If you live in Auckland, you’ll know how quickly the weather can turn. Cold winters, damp conditions and rising power bills make insulation one of the smartest investments for homeowners.
When it comes to improving your home’s warmth and efficiency, many people wonder whether to start with ceiling insulation or underfloor insulation.
This guide will help you understand the differences, benefits, and help you decide which to prioritise first.
Why Insulation Matters
Insulation plays a key role in creating a comfortable, energy-efficient home. Without it, heat escapes in winter and builds up in summer, making it harder (and more expensive) to keep your living spaces at the right temperature. BRANZ (Building Research Association of New Zealand) research shows that in a typical uninsulated New Zealand home:
- 30–35% of heat is lost through the roof
- 18–25% through the walls
- 12–14% through the floor
That means ceiling insulation typically has the biggest impact, but underfloor insulation also plays a crucial role in keeping your home warm, dry, and healthy.
Ceiling Insulation, the top priority
For most homes, ceiling insulation is the first step. Because hot air rises, the ceiling is where you lose the most warmth. Properly installed ceiling insulation creates a barrier that traps heat inside during winter and keeps your home cooler in summer
Benefits of ceiling insulation:
- Significant energy savings and lower power bills
- Noticeable improvement in comfort across your entire home
- Helps reduce condensation and dampness issues
- Long-term value: properly installed ceiling insulation can last for decades
When you need new ceiling insulation:
- Your existing insulation is thinner than 100mm
- You notice gaps, damp spots or damage from pests
- Your home was built before the 1980s and has never been upgraded
Underfloor insulation, don’t overlook it
If your home has a suspended floor with access underneath, underfloor insulation is another smart upgrade. While the percentage of heat loss is lower compared to ceilings, the cold air rising through your floor can still make a big difference to how your home feels.
Benefits of underfloor insulation:
- Warmer, more comfortable flooring underfoot
- Reduces draughts from gaps in timber floors
- Helps protect against mould, damp and musty smells
- Works especially well when combined with a ground vapour barrier
When underfloor insulation is needed:
- You feel cold draughts coming up through the floorboards
- The existing foil insulation is damaged, torn, or degraded
- There’s visible mould, dampness, or pest damage
Which should you prioritise first?
If you have to choose, ceiling insulation should almost always come first. The impact is immediate, the energy savings are greater, and you’ll notice a difference in every room.
However, underfloor insulation shouldn’t be ignored. In older Auckland homes with timber floors, cold air rising through the floor can make your house feel chilly even if the ceiling is insulated. Ideally, both should be installed for maximum comfort and efficiency.
Installing Ground Vapour Barrier
Pairing insulation with a ground vapour barrier is also a smart move. This polythene sheet is installed beneath your home to stop rising damp, creating a drier, healthier living environment.
Insulation Grants
With support from the Warmer Kiwi Homes grant eligible households can receive up to 80–90% off the cost of ceiling and underfloor insulation, plus ground vapour barriers.
Mint Auckland can check your eligibility and guide you through the process, making it easy to access funding and start saving on power bills.
Why choose Mint Auckland?
At Mint Auckland, we specialise in ceiling insulation and underfloor insulation using GreenStuf® polyester insulation, a safe, durable and NZ-made product that’s backed by a 50-year warranty.
- Non-flammable and meets NZ Building Code standards
- Safe to touch, with no itching or protective gear required
- Resistant to mould, moisture and pests
- Asthma NZ approved for better indoor air quality
Our team provides expert advice, professional installation and local knowledge to ensure your home is energy-efficient all year round.
Book a Free Home Assessment
Contact Mint Auckland today on 0800 888 646 or book online so we can get the best insulation solution for your home.