When South Africans think about ceiling insulation, Aerolite is often the first name that comes to mind. For decades, it has been one of the country’s most recognised insulation brands, earning a reputation for consistent quality, dependable thermal performance and long-lasting durability.

Manufactured from lightweight glasswool fibres, Aerolite insulation is specifically designed to reduce the amount of heat entering and leaving a building through the roof. Because a significant percentage of unwanted heat transfer occurs through the roof space, installing quality ceiling insulation is one of the most effective ways to improve indoor comfort while reducing energy consumption.

Whether you’re renovating an older home, constructing a new property or upgrading a commercial building, Aerolite provides an insulation solution that delivers year-round benefits. During summer, it helps reduce solar heat entering the building, while in winter it slows heat loss, creating a more stable indoor environment and reducing the need for excessive heating or cooling.

In addition to its excellent thermal performance, Aerolite also offers impressive acoustic properties. The glasswool fibres absorb sound energy, helping reduce external noise and improving comfort inside homes, offices, schools and commercial buildings.

At Cape Ceilings & Drywalling, we’ve installed Aerolite insulation in a wide variety of buildings throughout Cape Town and the West Coast. Its proven reliability and consistent performance have made it one of the products we confidently recommend for many residential and commercial applications.

Which Aerolite Insulation Thickness is Right for Your Home?

Choosing the correct Aerolite insulation thickness is one of the most important decisions when improving your home’s comfort and energy efficiency. While every insulation product helps reduce heat transfer, selecting the appropriate thickness ensures you achieve the best long-term performance for your property and budget.

At Cape Ceilings & Drywalling, we assess every project individually before recommending the most suitable insulation. Factors such as the age of the property, roof construction, available roof space and your energy-saving goals all influence which Aerolite product will provide the greatest benefit.

50mm Aerolite Insulation

The 50mm Aerolite roll is an excellent entry-level solution for homeowners looking to improve indoor comfort without undertaking major renovations. It offers a noticeable improvement over an uninsulated ceiling and is often suitable where roof space is limited or where a basic level of thermal insulation is required.

While it provides worthwhile energy savings, many homeowners today choose thicker insulation to maximise comfort and reduce electricity costs over the long term.

100mm Aerolite Insulation

For many residential properties throughout Cape Town, 100mm Aerolite offers an excellent balance between thermal performance, affordability and energy efficiency. It provides significantly improved insulation compared with thinner products and is suitable for both new homes and existing properties being upgraded.

Many of our customers choose this thickness because it delivers outstanding value while helping maintain comfortable indoor temperatures throughout the year.

135mm Aerolite Insulation

The 135mm Aerolite roll provides the highest level of thermal performance within the standard Aerolite range. It is ideal for homeowners looking to maximise energy savings and create the most comfortable indoor environment possible.

This thickness is particularly well suited to new homes built with energy efficiency in mind, larger residential properties and commercial buildings where long-term performance is a priority.

Where Can Aerolite Insulation Be Installed?

 

One of the reasons Aerolite has remained a trusted insulation product for so many years is its versatility. It can be installed in a wide variety of residential, commercial and industrial buildings, making it suitable for almost any ceiling insulation project.

We regularly install Aerolite insulation in:

• Residential homes
• Townhouses and apartments
• Holiday homes
• Office buildings
• Shopping centres
• Retail stores
• Schools and universities
• Medical facilities
• Hotels and guest houses
• Warehouses
• Industrial buildings
• Churches and community halls

Whether your project involves improving the comfort of a family home or reducing energy consumption in a commercial building, Aerolite provides an effective insulation solution when professionally installed.

Common Mistakes We Often See

Over the years, we’ve inspected many homes where insulation had been installed incorrectly. In many cases, the product itself was perfectly good—the problem was the installation.

Some of the most common issues include:

Compressed Insulation

Walking on insulation or forcing it into confined spaces reduces its thickness and decreases its thermal performance.

Gaps Between Rolls

Small gaps may seem insignificant, but they allow heat to pass through the ceiling, reducing the effectiveness of the entire insulation system.

Installing Over Roof Leaks

Insulation should never be installed until existing roof leaks have been repaired. Moisture problems should always be addressed first.

Blocking Roof Ventilation

Good airflow within the roof cavity helps manage heat and moisture. Ventilation openings should never be blocked during installation.

Choosing the Wrong Thickness

Selecting insulation based solely on price rather than performance often results in disappointing long-term energy savings. Choosing the right thickness from the start generally delivers better value over the life of the building.

Why Aerolite Ceiling Insulation Remains One of South Africa’s Most Trusted Insulation Brands

For decades, Aerolite Ceiling Insulation has been one of the most recognised names in ceiling insulation throughout South Africa. Long before energy efficiency became a major consideration in residential construction, builders, architects and homeowners were already choosing Aerolite for its dependable thermal performance and consistent quality.

Its reputation has been built over many years of successful installations in homes, schools, hospitals, commercial buildings and industrial facilities across the country. While newer insulation products have entered the market, Aerolite continues to be a trusted solution because it delivers proven performance and long-term reliability.

One of the reasons for its continued popularity is its versatility. Whether installed in an older home requiring an energy-efficiency upgrade or incorporated into a modern architectural design, Aerolite provides effective thermal and acoustic insulation that helps create more comfortable indoor environments throughout the year.

At Cape Ceilings & Drywalling, we have installed Aerolite insulation in countless projects over the past 36 years. Its consistent quality and dependable performance have made it one of the products we confidently recommend to homeowners looking for a balance of comfort, energy savings and long-term value.

When installed correctly, Aerolite continues to perform year after year with very little maintenance, making it an investment that benefits both the property and the people living or working inside it.

Understanding R-Values – Why They Matter

 

When comparing insulation products, you’ll often see the term R-value. While it may sound technical, understanding what it means can help you choose the right insulation for your home or business.

The R-value measures how effectively an insulation product resists heat flow. Simply put, the higher the R-value, the better the insulation performs at slowing the transfer of heat through your ceiling.

In Cape Town, where buildings experience hot summers and cool, wet winters, choosing the correct R-value can make a noticeable difference to indoor comfort and long-term energy costs.

Higher R-values help to:

• Reduce heat entering your home during summer.
• Slow heat loss during winter.
• Improve the efficiency of heating and cooling systems.
• Create a more consistent indoor temperature.
• Lower electricity consumption over time.

Although insulation thickness contributes to the overall R-value, correct installation is equally important. Even high-performance insulation can lose effectiveness if it is compressed, installed with gaps or fitted incorrectly.

At Cape Ceilings & Drywalling, we ensure every installation is completed to maximise the insulation’s designed thermal performance.

Is Aerolite the Right Choice for Your Home?

 

Every property is different, which is why there is no single insulation product that is perfect for every situation.

Aerolite is an excellent choice for homeowners looking for a proven glasswool insulation system that delivers outstanding thermal and acoustic performance while remaining cost-effective and durable.

It is particularly well suited to:

• Existing homes without ceiling insulation.
• Homes undergoing renovations.
• New residential construction.
• Offices and commercial buildings.
• Schools and educational facilities.
• Apartment developments.
• Retail premises.
• Hospitality and accommodation establishments.

For properties requiring specialised rigid insulation systems or unique construction methods, alternatives such as Isoboard or Summit XPS may also be worth considering. Our role is to recommend the most suitable solution based on your building, your budget and your long-term performance expectations—not simply to recommend one product for every application.

Our Professional Recommendation

 

After more than 36 years installing ceiling insulation throughout Cape Town and the West Coast, we’ve learned that selecting the right insulation is about much more than choosing a brand name.

Aerolite continues to be one of our preferred recommendations because it has consistently demonstrated reliable thermal performance, excellent acoustic properties and long-term durability across thousands of residential and commercial installations.

For many homeowners, 100mm Aerolite provides an excellent balance between performance and value, making it one of the most popular choices for improving comfort and reducing energy costs. Where maximum thermal performance is the priority—particularly in new homes or larger properties—135mm Aerolite offers even greater insulation performance and long-term energy savings.

The most important factor, however, is not simply the product you choose, but how it is installed. Correct installation ensures the insulation performs as intended, providing lasting comfort and helping you get the greatest return on your investment.

When you contact Cape Ceilings & Drywalling, we don’t believe in one-size-fits-all recommendations. We assess each property individually and recommend the insulation solution that best suits your specific requirements.

From Our Experience

After installing Aerolite insulation in homes across Cape Town and the West Coast for many years, one thing we’ve consistently noticed is that homeowners often underestimate how much heat enters through an uninsulated roof. Many customers tell us they notice the biggest difference during the first summer after installation, when rooms remain noticeably more comfortable and air conditioners don’t have to work as hard.

We’ve also found that the best results come from pairing the correct insulation thickness with a careful installation that avoids gaps, compressed insulation and blocked roof ventilation. Attention to these details is what allows Aerolite to perform as it was designed for many years.