Should I accept my free Cavity Wall Insulation?

frames1_uk

I have qualified for free cavity wall insulation through the Warm Front scheme, the guy came to measure up the other day. I am awaiting a phonecall giving a date for installation.....

I'm now having second thoughts, knowing nothing about such things I only considered it a good thing for cost saving, resale house value etc etc, but now that I've read about possible damp problems and the hundreds of drill holes on the outside of the house, I am wondering if I should go ahead...

My house is detached, built in 2005 and has been built with some insulation bricks but has a small cavity that can be filled (according to surveyor), I asked about the aesthetic look and he said there will indeed be 100s of drill holes and if I'm worried, I should ask them to do one to see what I think. I seem to always remember seeing houses that were being done up having big splodges on the outside walls that I presume would have been rendered over afterwards, but my outside walls are brick.

I am really considering phoning to cancel....

the other thing is, I have no idea how much they are thinking of charging the Warm Front scheme, as I also need a repair to my heating system and there is no way I want to be paying extra as the CWI used up the whole of the grant. (£3500) I think I will possibly need a new hot water tank and new digital controls for the heating system.

any thoughts appreciated.

olias

I would say cancel. A house built in 2005 should already have been built to high energy efficiency and insulation standards (maybe not quite as high as today, but definately high - we are only talking about 4 years ago!)

Additionally, are you seriously saying the contractor is charging the warm front scheme £3500 for CWI? They are having a laugh. It is a days work! Possibly 2 if the house is particularly large or there are access issues. I just had a quick google and the average cost for a 3 bed semi was about £500!

Olias

macman

They don't drill through the bricks, they will go through the mortar joints and then repair them, so once it's weathered it should not be noticeable.
Though I also cannot believe that a house built 4 years ago does not already have CWI.

tandraig

Your house is only 4 years old? and it qualifies under the warm front scheme??? i suspect that the surveyor was finding probs that arent there! what company was this man representing hun? would check with trading standards as they could be ripping off the warm front scheme and you. my house is 30 years old and yes we had the cavity wall insulation done and the attic insulation as ours wasnt up to the criteria. it was done in one day and you cant even notice the holes they are so small and were made good! i have however seen other homes done by another company since and for some reason they look as if they been spattered with cement! i would cancel hun - this company sounds sus to me.

ormus

afaik theres been no great change in wall construction regulations in the last 5 yrs.
cancel it.

frames1_uk

the contracters are called Mellor Insulations. The surveyor chap said he used to be a fitter. He said although the house was built using insulation bricks (?) there is still a cavity and the house would definitely benefit from CWI.

Are houses built today without a cavity then?

I think I missed a call from them today, to arrange installation date.... hmmmm not very promising from your replies!

Thanks to all

frames1_uk

I just had a search around the internet and found a forum that had discussed new housing and lack of wall insulation, seems quite a common problem. My house is Persimmon, which was mentioned, as well as quite a few other housebuilders. I'm off to find my NHBC documents...

System

have a look at the walls because untill it was pointed out i didnt realise i had cavity wall insulation !

frames1_uk

I've already had 2 guys do a check, the initial assessor chap for Warm Front, then the surveyor for the installers, they both said there is a small cavity but can still be filled.

Now I've read a bit about problems with new houses and lack of insulation, I can now see why my living room has always been cold. Now swaying towards getting it!

moonrakerz

If it's free get it done !

They use loose fibre now, so the remote chance of damp crossing the cavity on the foam filler as occasionally happened in the past no longer applies.
Doesn't matter how thermally efficient your walls are, this will improve it.
As someone has already pointed out you won't see the holes - if you are going to have "hundreds" you must have a b****y big house !

edgex

you should already have cavity wall insulation
the way its done on new builds, there shoudnt be a cavity to fill, as it will have already been filled by insulation blocks

if you know who the builder was that built the house, contact them to check what insulation was used.
if you didnt buy it new, ask the surveyor you used when you purchased it.