What is multifoil insulation?

Unlike most other insulation types which are made from a single material, such as foam, fibreglass wool, mineral wool or PIR. Multifoil insulation consists of layers of wadding sandwiched between aluminium foil sheeting.

As a result, our standard multifoil combines the thermal insulation properties of foam wadding, with the added benefit of foil which serves as a reflective barrier to radiant heat and also makes the insulation resistant to water vapour.

This is important because the foil reflects internal heat back inside the property and also keeps external heat from warming the inside on a hot day. Water vapour, on the other hand, can compromise the effectiveness of other insulation types and shorten their lifespan, as well as supporting the growth of mould and fungus.

Installing multifoil

Multifoil is as flexible as any other blanket insulation such as fibre and wool insulation but it can offer superior thermal resistance in a thinner product. Unlike other types, it can also be easily cut with a stanley knife or a pair of scissors and there’s no need for eye or face protection as the insulation doesn’t produce airborne fibres when handled.

Combined with foil tape, multifoil rolls can be stuck together side by side to produce an airtight layer of insulation and it can be fixed in place by being stapled and taped before being fixed between wooden battens. It can also be installed around corners, fixed under or over rafters or against any surface without taking up much-needed space. Combined with other additional layers or with other insulation types, multifoil can achieve an even greater performance.

Being flexible, easy to install and high performance, multifoil insulation is ideal for properties where space is at a premium, such as in a loft conversion, restoration/renovation, garden office, campervan or timber frame property. It’s also ideal for DIY jobs as well as professional projects.

Comparing multifoil against other insulation types

With the layers of wadding and layers of foil, multifoil offers high performance in a fraction of the space that’s required for other insulation types; our 45 mm thick SuperFOIL SF19+ insulation gives the same thermal performance as 150mm of mineral wool or 90mm of PIR board.

Although it’s more expensive than glass wool, multifoil is cheaper than most boat or sheet insulation and it also has a lifespan of over 50 years, far more than the 10-15 year lifespan of glass wool.

Click here to find out more about our range of multifoil insulation.