Free and Cheap Insulation Official Discussion

John_Pierpoint

"Jeff" has become something of a focus for those who have a bad experience of cavity fill.

He talks sense (that is why new cavity walls have several inches of insulation pinned to the outside of the inside wall plus a narrow cavity to make sure it stays dry from penetrating damp and to help prevent condensation forming in the cavity when the cavity temperature falls enough for to a dew point to develop inside the cavity.)

The other potential problem is cavities closed at the window frame but without a vertical damp course to match the position of the window frame. (ie the driven rain dampness might get into the plaster down the inner sides of the window opening)

I slightly disagree with this statement:
Cavity masonry walls were introduced on the exposed western coasts of Britain and Ireland in the nineteenth century, to stop wind-driven rain from penetrating to the inside surfaces. They gradually spread to other, dryer, parts of the country, because the air layer trapped in the cavity was found to provide a degree of thermal insulation. Since 1945 this insulation quality has been enhanced by using lightweight blocks, rather than bricks, to build the inner leaf of the wall. But the main reason for building cavity walls has always been to keep the rain out.

I believe the spread of cavity construction was fast after the development of the cheap concrete cinder block. This allowed not very skilled brick layers to throw up cheap walls fast; with no risk of shoddy work showing up as internal damp. (just bulging walls from rusting wall ties in years to come).

jackD

I have noticed providers are stating a varying amount of maximum current thickness for free loft insulation, I have about 5 inches does anyone offer free insulation for this?

thanks

smk77

In work at the moment and just been on the phone to my wife. She has just told me that someone has been at the door about free insulation. Wasn't sure so used good old MSE to find this thread.

Basically, we live in a 7yr old house in Scotland. I did a quick look at the tesco offer through MSE and saw in the small print it says "We do not have funding for under tile insulation or where there is already more than 100mm/4 inches of existing loft insulation.". I'm not sure on the thickness we have but must be at least 6 inches.

Is this typical of T&Cs for funding? Could the supplier at the door be a cowboy who is either:

1. Going to lie to whoever the funding is from and say we've got less that 4"?
2. Install and then charge?

wakeupalarm

Yes its typical of the T&C, 100mm seems to be the cut off. More importantly though, if your house is only 7 years old then you should already have Cavity wall insulation as standard. Loft insulation may also already be at the current rules required. Modern properties are required to have this insulation when they are built.

jellyhead

Has anyone had free insulation in the roof, or is it just the floor that they'll do?

littlesheepy

My Dad has rang me this evening in a panic as my Mum has agreed to free roof and cavity wall insulation from somebody who's knocked on the door. They apparently borrowed a chair and felt in the loft hatch and said we'd be eligible for it and said they'd fill the cavity wall out the front at floor level, the back at floor level (the original back wall which is now inside their conservatory) and also get on the conservatory roof and do the cavity at conservatory roof level. It's a 1930's mid town house.
Does this sound right to people or would you turn them away? I've recently had Tesco send a company around (at my asking) to check my loft for insulation but i'm already insulated. The chap that called round to me seemed much more professional than borrowing a chair and feeling inside the loft hatch to check for insulation.

PennyForThem_2

Enact_Energy_Representative wrote: »

It will be important for your 25 year guarantee that you use the same company to top up the work which will not be an easy task. If you know who carried out the work I would call them in the first instance or if not, I would contact the Cavity Insulation Guarantee Association ciga.co.uk as they can confirm if you can claim on the guarantee or at least should know who did the work from their records

lol this was 23 odd years ago. But thanks for your reply

nafan

I just had aran insulation round through the m and s offer they want to charge me an extra £25 for internal drilling, I agreed to it but is this normal?, seems a bit cheeky as they are getting £664 grant to do the job which seems a bit much anyway as mse say its worth 300?
thanks

johnwaters

I have been refused free inulation by edf because my home is unsuitable. The loft space was inadequately ventilated and the loft headroom is only 4feet. I have dealt with the ventilation but I can't raise the roof. Does anyone know if any of the insulation installers have a flexible approach to properties? Or is it possible to source the free insulation and install myself?
Best wishes

yourfamily

My house was built in 1999, yet does not have cavity wall insulation. I contacted British Gas to enquire about having my walls done for free and was told that because my house was built after 1996 they would not do it. This was because houses built after this date should have had it done while being built.!! All the houses in my close were not done by the builders and some have already paid for theirs to be injected.

I have contacted Tesco and EDF mentioned on this site and they do not have a cut off date. Now waiting for a surveyor to call.