B&Q loft insulation+Cavity wall service. To good to be true?!

ixwood

Does anyone have a ballpark guesstimate on what's this worth? Is this a good deal even for smaller houses? Are they funny about getting to awkward areas?

twinklefish

Beckymarshall07 wrote: »

I've just been on B&Qs website and spotted that they do loft insulation fitting (includes 270mm insulation) for £200. They also do cavity wall insulation for similar price. Both services are on 'sale'. Does this seem to good to be true? Anyone used the B&Q service?

I used the B & Q service for loft insulation. It's fitted by another company and I admit I was sceptical re the timings given on the website but they got in touch quickly, came to do the survey when they said they would and insulation was installed at the beginning of November. I have noticed a difference in the general temperature upstairs because there wasn't any insulation in the loft before. My BF was in the loft last night (laying mice traps but that's another story!!!!) and said that it was cold which is a good sign the insulation is working.

Couldn't have the cavity wall insulation as they surveyor chap said I looked like I was pretty much solid granite but I would have jumped at the chance if possible.

BaileyB

All depends on the size of your home. If you have a small 1/2 bed home then you might be better getting it yourself but tbh it's a dirty job and well worth £200 and let someone else get everything and lay it.

I asume its worth double that but they claim the rest from grants

davidlizard

Re the loft insulation, I saw the B&Q offer, but did some sums and decided to do the job myself.

My loft size is around 10 yards long by 4 yards wide, which required 16 rolls of loft insulation at around £7.80 a roll (there was a special offer on at the time as there always seems to be), so it worked out around £120 + a fiver in petrol getting it. Putting the insulation down took no more than an evening at most.

There was already around 3-4 inches in place up there - now there is the best part of a foot. Daily kWH gas consumption has remained the same, but that is probably explained by the colder weather.

The hardest part of the job by a long way is emptying the loft off all the junk - I understand B&Q will not do this - then putting it back up there afterwards. I took the opportunity to get rid of around 75% of it, and then manufactured some pallete type platforms to put the remainder on. I also took the opportunity to map out where exactly the electrics go, and replace some of the lagging on the pipes.

Do not forget to insulate the loft hatch!

Considering doing the cavity wall insulation though - they were offering 5% cashback on Quidco when I last checked.

ixwood

I'm tempted to get the loft done, but resent paying the same as someone with a mansion. lol.

I'm trying to figure out the DIY price difference. You've confused me with yards.

I'll measure up over the weekend and do some pricing up.

mum2one

We had our loft done and the cavity wall, and its the best thing we ever had done, really noticed a difference in the warmth of the house.

The only very big downfall was emptying the loft......ours was full, but we had a gd clear out.
x

killick_becki

I wouldn't always assume that the £200 offer is a good deal. I recently got cavity wall insulation for my 3 bed semi and it was only £149.

The company was HIS (Home Insulation Services), from enquiry it was 1 month until it was completed. A colleague of mine enquired with another company last June and is still waiting for a date when they will come and do it!

The website says "Cavity Wall Insulation starting from £199 inc VAT" but when i rang them up they said that for a 3 bed semi it was only £149. Before you ask, we weren't eligible for a grant either as we both work and don't claim any benefits.

http://www.homeinsulationservices.co.uk/

Mutton_Geoff

This whole insulation thing must be part of a national scam. Government/local councils are paying subsidies to installers to fit insulation. Quotes average the cost of materials so hundreds of companies are making a quick buck taking the money from the government. No wonder every man and his dog is now offering this service.

I rang a local company who did a 3 bed house within 10 days of my call. I also rang EDF who I am still waiting to send their "surveyor" round to quote. This was 5 months ago.

It's a messy job although modern insulation is not always glass fibre so a lot easier to lay but two guys did my house in under an hour for less than the cost it would have been for me to buy the stuff. It definitely makes a big difference and is well worth doing but don't assume the word "grant" means anyone is doing you any favours. It's just a flavour of the month money maker for many firms.

JeffHickman

Anyone done a loft conversion after installing insulation? I have next to no loft insulation at the moment, but wonder if £200 will be down the drain if we go ahead with our plan to convert it in the next year... (I think I know the answer...)

m4rky

JeffHickman wrote: »

Anyone done a loft conversion after installing insulation? I have next to no loft insulation at the moment, but wonder if £200 will be down the drain if we go ahead with our plan to convert it in the next year... (I think I know the answer...)

Not sure it would be worth doing the loft insulation first.

Normal loft insulation is applied to the floor of the loft, to keep everything below the loft warm/cool.

If your plannng on converting the loft for use as a room you would want insulation around the walls and the ceiling of the converted room to make sure the room is kept warm/cool.

I would expect that wall/ceiling insulation would be part of the loft conversion job. But best to check with you builder.