Free and Cheap Insulation Official Discussion

John_Pierpoint

Tell us more about your house.
Prior to 1924 cavity wall houses were usually built in desperation to keep damp out of homes exposed to driving rain, then the cheap concrete clinker block was invented for the inner side of the cavity.

The installers are scared of your home: Is it exposed? Are the wall ties rusting and about to bulge the walls? What happens at the bottom of the cavity in relation to the suspended ground floor and the damp course?

sh0dan

We went through the process of getting a survey and installer lined up but when it came to them actually installing it they wernt happy about our conservatory (among other things). Unfortunatly we have since found we cant take the roof off the conservatory and dont want to take it down.

Any advise or recommendations? Does this mean its a lost cause?

p.s. my first post so be kind

Steveseven

Wall Reform external wall insulation , Envirocryl Acrylic Top Coat,

Short Story, I was offered this free, for a terraced house which is not suitable for cavity wall insulation, Its fitted front and rear and and adds 60 cm of external insulation

Q. Any views, thoughts

Q. Why is my national insurance number needed.

thanks team

Kernel_Sanders

John_Pierpoint wrote: »

Loft and cavity insulation is free for everyone until 1st January (but most firms are introducing a cut off date before Xmas)

I didn't realize that. I don't want wool CWI, but am struggling to find anyone who'll install beads or even foam under the free scheme.

hayley_85

Really disappointed with Tesco's Free Insulation Offer. Applied for it at the beginning of October and had someone come round to do the survey at the end of October to say our house was eligible for the free cavity wall insulation.

Was told it would probably be done in the following two weeks, no-one contacted us so I called to be told it would now be the first two weeks in December. Called back today to be told Tesco had run out of its grants so we wont be getting it done. Nice of Tescos to let us know they had run out of money and give us a chance to apply with someone else!

As we're not on benefits or over 70 I guess that means no cavity wall insulation for us Having a baby in April as well so was really hoping to get it done by then, bad form Tesco's, not impressed.

John_Pierpoint

sh0dan wrote: »

We went through the process of getting a survey and installer lined up but when it came to them actually installing it they wernt happy about our conservatory (among other things). Unfortunatly we have since found we cant take the roof off the conservatory and dont want to take it down.

Any advise or recommendations? Does this mean its a lost cause?

p.s. my first post so be kind

Kernel_Sanders wrote: »

I didn't realize that. I don't want wool CWI, but am struggling to find anyone who'll install beads or even foam under the free scheme.

These are the products certified for use in the UK.
You could bash the phone trying to get through to intelligent life on the polystyrene bead contact details in the certificates; but I think you might have missed the boat.

But you never know, there are such things as cancellations.

http://www.bbacerts.co.uk/certificates.aspx?ca=Blown-in+Cavity+Wall+Insulation&ob=0&pg=1&

Obviously the installers will cut their prices once the punter has to pay.

Domestic & General Insulation Ltd did my cavities.

Don't assume the "surveyor" will do a good job. Read the specification and appply its requirements to your particular home. Look out for PVC wiring in the cavity, open top cavities in the loft/soffit, air bricks that are not sheathed, areas that require scaffolding over a conservatory OR "lancing" from the wall corners OR drilling internally.

Watch out for any other holes - eg where come cowboy has smashed through the inner wall to fit a new kitchen etc. and not bothered to make good.

John_Pierpoint

Steveseven wrote: »

Wall Reform external wall insulation , Envirocryl Acrylic Top Coat,

Short Story, I was offered this free, for a terraced house which is not suitable for cavity wall insulation, Its fitted front and rear and and adds 60 cm of external insulation

Q. Any views, thoughts

Q. Why is my national insurance number needed.

thanks team

Looks like the system you are being offered has already been used extensively by the social housing sector (?). Looks like it does work efficiently technically speaking.

http://www.spsenvirowall.co.uk/downloads/refurbishment/wimpynofines.pdf

[BTW the "phenolic" insulation mentioned is getting on for twice as effective as glass fibre for the same thickness]

Proceed with care financially. We are in the initial phase of "The Green Deal" - where in theory the fuel savings will pay for you to get a loan and pay for the job, then pay back the loan via the electricity bill from the savings you are making in energy consumption.
Because solid walls do not pay back at this rate at current fuel prices a small government mandated subsidy is on offer.
The installer might want your house and do it for free, if it could be used to demonstrate the outcome to future householders in the area.

Let us all know how you get on.

trixijj

Apologies if posting in the wrong place. In the Moneysaving email this week it suggests that I dont have to be in receipt of benefits etc to qualify for free insulation, however using the links provided to scottish power and n power, its seems I need to be. Is there really anyone offering truly free to all?

sheffield_lad

trixijj wrote: »

Apologies if posting in the wrong place. In the Moneysaving email this week it suggests that I dont have to be in receipt of benefits etc to qualify for free insulation, however using the links provided to scottish power and n power, its seems I need to be. Is there really anyone offering truly free to all?

yes I had it done last week. Just google your home town and the words free insulation.

damianmarksmyth

The energy companies have all but stopped giving out free grants for loft insulation now.

But there is a company in Cornwall who have set up a depot in Wiltshire and have funding to continue offering the free grants until December 31st before the Government’s ‘Green Deal’ kicks in.

The new Green Deal in 2013 will be paid back as a loan through your bills, so it is NOT free. The current grants ARE free, even if you are able to pay…

The qualification is simple.
If your loft has insulation less than 200mm
If your house was built pre 2009
If the loft area is less than 100m squared
If the loft hatch is big enough for installers to fit into
If you can empty your loft for the installation (2 weeks lead time)

Then you can have the free insulation.
Your bills could reduce by up to £175 per year… FOR FREE!

The installers work on 5 installs per day, so if there are five of you and your friends locally who qualify, then they will come and do the install.

Email me if you would like to sign up for this (damianmarksmyth@damianmarksmyth.com).

The added benefit is that, once you are on the system, you will also qualify for the free cavity wall insulation plus a replacement boilers (if over 15 years old).

These grants do not run out until June next year.