Ceilings impact your home comfort

Aside from creating a barrier between the interior of a building and the roof, ceilings also create a barrier from the cold and if the correct materials and techniques are used, ceilings can contribute towards making homes warmer in winter.

08/05/2018

Homeowners should embrace green building habits in a move to increase energy efficiency. Growing energy consumption and associated climate change will continue to rise and that’s certainly not sustainable, so all efforts even at individual level add up.

While ceilings can be visually appealing, they primarily serve a practical purpose. Aside from creating a barrier between the interior of a building and the roof, ceilings also create a barrier from the cold and if the correct materials and techniques are used, ceilings can contribute towards making homes warmer in winter.

The homes we live in can potentially impact our health and overall sense of comfort and wellbeing - but how often do we pause to consider what this effect might be? Ian Winroth of Saint-Gobain Gyproc talks about how to make your home more comfortable in colder months, without compromising on style or lifestyle.

Heating and cooling homes with open floor plans can be challenging but you don’t have to give up comfort for space. An open plan home doesn’t mean that you have to give up the creature comforts of a warm, quiet living space during cooler months. “Because most of us undertake new building or renovation projects infrequently, it's practical to design for built-in comfort right from the start. So embrace the mobility and flexibility of an open plan space as you make improvements for comfort, and consider the environment in the process,” Winroth advises.

Popular methods for heating a home include underfloor heating, gas and wood fireplaces or gas heaters, but Winroth suggests it’s worth making improvements to your ceiling, not only to enhance interior comfort but also add value to your home. Your decisions should be driven by three main considerations: thermal, acoustic and aesthetic comfort.

Winroth believes in building and renovating homes in a way that results in greater levels of comfort, health and wellbeing. And he emphasises that environmental concerns should be top of mind too when enhancing your own urban habitat.

 

 

Households account for a significant portion of energy consumption – mostly to provide thermal comfort. But much of this energy is wasted due to inefficient systems and designs.  Whether you’re doing a new-build or retrofit, Gyproc RhinoBoard and RhinoLite products are materials that add value to the environment.

Over and above improving your ceiling, there are many small steps you can take every day to improve your health, overall sense of wellbeing - and the environment. Here are Winroth’s top five tips for comfort in Winter:

1. ‘Green’ your living space

Plant life has a huge positive effect on focus, wellbeing and energy levels. Peppermint is easy to grow, reduces stress, and is linked with improved mental performance and alertness.

2. Soundproof your space

If you have noisy neighbors on one side of your home, place furniture or a large bookshelf (preferably full of books) against that wall.

3. Sleep better with more daytime light exposure

Melatonin is a naturally occurring hormone, controlled by exposure to daylight, that helps regulate your sleep-wake cycle. Get more light during the day to sleep better at night.

4. Keep your home dry

Control relative humidity levels at under 60%, using dehumidifiers if necessary. Open a window when you take a shower or bath or while you have clothes on a drying rack.

5. Stop draughts at the source

Draughts can often be found around windows or under external doors. Simple draught-proofing measures can really help. But don’t block your ventilation.