Very cold house- can anyone identify problem?

rover25

We are in a new build property which is pretty cold, especially upstairs in the main back bedroom. Also when you walk into the hallway down stairs you can feel a really cold air. I was sitting on the bottom stair the other day on the phone and was absolutley freezing with the cold air, even thought the radiator was on full beside me.
We have sealed up the front and back doors and all windows seem to be okay. Is this an attic insulation problem or cavity wall insulation problem. We bought 2 yrs ago so just assumed the cavity wall is insulated.
Can anyone help?

wifeforlife

Drill a hole in the wall and you'll see if the cavity wall or ceilings are done

I know it's a bit drastic but my brother had the same problem in his house 3 years ago. It's a risk to drill a hole and I'm sure there are other, better ways to check. In my brothers case he was proven right and the builders had to come back and do it properly

It just shows you how easy it is for them to cut corners

Cate

warmhands.coldheart

Rover 25
I've first hand experience of this.... Our house was just under 10 years old (2nd owner) and we've had to have our cavities topped up. Now when I say topped up, that’s what they define it as but in our case it was more a case of just getting the job done right. Speaking to our neighbour he told us he also had to have his done but as he was in the house from new and noticed it after a year, he was able to push the matter through the NHBC. But you must act URGENTLY as when I called the NHBC to enquire if the cavity insulation would be coverd by the NHBC Insurance I was told it depends on the Insurance policy as they are not all the same and also even a policy that does cover the Insulation wont after 3 years. it's then seen as settlement!! (Well that's what I was told)

Act now... get up into the attic space and have a really really good (CAREFUL) look around and make sure that the entire roof space has at least 250mm of insulation. Our Neighbour also did this and found that the roof area above the bedroom Dormer window had no insulation (Obviously whoever installed it couldn't be assed to crawl into the Dormer section)

Get an independent insulation company out to drill and check the cavity insulation especially where you think there are cold spots. Get a proper report done and get back to the builder ASAP. To give them the chance to rectify it. (Log the problem with the NHBC if the builder is registered with them just in case you have to take the matter to them if the builder drags his heals.

Mind you, I can't imagine they are too busy at he moment.!

tara747

Our rented house is also very cold... it's an old-style terrace, we can't understand why it is so darn cold (especially the extension) but would welcome any advice!!

warmhands.coldheart

tara747 wrote: »

Our rented house is also very cold... it's an old-style terrace, we can't understand why it is so darn cold (especially the extension) but would welcome any advice!!

If it's old style Terrace it may not have cavity walls unfortunately, if it's red brick check as drawing below as posted by Andrew_Sam on another post. Solid wall won't have a cavity.

Artytarty

A lot depends on the direction of the air circulation.
You may think that it is a good idea to have your radiators fixed to internal walls but in acual fact they are better placed under the window. In the first (rads on inside walls0 scenario, warm air rises to the ceiling,moves across to outer edge, hits window, cools rapidly ( surface condensation results on glass and worse, interstitial condensation within fabric of wall ) and brings a cold draught across the floor of the room towards the radiator. The cycle continues.
Wit rads under windows, cold air at window is warmed, rises, moves across ceiling and is relatively warmer when it falls down to floor at internal walls.
hope this makes some sense.
We changed the position in one room at home from internal to under window and it has made a HUGE difference. The room is now easier to keep warm and no cold air swirling around the ankles!
Arty.

Wolverine77

Rover 25

I built a house around a year ago and building control checked all the house insulation was correctly insulated through the cavity, in the roof and any other area which required insulation or they would not have passed the house.

SailorSam

cathy2702 wrote: »

Drill a hole in the wall and you'll see if the cavity wall or ceilings are done

I know it's a bit drastic but my brother had the same problem in his house 3 years ago. It's a risk to drill a hole and I'm sure there are other, better ways to check. In my brothers case he was proven right and the builders had to come back and do it properly

It just shows you how easy it is for them to cut corners

Cate

When they put in the cavity wall insulation they drill a series of of holes to inject it, you should be able to see these outside where they have been filled in, so you should'nt have to drill yourself. Of course if you see where holes have been drilled, that's not to say they have done the job properly.
Do you have wooden floors ? I'm in an older houses which had lots of cold spots, we found the floor draughty, the cold was coming in the ventilation grills outside and going under the floor. WE went all around the scirting board, and between the floorboards with mastic.
One corner room is very cold. i think it's the one that faces the prevailing wind.
Final solution, get a woolly vest and a bobble hat.

wifeforlife

tara747 wrote: »

Our rented house is also very cold... it's an old-style terrace, we can't understand why it is so darn cold (especially the extension) but would welcome any advice!!

Check outside on your walls, and look for drill marks and wee black metal things (dont know the name) poking out, NIHE grant officer told me this meant the cavity wall had been done

Also get a heave up the ladder and check your roofspace, I got my insulation redone by the warmhome crowd last year you may be entitled to some help

Check out the nihe.gov.uk website for maintenance and home repair grants

HTH
Cate

Sailorsam we crossed posts hehe

arkonite_babe

MOVING THREADS FOR BETTER RESPONSES

Hi, Martin’s asked me to post this in these circumstances: I’ve asked Board Guides to move threads if they’ll receive a better response elsewhere (please see this rule) so this post/thread has been moved to another board, where it should get more replies. If you have any questions about this policy please email [EMAIL="abuse@moneysavingexpert.com"]abuse@moneysavingexpert.com[/EMAIL]

psybear

What's it cost for CW insulation anyway? I'm in a house which is about 15 years old and which should have this done, but the utility room is freezing and there is no insulation showing where the tumble-dryer is vented so I'm guessing that's the issue.