DIY

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Like most odd jobs around your home, with a little information, a little common sense and a little spare time, almost anyone can install Bradford insulation. We've put together some simple instructions on how to do the job right, no matter where your Bradford insulation needs to be installed.

But don't worry, if you think that the job is more than you care to tackle, you'll be surprised at how little it costs to have a Bradford Comfortchoice installer do the job for you.

DIY Optimo™ Install
DIY Ceiling and Wall Insulation
DIY Vents Installation
DIY Door seals Installation

DIY Optimo™ Install

Tools Required:

Tape measure
Paslode Duo-Fast CNP 50 Coil Nailer (Part No. D40020) with round head galvanised 25-50mm ‘D’ nails or equivalent OR
Bosch GSR 10.8 V-Li2 Professional Cordless Drill Driver and No.6 16mm galvanised screw
Sharp long bladed, holstered knife
Torch or lamp

Installing Optimo™ in existing floors

Take enough packs into the sub-floor area for the whole job, where possible. As access and workspace can be restricted 2 people may be required for installation.
Use 410mm width insulation for 450mm joist centres and 560mm width insulation for 600mm joist centres.
Start fitting insulation from the furthest point from the sub-floor access.
Fix the Optimo™ aluminium strap* to the timber joists every 500mm and swivel so the strap runs parallel to the joist to leave access to the cavity free to install the insulation. For non-standard joist spacings additional straps may be required.
Friction fit Bradford Optimo™ insulation to fit tightly between the joists and press in place to ensure there are no gaps between insulation and joists, or abutting edges of insulation.
If the batt is too tight, trim the edge to 5mm over the width of the space before inserting.
If the batt is too loose, slice a piece off the edge of another batt to use as a packer.
Swivel the Optimo™ aluminium strap* 90 degrees so the strap extends into the floor cavity between the joists. Bend the Optimo™ aluminium strap upwards to support the underside of the insulation.
Take care not to block ventilation openings

* Patent pending.

Installing Optimo™ in new floors

Place Optimo™ saddle across joist every 500mm and fasten into place using a nail screw or staple.
Fit insulation tightly between joists so they are resting on the feet of the Optimo™ saddle, but do not compress the insulation
Do not leave any gaps between insulation

Special Case Installations with difficult access and non-standard joist spacings

In sub-floor areas, where it is difficult to fit insulation or insert over beams, it is advisable to cut the insulation into shorter lengths and install it piece by piece. It is not recommended to flex or bend the insulation.

Insulation can be cut across the width to install between joists, where spacings are uneven. This will reduce wastage where there are significant variances in the joist spacings. Ensure there are no gaps when installing one piece of insulation up against the next. If the batt is too loose, slice a piece no more than 50mm wide off another insulation batt and use as a packer.

If a batt is broken for any reason, it should be neatly cut square on both ends before fitting, to ensure there are no gaps.

Where there is a significant variance in joist spacings within a sub-floor, you may require a selection of widths of insulation to complete the job. Measure a number of joist spacings and plan the job ahead of time to determine the size and quantity of insulation required.

Electric cables and services

If any electrical wiring will be covered by insulation, seek advice from an electrician.
Electric cables and equipment partially or completely surrounded with bulk thermal insulation may overheat and fail.
If services such as electrical cables or plumbing pipes run along joists, bend the Optimo™ strap into an L-shape, at 90¡, and fix to the side of the joist, to avoid contact with wiring or pipes.
Flooring can be installed once the insulation is in place
Do not block ventilation openings.

DIY Ceiling and Wall Insulation

What you need

Tools

Sharp knife and cutting board

For Ceilings

Stepladder, torch or lamp and Kneeling Board
Insulation Poker (Poker can be made using a 25mm rod one metre long and two nails fixed about 75mm apart)

For walls and between floors

Polypropylene string
Staples

Basic rules for ceilings

Take enough packs into the roof for the whole job
Install 430mm batts for 450mm joist centres and 580mm batts for 600mm centres. If unsure, 430mm batts are perforated in the centre. Simply tear along the perforation to suit 580mm joist centres.
Where cutting is required, maintain at least 10mm oversize to ensure a tight fit.
Stand on ceiling joists only.
Ensure kneeling board is positioned over at least two ceiling joists.
Start laying insulation from the furthest point from the manhole.
Insulation should be cut back around ventilation apertures, exhaust flues and similar penetrations to allow a minimum clearance of 25mmm. Do not cover downlight transformers with insulation.
Insulation should be installed such that it is free to recover its natural thickness without folds, tucks or creases.

Laying Bradford Gold batts

Lay batts between ceiling joists using the poker if necessary to gently ease them into limited access areas.
Fit batts tightly between joists, making sure not to place pressure in the centre of the batt.
Do not leave any gaps between batts.
Push batts so that they sit on the top wall plate, avoiding intrusion into the wall cavity.

Electric cables and equipment

Electric cables and equipment partially or completely covered may overheat and fail.
Ideally lay batts with electrical wiring on top. For excessive runs covered by insulation seek advice from an electrician as to whether cardboard spacers or similar would be required to allow air circulation.

Basic rules for walls

Before starting, clean off all excess mortar from brickwork and studwork.
For standard spacings of 450mm centres fit 430mm wall batts. For 600mm centres fit 580mm batts between wall studs.
Use only wall insulation, Bradford Wall and Floor batts are stiffened and water repellent specifically for use in walls, ceiling insulation is not.
For other stud spaces, batts should be cut 5-10mm oversize to ensure a tight friction fit.

Installing wall batts in brick veneer constructions

Friction fit Bradford Wall and Floor batts in wall cavities.
Stringing is recommended when installing Bradford Wall and Floor batts to ensure the batts cannot bridge the cavity.
Start at the underside of the top plate 75mm in from the vertical stud.
Staple polypropylene string to the underside of the top plate as far back as the thickness of the batts.
Drop the string to the top of the nogging, tensioning before stapling.
Run the string towards yourself and turn it to the underside of the nogging and staple.
Drop the string to the bottom plate, tensioning before stapling.

Basic rules for floors-under house insulation

Bradford Wall and Floor batts can be easily cut to fit tightly between the joists and should be pressed in place to ensure there are no gaps between insulation and joists, or between abutting edges of insulation.
Bradford Wall and Floor batts are retained in position by stapling polypropylene tape to the timber joists across the underside of the insulation.
When the joists depth is greater than the batt thickness install a double layer around the perimeter so as to avoid convective air drafts.

DIY Vent Installation

Select your roof type:
Tiled Roof
Metal Roof

Installing a windpowered vent on a tiled roof

Materials required

Hammer
Clout head nail (25 to 30mm)
Silicone gun
Silicone

Installation Procedure

Remove the third tile down from the ridge tile

Remove components from carton and separate base flashing from Varipitch.
Dress base flashing into shape of tile, and slip under the tiles above, centring the hole over the opening in the roof.

If the roof is ‘sarked’, cut sarking in a cross and fold back corners to give a 300mm square opening.
Put hand through hole in base and push top edge of flashing into the shape of the underside of the tiles above.

Hook the fixing strap provided over the front of the base flashing upstand and nail to timber tile batten. This secures the front of the ventilator positively.
Adjust the Varipitch throat to suit the roof pitch. Use a spirit level to ensure the top is level. This will involve rotating the top section of the Varipitch, and compensating by rotating the whole unit on the base flashing.

When adjusted correctly, sandwich the fixing strap between the base flashing and Varipitch and fasten Varipitch to base by inserting 3 screws through the pre-punched holes. Secure Varipitch angle by attaching straddle bracket using self tappers.
Cut off any excess fixing strap.
Silicone all Varipitch seams from inside the Varipitch. Do not apply silicone to joint between base and Varipitch. This is a natural gutter to release any trapped condensation.
Position Windmaster top on the Varipitch by slipping the 3 rotor arms onto the edge of the Varipitch.

Rotate the arms until they fall into the slots provided.
Fasten the 3 arms through the pre-drilled holes using the screws provided.

Installing a windpowered vent on a metal roof
Materials required

Hammer
Phillips head screwdriver
Cordless drill with hex head drive
Tec screws (10 per roof vent).
Alternatively you can use pop rivets and pop rivet gun and drill bit)
Tin snips (preferably left and right hand)

Installation Instructions

Select position on roof close to ridge line, and place base flashing with top edge slipped under ridge capping.
Ensure that base flashing covers the corrugations or ribs equally, then mark the hole using the base as a template.
Cut hole.
Turn up pans or corrugations of the sheeting. On fibro roofs use pre-formed corrugations to ensure weather tightness.
Secure flashing to sheeting with self-tapping screws or rivets. These are not included in the kit (approximately 10 required).
Dress flashing to sheeting profile.
Adjust the Varipitch throat to suit the roof pitch. Use a spirit level to ensure the top is level. This will involve rotating the top section of the Varipitch, and compensating by rotating the whole unit on the base flashing.

When adjusted correctly, sandwich the fixing strap between the base flashing and Varipitch and fasten Varipitch to base by inserting 3 screws through the pre-punched holes. Secure Varipitch angle by attaching straddle bracket using self tappers.
Cut off any excess fixing strap.
Silicone all Varipitch seams from inside the Varipitch. Do not apply silicone to joint between base and Varipitch. This is a natural gutter to release any trapped condensation.
Position Windmaster top on the Varipitch by slipping the 3 rotor arms onto the edge of the Varipitch.

Rotate the arms until they fall into the slots provided.
Fasten the 3 arms through the pre-drilled holes using the screws provided.

DIY Door Seal Installation

Select your seal model:
RP3 Automatic door bottom seal
RP60 Automatic door bottom seal

Tools required

Hack saw
Phillips head screw driver
Tape measure
File
Drill

RP3 Automatic door bottom seal

With door closed, measure distance between door stops at front of door.

Cut seal to measurement less 3mm clearance on latch side.
Mark line across front of door 45mm up and parallel to sill.
Position top edge of seal on marked line and hard against hinge side.
Lift flap and secure with screws provided.
With door closed lightly shut seal, fit cam to latch side door stop.

Adjust cam and tighten.

RP60Automatic door bottom seal

With door closed, measure distance between door stops at front of door.
Cut seal to measurement less 2mm clearance on latch side and remove burrs. If door is less than 750mm wide trim equal amounts from each end to avoid damage to the mechanism. (450mm is the minimum operable size).
Fit adjusting screw (the longest screw) by fully inserting in the hinge end.

With door closed, position the seal level with the door bottom and hard against the hinge stop. Fix with screws provided.

Open door and withdraw adjusting screw two turns. Fit thumb tack strike if necessary.

Close door gently and observe the action of the seal. The seal should engage the sill slightly. For further adjustment turn the adjustment screw half a turn at a time.
Fit cover to strip.

Note: For double doors 2 seals are required. Follow the directions above but do not allow the 2mm clearance on the latch side of the doors.

Like most odd jobs around your home, with a little information, a little common sense and a little spare time, almost anyone can install Bradford insulation. We've put together some simple instructions on how to do the job right, no matter where your Bradford insulation needs to be installed.

But don't worry, if you think that the job is more than you care to tackle, you'll be surprised at how little it costs to have a Bradford Comfortchoice installer do the job for you. Contact us for more information

DIY Ceiling and Wall Insulation
DIY Vents Installation
DIY Door seals Installation