Free and Cheap Insulation Official Discussion

disappoinited

As usual, another Government hyped scheme which doesn't work for me and no doubt, many others! I was sure I would qualify for free insulation, especially due hype about urgency of Government project to "give away money" to reduce Carbon Emissions by end of 2012. This, promoted by Energy Saving Trust on Moneybox "everyone can qualify!". However, after not being called by Dyson Energy as promised by Energy Saving Trust, I had to call them as I expected ....to be told... my house was too old (exactly.. the older the house the more help it needs with insulation, no?). So how about my loft...oh no! Health and Safety rules apply if loft space not high enough for our workmen. My friend had loft insulation done by a private company on the same size of loft, no problem, they were willing to crawl around on their knees but Government appointed companies don't want to do the job if it doesn't suit them. Are they not too busy doing Council houses for local authorities? I am 66, worked and paid taxes all my life, have never claimed any benefit whatsoever and have no pension at all since the U.S. company I worked for went bankrupt, and not enough stamps for a state pension. I just can't win in rip-off Britain. Bitter and twisted again!

Gadfium

danelliott wrote: »

Cavity insulation is not designed to repel water, only moisture as it is silicone coated, a bit like the silicone packs you get in electrical goods or in new shoes.

Hmmm...anyone else that finds it worrying that an installer is supplying erroneous information like this?

The packs that come in shoes and electrical goods contain silica. Silica is a water absorber and is supplied to prevent moisture or dampness from condensing in the goods during transit and storage.

Silicone is a completely different kettle of fish and is used to provide waterproofing to the fibres.

If you want people to feel confident in the service then please get the facts correct.

danelliott

As I said, its not designed to repel water, through cracks in walls etc. which is why you will never get an install if you have damage to your wall like that.

and also as I said, its not the same as, its a similar act.
i.e.
Silica absorbs water to prevent moisture or dampness from condensing in the goods during transit and storage.

and Silicone is used to provide waterproofing to the fibres.... to prevent moisture or dampness from building up and transferring to the internal wall causing mould and damp.

Look, im not posting on here to get into an argument on how i explain silica or silicone, i posted a genuine reply to answer some concerns and to offer some assistance if needed, if you don't need the assistance then that's cool, perhaps you already have your home insulated for free or even if you paid for it yourself, there's lots of people out there like some of the posters on this thread who have worked all their lives and were p***ed that they wernt entitled to any help, when all im doing is pointing out that they are and that i can assist if needed.

you will probobally find that i have some spelling mistakes too, which i didnt use my Chrome browser to spellcheck before posting, maybe well get into how you shouldnt trust someone who cant spell properly too

Gadfium

Thanks for the response.
In my world if you want credibility you have to back up your statements with facts. If your statements contain errors, then they are called into doubt.

John_Pierpoint

The only error is calling a self employed canvasser, working as the lowest form of commission only salesman, a "surveyor". [Can you hear the sound of grinding teeth coming from the HQ of the RICS ?]

You can understand that the motivation of everyone in the chain is "money", not doing an effective job.

The only commission driven people should be inspectors required to film the property in frosty weather, after it has been insulated. Perhaps they could be paid (say) one third of of the installer's payment that they would not now be getting. (and perhaps the installer could get a small additional "thank you" if a perfect job had been done).

Though this example relates to secondary glazing, it clearly identifies the point I am making:

http://www.magneglaze.co.uk/thermalproperties.php

heartsman999

Although nationwide energy services SEEM ok,their sub contractors "save britain money"/sister company are nothing but SCHIESTERS.

Good friend of mine got took on last year by a rent a mouth know all,(the sort that gives londeners a bad name)bosch bosch ect,nuts it out, and all the sales spiel..

He done fantastically well,getting a small team to @door knock@for £15 per deal whilst he got the £50 mr bosche bosche promised him.

Pay was ALWAYS LATE, for the surveyers/door knockers even though the AREA MANAGERS cream the top commissions,then they are late sending off the paperwork to the nationwide h/o in swansea for installers.

I know some folks still waiting 3 months for free installation.

STEER CLEAR OF SAVE BRITAIN MONEY,that's all i will say..

Go DIRECT to the nationwide energy company on their website for the fastest insulation--SUB CONTRACTORS SUCK!!!!

seamustthedog

This is wrong.
save britain money actually own nationwide energy services,this post needs to be removed-heartsman has got the wrong info here.

Moderators should remove inaccurate infolike this.

John_Pierpoint

Isn't "sister company" sufficiently accurate for you ?

Exactly which part of the organisation is "tail" and which part is "dog" depends on market conditions.

As there is a gold rush for free installation on at the moment to beat the end of year deadline - I would think the emphasis is to find the "quick win" installations, like my bungalow, and fob off the difficult installations.

At the moment there will be tension inside the organisation where the salesmen know they have a last chance to sell but the installation-production department wants the easy jobs to get the maximum done before the dead-line. The poor old dog won't know who is wagging what.

John_Pierpoint

The emphasis in the new year is likely to be on "The Green Deal":

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Green_Deal

The house as a whole is assessed: The UK has an obligation to get all its homes on the EU energy performance data base and we are not moving house fast enough any more, to wait until then for the EPC). Currently the price to the consumer is £99. Then the householder agrees it needs to be done and borrows the money to pay the "qualified & registered" installer. This is not a problem as the loan at (say) 7% will be more than financed by the wonderful savings made by the reduction in power consumption. The loan, like a mortgage, will be secured on the property - and like Council Tax it will be the liability of the owner/(occupier ?)

It is a win win win win. Some of the unemployed get set to work and get motivated to become a bit educated and qualified, the government goes some way towards meeting its treaty obligations, the population lives in warmer healthier homes, our children get a chance to inherit a sustainable economy and the energy companies have to spend less on new power stations and the Second National Grid.

We are trying reducing the cost to the individual property owner to zero and it is stubbornly not working for a minority of homes - so here comes the hidden iron fist in the velvet glove of free market economics.

I would start with landlords.

OK rant over

Back to current reality:

My loft is stuffed with junk (valuable family heirlooms? ) and there is no way that I can clear it this side of Xmas. The current "free" installation is not going to last for ever and may well be dead by Xmas..
I already have at least 4 - 6 inches of fibre in my loft.

It is looking like I will be installing the insulation myself and having to buy the stuff.

Homebase (nearest shed) was selling subsidised top up insulation for £3 a roll last week

I notice Wickes is selling EDF subsidised rolls of loft insulation with a "never knowingly undersold" guarantee - what is the cheapest that is on sale anywhere in the South East.?

fitzsheila

Does anyone know of any company doing solid brick insulation was having british gas coming to do check our property out . phone call saying in our area .
Wanted to know what type of heating we have ,who was going to pay the bill has we wouldnt get the a full grant .
seemed to be one of those's hour sale pitch's , .