insulation grants

[moneypenny]

npower are offering grants for cavity wall and loft insulation. £149 each for all property types.

Only contacted them yesterday and 24 hours later I am telephoned by a guy who, after a couple of questions like what size property (three bed semi) and do I have a conservatory (no) just asks if I want to go ahead. When I tell him I have a carport that could be a problem and shouldn't he be doing a survey anyway prior to commencing says no I don't live in your area and I am away tomorrow for 3 weeks!

Told him the company that fitted my soffits didn't have a problem he then agreed to see if any of the 'lads' are working in the area and could pop round and have a look, and maybe I could skip my loft insulation to cover the cost of having sheets removed and put back.

All seems a bit dodgy to me not sure about cavity insulation anyway so I needed some reassurances. Can anyone give me some advice on what I should be looking for?

 

[Fluffster]

Had mine done last year by a bunch of scallywags for about £200. Drilled throught the mortar joints and filled again. Blocked up air vents with large pipe cleaner type material to stop insulation being blown out.
Gave me a cert and the house has been alot warmer since with no probs with damp bridging.
All in all v happy with the job so yes at that price go for it.
Pete

 

[moneypenny]

Yes, most people seem to be happy with the results, and the side of my house with outside walls is significantly colder than the rest.

I have heard though of people with walls exposed to the elements or with dodgy pointing having damp problems eventually, and once the insulation gets wet there is no easy solution.

 

[oddjob1]

Hi Money penny
Only problem ive found with this is you never know how much they are putting in, ive recently had openiings to 2 walls from door way gulleys being removed and a door way being cut out and there was hardly any of the insulation to be seen .

?This job was around 10 years ago and I would like it done again but worried i will be ripped off.


Do you get any security now of quantity used?

 

[Bahco]

Very cost effective as you lose a third of your heat through the walls so you should find that it pays for itself after 2 yrs.

N Power will only sub it out so see if other companys are offering any deals.

 

[moneypenny]

I got in touch with my local council and the Warm Front Team, eventually spoke to an insulation company who assured me they would do a survey including; checking for any damp, would use an endoscope to check wall cavities are not compromised and vertical damp proofing has been installed around windows etc.

They always put in a barrier to prevent any insulation creeping into my neighbours house, blah de blah de blah de blah, cost, same as npower. It will still be two muppets with a ladder that pump the stuff in whatever the surveyor says.

I have an extension to the rear of my property so I sort of have an internal cavity wall which has to be done, this extension was decorated and re-carpeted 18 months ago and it would mean drilling holes and pumping in this insulation inside my house!

My house is quite cool, and in the summer this can be pleasant, cavity wall insulation also keeps houses cool in summer as well as warm in winter. Friends of mine in a similar situation insulation their home and found it warmer in the winter but when summer came along they had to use their heating on cool summer days which sort of cancelled out anything they saved in the winter!

As a builder said to me last week just because you can have cavity wall insulation doesn't mean you should. So the jury is still out for me. In 5 years time I will be 70 and if I am still here will get it for free.

This company said the problems some people are experiencing now is because the stuff they pumped into these cavities a few years ago was old stuff, it is much better now. You know what, in 5 years time they will be saying exactly the same.

 

[AtoZ]

wait 5 years then, freeze while you wait for it, and then two MUPPETS will come and do the work.... the same MUPPETS who might well be helping you out on here..



btw
you've got a dew drip...

wants it for nothing or someone else to pay and insults the blokes who do the work.

and we help..