VIEWPOINT CHOOSING INSULATION
STOCK FOR 2026 Matt Neary, sales director Knauf Insulation
FOR MERCHANTS, PLANNING stock for 2026 means navigating a market shaped by tightening performance requirements, shifting customer expectations and the anticipated introduction of the Future Homes Standard (FHS). Although the final details have not been announced, the general direction is clear: homes will need to deliver high levels of thermal performance using low- carbon materials.
Against this backdrop,
merchants will need a dependable selection of evergreen insulation solutions while also making room for new multi-performance products that help to rationalise stock and deliver improved thermal and acoustic outcomes.
The evergreen range: meeting consistent demand
Merchants should aim to stock everything a customer might need for their project, from core insulation products to tools and accessories. By core insulation products, I mean those used in the most common applications, such as cavity walls, roofs and internal partition walls. Loft Roll, for example,
continues to be the simplest way for homeowners to uplift thermal performance in existing homes. Demand for loft top ups will remain strong in 2026, supported by the Warm Homes Plan and the continuing rise in energy costs. These products should remain a constant feature of merchant stock profiles, supported by reliable availability and installer familiarity.
Stocking a variety of materials from different manufacturers can help to ensure the right product for the application is available. For example, if your customer is insulating a pitched roof at rafter level and space is limited, it
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may be appropriate to use glass mineral wool between the rafters and then use a thinner layer of rigid PIR for the second layer. Whether your customers are installing loft roll or cavity wall insulation, a range of smaller accessories and tools can ensure an easy, high-quality installation. With the right stock in place, the final step is to bring this together in a way that combines your product offering with the added value of expertise and advice. Staff training will be important so that they can advise customers on the right product for each application, best practice, building regulations and complementary products.
Stocking for the FHS Although details of the FHS are expected soon, merchants should avoid the temptation to make premature stock shifts. What can be safely predicted is the industry direction. Wall build-ups will continue moving toward 150mm cavities, and specifiers will increasingly look at lower lambda products to achieve improved whole home energy performance. In practical terms, this means merchants should prepare for gradual changes rather than sudden disruption. Evergreen products will continue to move steadily, but the profile may tilt over time toward higher performance mineral wool solutions that offer the best combination of thermal efficiency, sustainability and handling characteristics. For now, the message is to stay ready without overcommitting while the detail is finalised.
Multi-performance products
Merchants no longer need to rely on stocking separate products for thermal and acoustic applications.
Multi-performance slabs can help reduce the volume of SKUs while still meeting customer expectations for real-world performance and sustainability. One example is OmniFit Thermal and Sound Slab, a product specifically designed to do more to meet market needs. The slab offers thermal performance superior to traditional low density rock mineral wool, with a lambda value of 0.035 W/mK, and is Quiet Mark certified, meaning it delivers equivalent acoustic absorption while remaining easier to handle and store.
The slab is non-combustible, with a Euroclass A1 reaction to fire classification, which makes it suitable for all building types. Its use of ECOSE, a plant-based binder with no added formaldehyde, supports healthier indoor environments. Glass mineral wool also has the lowest embodied carbon of any mainstream insulation material in the UK.
The slabs are compressed using Knauf Insulation’s best-in- class packaging, which means
merchants can fit more stock in the same amount of space and reduce pallet movements and branch storage pressure. With manufacturing based in the UK, supply is consistent and reliable for merchants planning early season orders.
Making stock work harder in 2026
The year ahead is set to reward merchants who strike the right balance between dependable staples and smartly chosen multi- performance solutions. Evergreen products such as Loft Roll will continue to perform strongly, while multi-performance products can help rationalise inventory and improve the branch offering. Merchants can reasonably expect that the FHS will push housebuilders, contractors and consumers towards lower-carbon, high-performing insulation such as glass mineral wool. By offering the complete package, from insulation for every application, to all the accessories for an easy installation and expert advice, merchants will be well-prepared for the year ahead. BMJ
www.buildersmerchantsjournal.net January 2026
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