about it.

http://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/comments.php?DiscussionID=1921