TIMBER FRAME INSULATION

Timber-framed wall insulation is typically installed between the studs, this insulation can be PIR or glass mineral wool. The many benefits of timber frame construction have seen it become one of the most widely used construction methods in the UK today. In fact, modern methods of timber frame construction were introduced into the UK in the 1960’s and are fully accepted methods of building. For the contractor, timber framed construction reduces site work and allows fast completion. Its inherent advantages include pre-engineered quality, speed of construction and the sustainability of the raw material. In fact, timber frame walls generally provide better levels of thermal insulation than masonry walls of comparable thickness. However, the reduced mass of the wall means that any insulation material that is installed, needs to provide a higher level of acoustic performance to compensate. Moreover, a timber wall won't resist sound transmission as well as a block. The term 'timber frame insulation' typically describes well known brands such as Rockwool, Knauf, Celotex and Kingspan.

The 75mm thick walls are required for timber buildings that will be used all year round (75 x 47mm timbers). Treated timber is particularly useful for outdoor areas and areas of high moisture. Timber frame construction is used extensively for schools, hotels, offices, blocks or flats, therefore it needs to be acoustically well insulated. For those types of tasks, high density slabs are used. This insulation is often thick and very dense (>45kg/m3). They are known as the most versatile soundproofing absorbing materials on the market, designed specifically for use within new build and retrofit internal walls. Another available form of timber frame insulation is roll. Rolls are designed to fit between studs to close joints, reducing the potential for unwanted gaps and ensuring high levels of sound insulation. Acoustic insulation rolls simply create a barrier between your space and unwanted sounds. They are easier to install correctly than other insulants such as PIR rigid insulation boards because they adapt to any slight imperfections in the substrate and knit together, eliminating any air gaps. Soundproofing rolls are available in the following forms such as stone or glass mineral wool. Rolls are primarily designed for use in timber partition walls, new build and retrofit internal walls and floors, to offer specialist sound absorbing properties, roll products are also suitable for a wide range of applications including: separating walls, drylining systems, office, studio or home theater. Acoustic product straightforwardly absorbs sound waves and reduces vibration due to its density. Because of that, it promotes comfort and privacy, protecting people from ‘outside-to-inside’ noise such as traffic, and ‘inside-to-inside’ noise from neighbouring dwellings. The first step in the soundproofing installation process will be to add mass to the timber frame walls. An acoustic roll is excellent for use within plasterboard linings, it effectively reduces reverberation. It’s also the best choice if you’re covering a very uneven internal wall. Where you have a flat wall and easy access, then acoustic slabs are popular due to the fact they can be installed through simple friction fitting. Rockwool Acoustic insulation RWA45 is a particular favourite with customers – providing thermal insulation and fireproofing on top of its acoustic dampening credentials. 

TIMBER FRAME INSULATION SIZES

The spacing of the structure is strictly related to the dimensions of the gypsum board, i.e. 1200x2400. Generally speaking, studs should be placed at every 400 or 600mm. However, the industry standard of timber frame centre spacing is 600mm. Possibly for the reasons you should be looking for insulation with this particular width. However other 400mm centre spacing is also used in the UK. The only advantage for 400mm is a stronger structure otherwise is it better to have 600 mm centres.

600mm, more insulation, less thermal bridging, less metal studs, 600mm - living spaces and bedrooms
400mm, less insulation, more thermal bridging, stronger structure, 400mm - utility, kitchen or bathrooms

Rolls are 1200mm wide and ready-cut to produce three, 400mm wide rolls, or two, 600mm wide rolls and manufactured to a minimum density of 10Kg/m3 meeting the requirements outlined within relevant sound related Building Regulations. Acoustic Insulation Rolls are available in various thicknesses covering 11m2, 15m2, 15.6m2, 24m2. Acoustic roll common thicknesses are 25mm, 50mm, 60mm, 75mm, 80mm and 100mm. Rockwool RWA, RW, Knauf RS or Terrawool TW range offer boards size 1200mm x 600mm, which makes them ideal for insulation of this type of structure. On the other hand rigid insulation boards such as Celotex, Xtratherm or Kingspan come standard size 2400mm x 1200mm. They can be easily cut to 2 x 600mm or 3 x 400mm widths to fit between studs. These high performance PIR insulation boards are designed for internal wall insulation applications and can help achieve excellent U-values with both sides faced with low emissivity composite foil facing. Either way, installing insulation boards will provide excellent acoustic performance and appropriate fire resistance within the wall cavity.

BEST TIMBER FRAME INSULATION | COSTS

If you consider the fact that common spacing of UK timber construction is 400mm or 600mm, acoustic roll is absolutely the best type of insulation that can be used to insulate your timber partition wall. Rolls are 1200mm wide and ready-cut to produce three, 400mm centre wide rolls, or two, 600mm wide rolls and manufactured to a minimum density of 10kg/m3 meeting the requirements outlined within related Building Regulations. It means you have no offcuts and you can insulate the wall yourself. Moreover, rolls work out cheaper therefore they become the most favoured option from all of available internal wall insulation types. Insulation rolls normally cost as of 2022 around £25-27 per roll. That is why it is one of the most popular types of insulation, mainly due to the fact it’s been around for so long and is widely available from most building merchants such as Screwfix, B&Q or Wickes. Most popular timber frame roll turned out to be the 100mm Knauf Earthwool Combi-Cut 44 followed by 100mm ISOVER Spacesaver Glass Mineral Wool. If you are looking for the cheapest place for timber frame insulation, an online insulation shop is the way to go. It is because products come to you directly from the manufacturer without involving middlemen.

TIMBER FRAME INSULATION PRODUCTS

• Knauf RS45
• Knauf RS60
• Knauf RS100
• Knauf Rocksilk Flexible Insulation Slab Multi-purpose
• Knauf Foil Faced Two Sides RS45/RS60/RS100 
• Knauf Acoustic Insulation Roll Earthwool APR
• Rockwool RWA45
• Rockwool RW3
• Rockwool RW5
• Rockwool RW6
• Rockwool Timber Frame Slab
• Rockwool FLEXI®
• Kingspan Kooltherm K118 Insulated Plasterboard
• Kingspan Thermawall TW55/TF70/TP10 PIR Wall Insulation Board
• SR/TB-MF Xtratherm Safe-R Thermal Insulated Plasterboard
• SR/FB Framing Board Xtratherm Safe-R Insulation
• XO/FB Xtratherm Xtroliner Framing Board
• Gyproc Thermaline PIR Insulated Plasterboard
• Knauf EPS Thermal Laminate Insulation Board
• Gyproc Thermaline Basic Insulated Plasterboard
• Superglass Multi Acoustic Partition Roll Insulation
• IKO Enertherm ALU PIR Rigid Insulation Wall Board
• Celotex TB4000 PIR Rigid Insulation Wall Board
• Xtratherm Thin-R PIR Rigid Insulation Wall Board
• Recticel Eurothane GP PIR Insulation Wall Board
• EcoTherm EcoVersal PIR Insulation Wall Board
• Terrawool TW50 Acoustic Insulation Slab
• URSA 10 Diverso Insulation Roll
• Knauf Earthwool Insulation Roll 44 Combi Cut 
• URSA Acoustic Insulation Roll Glasswool
• Knauf Earthwool Acoustic Insulation Roll APR
• 12.5mm Knauf Sound Panel Acoustic Plasterboard ǀ Sound Shield TE

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