Misinformation given with loft insulation quote

Lattelover

I recently had loft insulation installed. When the man came to survey the loft and give me a quote he told me I needed to get a dustpan and brush and clean the dust out from between the rafters. I had spent about 8 hours clearing about 40 rubble sacks worth of dust and had not yet finished when the installers turned up and said I didn't really need to do that as they could lay the insulation over the top. I was furious as there was by this time soot all over the newly decorated and carpeted room where loft access is situated. The men said that the man who did the survey may have told me this to get a bigger grant or something like that.
I have since complained to the company and they have agreed to pay half the subsequent cleaning costs. They deny advising me to clear out the loft in this manner claiming that they merely told me to clear personal effects from the loft. However the loft was completely empty at the time of survey. I would certainly not have cleared the dust from the loft unless I had been advised to do so.
Does anyone know anything about the grant system for insulation or could offer me any advice?

I've recently bought the house and I'm doing it up, some workmen seem to have a tendency to take the mick a bit out of women on their own and I'm finding it a little demoralising

Gloomendoom

40 rubble sacks of dust? :eek:

When I had mine done I paid somebody to remove all the old insulation beforehand. I then spent a day or so vacuuming out the dust because I didn't want the new stuff laid over a mucky surface. I don't even think it even filled the vac up though, never mind 40 rubble sacks.

Some workmen will try to take the mick out of anybody... irrespective of gender.

Jonesya

Gloomendoom wrote: »

40 rubble sacks of dust? :eek:

40 sacks is quite a lot. Is it an oldish house - could it have been vermiculite?

Lattelover

Not sure what vermiculite is. The house is victorian, built around 1900 just a small two bed terrace. As far as I know it was just dust and soot in there, about 3" deep between all the rafters and 40 sacks was only just over half of what was there. The sacks were about 1/2 - 3/4 full so I could still carry them.
I just wanted to know if there is a reason he told me to clear it all and didn't mention the option of just laying the insulation over the top and why they are now denying they advised me to do this.

MX5huggy

Vermiculite is an insulation product that looks like cat litter but is a lot lighter in weight.

ormus

they always tell you to clear the loft. that means clear the working space of any stored junk.
not to bloody clean it!

ic

Just sounds like a big misunderstanding to me. As ormus says, they wouldn't have ever told you to clean the dust away. It looks a generous offer to pay half the cleaning costs.

jennifernil

I know that they used to put ash in as insulation in the old Glasgow tenements, perhaps this was something similar?
How deep are the rafters? And how thick is the insulation? If the ash was taking up 3 inches would that lift the new insulation above the rafters, making it difficult to use the lift for storage?

samtheman1k

where on earth did that much dust come from? lol

Lattelover

I haven't been in the house long and there was NOTHING stored in the loft. He clearly said to get a dust pan and brush and clear the dust from between the rafters

Lattelover

I've had a look at the vermiculite and I'm pretty sure it was just dust and soot