Anticon comes with one rule that surprises most first-timers: the blanket must go in dry and stay dry until the roof is finished, or the product warranty is on the line. Get that and a handful of other details right, and the install itself is straightforward.
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This Anticon installation guide walks through how the roofing blanket goes in, which roll-out method suits your project, and the safety rules that apply before anyone climbs onto a roof. It keeps the essentials in plain language and links to the official Bradford installation guides for the full technical detail. Whether you are building new or re-roofing in Melbourne, you can order Anticon online from our store or ask us for a free quote before you start.
What Is Anticon and Where Does It Go?
Bradford Anticon is a glasswool insulation blanket bonded to reflective foil, made for metal roofs. It installs directly under the roof sheets with the blanket side up against the metal and the foil facing down into the roof space. It controls condensation, cuts heat transfer and softens rain noise.
The name comes from anti-condensation. Warm indoor air carries moisture, and when that air meets a cold metal sheet the moisture condenses into droplets that can damage plasterboard and feed mould. With Anticon between the sheet and the roof space, the foil face stays warmer and the droplets do not form. The same blanket slows heat moving through the roof in both directions, so the home holds its temperature better all year. You can see the full product details on our Bradford Anticon roofing blanket page or read the manufacturer’s overview on the CSR Bradford Anticon page.
Which Anticon Installation Method Should You Use?
Bradford publishes two residential methods for installing Anticon over battens. Method 1 rolls the blanket vertically from ridge to fascia and is the roofing industry’s preferred approach. Method 2 rolls it horizontally along the roof. Both work with standard roll widths, and the right choice usually follows your roofer’s workflow.
Method 1 is preferred because the roll-out runs in step with the roof cladding, which leaves less blanket exposed to the weather and makes it easier to keep every run straight. Method 2 suits jobs where working along the roof line is more practical. Keep the matching guide on hand during the job.
- Method 1, vertical roll out over battens: official Bradford guide.
- Method 2, horizontal roll out over battens: official Bradford guide.
How Do You Install Anticon Roofing Blanket?
Installation runs in sequence with the roof cladding. The blanket rolls out over the battens, foil down, as each run of sheeting goes on. Foil edges overlap by at least 150mm, blanket edges butt together with no gaps, and the ends trim flush at the fascia.
- Confirm the roll spec. Check the R-value on your plans and match the foil duty to your batten or purlin spacing before ordering.
- Watch the weather. Never start a run you cannot sheet over before rain arrives, because the blanket has to stay dry.
- Set up safe access. Sort fall protection, footwear and a safe way to lift the rolls onto the roof before anything else.
- Position the first roll at the starting edge and roll out with the blanket side up and the foil facing down.
- Lap the foil edges by 150mm minimum, with the earlier lap sitting under the adjacent roll. Butt the blanket edges together so there are no gaps.
- Fix as you go. The cladding pins the blanket in place as each sheet is fastened, so keep the roll-out matched to the sheeting.
- Trim at the fascia so the blanket finishes flush at the external edge. In bushfire-rated areas this detail also matters for ember protection.
- Tape the joins where condensation risk is high. Cold climate zones and moist roof spaces need every lap, tear and penetration sealed with foil tape.
For ridges, valleys and other penetrations, follow the treatment details in the official method guides linked above.
What Safety Rules Apply Before You Start?
Roof work is high-risk. Use proper fall protection, the right footwear and a safe way to get rolls onto the roof. Never start a section you cannot finish and cover before rain, because a wet blanket can corrode metal cladding and void the product warranty.
Melbourne weather turns quickly, so check the forecast before committing to a section. Wear gloves and long sleeves when handling glasswool, and keep the product’s safety data sheet from the product page downloads on site with you.
Should You Install Anticon Yourself or Use a Professional?
Anticon goes in while the roof is being sheeted, so in practice the roofing contractor usually installs it as part of the job. Confident owner-builders can handle it on simple roofs by following the official guides. For supply and install in Melbourne, request a free quote through our installation service.
If your roofer is already booked, the simplest path is to supply the Anticon yourself and have it on site before sheeting day. Order online and we deliver across Victoria. If you would rather hand the whole thing over, our insulation installation services in Melbourne page is the place to start, or send the job details through our enquiry page.
Which Anticon Product Do You Need?
Insulation Victoria stocks Bradford Anticon roofing blanket in R-values from R1.3 to R3.6, in rolls from 7.5 to 20 metres long and 1200mm wide. Higher R-values suit colder zones and quieter homes. Check current pricing and stock on the product page, and note the minimum order is five rolls.
Pick the R-value from your energy report or building plans, then choose the roll length that covers your roof with the least waste. Browse the Bradford Anticon roofing blanket or compare it with the rest of our roof insulation range.
Frequently Asked Questions About Anticon Installation
Q: Does Anticon go foil side up or down?
A: The foil faces down into the roof space and the blanket sits up against the metal sheet. That orientation puts the reflective face where it works and the bulk insulation against the cladding. Some special facings install differently, so check the official Bradford guide for the exact product you bought.
Q: Can Anticon get wet during installation?
A: No. It must be installed dry and stay dry until the roof is complete, and that is a Bradford warranty condition. Trapped moisture can also corrode the metal cladding from underneath. Plan each section so the sheeting covers it before any rain arrives.
Q: How much should the foil edges overlap?
A: At least 150mm, with the earlier lap sitting under the adjacent roll and the blanket edges butted together with no gaps. In cold or high-condensation zones, tape every join and tear so the foil layer works as a proper vapour barrier.
Q: Can I add Anticon to an existing roof?
A: Only when the roof sheets come off, so it suits re-roofing projects and new builds. The blanket has to sit between the battens and the sheeting. If you are not re-roofing, ceiling insulation is the practical way to lift your home’s thermal performance instead.
Ready to Order Anticon in Melbourne?
The install rewards preparation more than anything. Get the roll spec right, pick a clear weather window and sort safe access before the day. Keep the official guide within reach too. With those sorted, the blanket goes down quickly alongside the sheeting, and everything else in this Anticon installation guide, from the 150mm laps to the fascia trim, is detail you tick off as you go.
Insulation Victoria is based in Footscray and delivers across Victoria, so your rolls can be on site before the roofer arrives. Order the Bradford Anticon roofing blanket online, or tell us about your project and we will price the supply, or the supply and install, for you. Call 1300 050 513 or send the details through the enquiry form and the team will come back to you with a free quote.