Daydream fund challenge part 4

alfie_1

anybody else see the double rainbow today....

Davesnave

alfie_1 wrote: »

ive won in the euro lottery :j :beer:

That's a coincidence! I won it last month. Bit more than you, mind, and the £3m is taking its time to show on my bank statement, but any day now....;):D

The main problem with CWI is damp, poppy, though choille is right about the fumes from some of the earlier fillings.

Now, it's more of a worry that the fibres in modern fillings will bridge the damp proof course, especially in exposed places. e.g. Wales and here!

A map and some details from Which?

http://www.which.co.uk/energy/creating-an-energy-saving-home/guides/cavity-wall-insulation/cavity-wall-insulation-damp-problems/

An old investigation by BBC Wales:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/x-ray/2009/06/cavity-wall-insulation-part-tw.shtml

One of the strongest critics of CWI is the Telegraph's Jeff Howells. He's a bit reactionary and doesn't believe in lots of things, but unlike 'Which?' he can spell 'masonry! :rotfl:

His diatribe on the subject (and CIGA) is here:
http://www.askjeff.co.uk/cavity-wall-fill/

I'm not trying to put you off, just pointing out that CWI is very much a live debate. As I said earlier, we have it here and no problems I'm aware of.

alfie_1

I had CWI put in my old house [friends company so FREE ] as it was 1880's it had massive cavities much to my friends surprise ! took double the amount ... BUT it made such a difference..
it also provided a des res for resident rats ! I was picturing them all tucked up in like duvets ..... till they got to the attic and ate my "corn"....:(


well the preverbial sh*t's about to hit my sons dentist ! he has super duper messed up my sons implants...:eek: :mad:
long story but an official complaint is now registered.


example... when asked why he hadn't answered my sons questions during his ordeal he replied.. " **** tends to ask a lot of questions and I don't feel the need to answer him, ive been doing this for blah blah years and know what im doing !"


I replied I can think of £9000 worth of reasons to answer him...


you get the gist....

ferretkeeper

We're in wet Wales and had cavity insulation done a few years ago while some other work was happening.

We were having the wall ties replaced and corners of the house stitched before the whole blooming thing fell apart :eek: The corroding wall ties had caused the render to crack so we had it removed from the whole house, joy of joys, and re-rendered all round.

Also got the builders to clean the grot out of the bottom of the cavity, and sleeve the air bricks, two essential jobs the insulation companies don't do but which could cause the damp problems experienced after the bodge it and leg it brigade have been.

I was confident that all the steps I took would help avoid any damp problems in future, after all we were trying to combat some horrendous damp that previous owners ignored and patched over. I've since had to remove plaster on the two worst internal corners and left the bricks bare, or painted in Earthborn clay paint so the walls can breathe and dry out, and it's worked.

I guess if you know the issues and are aware that the installation companies don't do the extra work or may not even warn you, you can make sure it's done properly yourself, or at least follow current best practice.

Around us they're going for external insulation in a big way, lots of houses are solid stone so it's that or internal. And the same thing is happening, the fly by night companies are popping up everywhere to grab the grant funded work, with little or no real knowledge of the work and the potential problems that could be caused by poor installation.

Not sure how I feel about smothering stone walls that have been doing fine for hundreds of years in something they can't breathe through. If there's no DPC surely the moisture coming up from the ground into the walls has nowhere to go but inside...?

I digress!

Anyway, speaking of out of season, our geese have been laying again for a few weeks, how ridiculous!

We've been having a mega sort out and clear out, and doing really well selling random bits and pieces locally. We're gradually bringing all the lovely solid wood furniture from our rented house to ours and selling what we had here, which is mostly IKEA, and has survived a number of moves really well. And finding things that haven't been used since we moved here and we're in storage before that, kids stuff, all sorts! Got some stuff to go on eBay next, but need to psyche myself up for that

choille

The CWI that was suspect was the foam injection stuff, that was jetted in between the cavity in usually brick construction..

The stuff we are using is basically glass wool - horrid stuff to use, but once it's in it works and is considered inert. We did look at various green alternatives but opted for tried & tested.

alfie_1

and sleeve the air bricks, two essential jobs the insulation companies don't do but which could cause the damp problems experienced after the bodge it and leg it brigade have been.


I guess if you know the issues and are aware that the installation companies don't do the extra work or may not even warn you, you can make sure it's done properly yourself, or at least follow current best practice.





protocol and regulations say the air bricks must be sleeved. any company that is regulated [with regards grants] is super super strictly governed. IF a company that is registered for grants doesn't do the work [they have to get it surveyed before and after and signed off by an independent] correctly its quite simple... they lose their license.
it is always best to check the credentials of any company.
but certainly not ALL companies are cowboys.

ferretkeeper

Well they said I needed to get my builders to do this work... maybe they were just saving themselves a bit of hassle. Who knows. It was too long ago for me to care frankly, I just made sure what needed to be done was done.

What I was saying is that you need to do your own research as not all companies are regulated, reputable and thorough in their work. Anyone can copy a logo, stick it on their van and print headed paper. By the time a problem is spotted with poor workmanship the company concerned, however reputable and regulated at the time could be out of business and on to the next big scheme. You've only got to watch cowboy builders once to see the tricks that can be used to get away with it.

Not all are cowboys but IME any work where grants and subsidies are involved attracts all the wrong sorts of people, just chasing the gravy train. And when the home owner is getting a good deal ie cheap or free improvements, there is potential to be less rigorous in their checks.

choille

The whole grant thing is a bit of a rum do, as you can't do the work yourself, you have to go with someone who has a ticket to do it. The cost is geared to what can be made from the grant.
The costs are hiked.

alfie_1

choille wrote: »

The whole grant thing is a bit of a rum do, as you can't do the work yourself, you have to go with someone who has a ticket to do it. The cost is geared to what can be made from the grant.
The costs are hiked.

to get registered to be able to offer the grants to the public is very rigorous.
anybody NOT registered cannot offer the grants.


the actuall "payday" from the government can be on average 3-6 months to the contractor so its def not instant money..


my friend has had his company for over 25 years and he has to have his workers do stringent courses/exams to qualify and they are expensive ! he says its so difficult to get the funds from "HQ" now.. hes thinking of retiring...

choille

Yes, I bet.

It can be thought that it is cheaper to do the work yourself without the grant if you are at all savy & sensible about DIY.