Free cavity insulation - didnt do whole house

matty_hunt

Hi. My new partner tells me that she had cavity insulation installed for free, due to benefits situation, a few years ago. Im doing some diy and have discovered that the rear wall of the Victorian terrace has no insulation in it. She tells me that they refused to do it because there is a small outhouse lean-to on the back of the house and they would have to scaffold over it. Is this normal? Her financial situation is the same so could she apply to have it completed? Thanks for any ideas. Cheers

Furts

The Green Deal has been wound up, and there are fewer free schemes out there. Two of the big national insulation companies have gone bust - one only a few weeks ago. It is a dire and dodgy market to be involved in.

I suggest the chances of having a little bit put in are nil, both because of the work not being worth the effort, and problems and conflicts with the guarantee.

matty_hunt

Furts wrote: »

the chances of having a little bit put in are nil, both because of the work not being worth the effort, and problems and conflicts with the guarantee.

Yeah, I see your point. Thanks. Shame it was never chased up at the time.
I'll have to look into doing it myself with polystyrene balls or something.
Cheers.

stator

The Green Deal has nothing to do with free insulation provided through ECO.

You can ask, but I don't know if any companies would provide it, I doubt they can claim the subsidy for a house that has already been done.

Furts

matty_hunt wrote: »

Yeah, I see your point. Thanks. Shame it was never chased up at the time.
I'll have to look into doing it myself with polystyrene balls or something.
Cheers.

Any work that disturbs the original insulation will invalidate the guarantee. By discovering the situation it could be argued you have already disturbed the wall and the guarantee is invalid. But of course, I do not know how you discovered the situation.

It is a certainty that adding top up, or additional insulation, would be used as a reason to refuse any guarantee claims.

Weigh up the situation and decide whether to proceed. If so it will be at your risk.

Davesnave

matty_hunt wrote: »

Im doing some diy and have discovered that the rear wall of the Victorian terrace has no insulation in it.

I've always been led to believe that cavity walls were not used prior to around 1920 on 'ordinary' houses. I know of no Victorian properties with them in this country.

http://www.thinkinsulation.co.uk/upgrading-your-home/cavity-wall-insulation/do-i-have-cavity-walls/

Of course, this might be an extension.