Ceiling Insulation

As I inherited a project part way through it is time to put the ceiling up in the house, the classy blue tin roof makes the place feel like a furnace in the sun, even the moistened bint says

I've used a couple of things. If your roof is such that you can do it, putting foil covered paper underneath the roof reflects the heat back up and cuts way down on the heat that comes through. I've used it on a porch that just had dark concrete tiles overhead. I slid the foil underneath the cross support rafters. You could feel quite a difference walking from the area without it to the area that had it. It comes in rolls about a meter wide. I can't remember what I paid for it but it wasn't terribly expensive.

If you're going to put in air conditioning too then you need the fiberglass insulation or something similar to keep the cool in. I've used the foil covered 4" batts that come in 20" wide rolls. I laid it on the ceiling in 3 normal sized bedrooms for about 5,000 baht total. Even without the AC on it made the rooms noticeably cooler. Electric cost went down too.

Hi Fremmel,

Where did you buy the foil covered 4" batts that come in 20" wide rolls and the foil covered paper?

Thanks

The foil covered batts I got at HomePro. They were 275 a roll 5 months ago. I can't remember for sure how long they were but I think 4 meters. They have different thicknesses as well. I think sometimes they have them at Global too. I've seen them on sale at HomePro for less - after I bought them, of course.

The foil covered paper I got at HomePro but it was the one in Pattaya. I would expect them to have it here but if they don't they should be able to order it. By the way I just measured the end of the roll I have and it's actually 4 ft. wide, not 1 meter.

Forget about Global, the selection isn't very good. HomePro and HomeMart. Every now and then there on sale. And they do come in 4 meter rolls and various thicknesses.

does anyone have experience insulating a drop down ceiling, (suspended ceiling)? I've inherited a project and need to find a way to install insulation between a drop down ceiling and the roof in a small house in Sakon Nakhon.

We got that foil backed plastic insulation 10mm thick from Global in the end and got the chap who put the ceiling up to cut and roll it into place as he put the ceiling up. If your ceiling is already up get someone to make you a nice access point so you can view it from a ladder, then roll the insulation out from there... it will also give you a place to put the mouse traps or rat traps if you get some critters up there.

Fussy, it's not quite so straight forward with a suspended ceiling though. There are aluminum support brackets/framework, and things like electric cables to down-lighters criss-crossing the area.

At one time, Global had squares of foil-backed insulation that were the same shape as suspended ceiling tiles. The insulation wasn't very thick (maybe an 1")....so don't know how effective they would be.

arjay wrote:Fussy, it's not quite so straight forward with a suspended ceiling though. There are aluminum support brackets/framework, and things like electric cables to down-lighters criss-crossing the area.

Thats why we put the insulation in the roof as we put the ceiling up, this involved cutting the insulation to fit and go round the ceiling supports, and lights. We later put a hatch in the ceiling to give up access (non weight bearing access). Glass wool you would have no chance putting up there once the ceiling is up, but the foil backed foam can be easily moved about with a knife and a stick and lots of patience

Thanks Fussy. Haven't done the drop down ceiling yet so will incorporate installing the insulation you suggested into to project.

If at all possible, put ceiling insulation in when you do the drop down ceiling. I just went through putting insulation in our drop down and finally had to get a couple of workers with planks to reach from beam to beam. Even then in places you can now see the tape and texture and some of the in-ceiling lights have come loose. I can fix the lights, but tape and texture is way out of my league. The house is cooler, I can even cool the house with one air con, but the electric bill went up to 3,000 baht. We did have a slight problem in communication, it seems that "Shut the door!" is not in the Thai language. I bought the highest R factor they had, it was on sale, at Home Pro. I am still considering spray on polyurethane foam for the inside of the roof, hell there isn't a roof over here, just tiles, but the cost is around 80,000 baht.