cavity wall insulation issues

welsh_dean

I purchased my home 10 years ago and am now noticing damp in certain areas. The house was insulated on a government grant before I purchased the house.
A friend of mine used to work for a company that did the insulation to cavity walls. He tells me the reason for the damp is more than likely down to poor workmanship. In order to get the job done quicker they would turn the pump up and this would cause voids in the insulation which can then cause damp. He tells me these companies will investigate this and then rectify it. The problem I have is I don't know how to find the company that installed the insulation.
I have searched on line for information regarding this and despite finding information that confirms what my friend told me to be true. I am not having any luck as to who I should contact.
Any information would be appreciated.
Thanks

Lungboy

I can't remember the name of it, but there's a government body that insures the cavity wall scheme, so in theory they should rectify any issues. I've heard that they are a bit of a nightmare to get to take responsibility though, so good luck.

Lungboy

Found them: https://ciga.co.uk/

welsh_dean

I have just emailed that company you sent the link for. So fingers crossed they will be able to help in one way or another. Thanks

Furts

welsh_dean wrote: »

A friend of mine used to work for a company that did the insulation to cavity walls. He tells me the reason for the damp is more than likely down to poor workmanship. In order to get the job done quicker they would turn the pump up and this would cause voids in the insulation which can then cause damp. He tells me these companies will investigate this and then rectify it.
Thanks

This is a complex issue. CIGA are like an insurance company guaranteeing the work, but like many insurance companies they are a nightmare when it comes to getting a claim investigated. Hence the onus is on the consumer to have the facts, which includes the policy number for the home. Without this CIGA may refuse to co-operate.

In fairness you are assuming your home was registered with CIGA, but if they claim it was not then you have no redresss.

The wider issue is the inefficiency, poor management and poor morale within CIGA. Here your friend owes you a moral apology - it was idiots like him, taking the p-ss out of established procedures, which has lead to CIGA being overwhelmed with claims. Your friend has knowingly ruined countless homes - is he proud of this?

It will not be easy dealing with CIGA so I wish you the best of luck. However, to my amazement I won a claim against CIGA within the last week, but this claim has been ongoing for over three years...you have been warned!

[Deleted User]

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/finance/property/advice/11411880/Could-the-cavity-wall-insulation-scandal-rival-PPI.html

welsh_dean

Thanks for the advice furts. Regarding CIGA all I can do is hope for a reply with further information. I have tried contacting the the local council grants department to see of they could advise me in anyway but it doesn't seem like they're keen on answering the phones lol.

Just because a friend of mine used to install the insulation doesn't mean he owes myself, CIGA, you, or anyone else an apology. He explained how the system worked and how some people decided to speed up the process. 3 people from his company were sacked for not doing their jobs properly and that's how he knows that not everybody takes pride in their work.

Furts

welsh_dean wrote: »

Thanks for the advice furts. Regarding CIGA all I can do is hope for a reply with further information. I have tried contacting the the local council grants department to see of they could advise me in anyway but it doesn't seem like they're keen on answering the phones lol.

Just because a friend of mine used to install the insulation doesn't mean he owes myself, CIGA, you, or anyone else an apology. He explained how the system worked and how some people decided to speed up the process. 3 people from his company were sacked for not doing their jobs properly and that's how he knows that not everybody takes pride in their work.

A fair comment and thanks for the response. As you may have gathered I work in the construction industry and have had numerous conversations with CIGA.

Whilst people may have been sacked it is highly unlikely the installation company went back to each consumer and said "you had cowboys working on your home, so please let us check out what damage was done and we will rectify it speedily". Hence sacking the operatives is shutting the stable door after the horse has bolted, with no follow up process.

Again, with my knowledge of the industry, the sacked operatives are highly likely to have joined a rival company and continued with their bad ways. If found out, and again sacked, they may have gone back to the previous employer and claimed they had learnt their lesson... but continued as before. I have seen this on countless occasions with cowboys in the construction industry.

Two big companies have failed in recent times - I do not mourn their passing, but the the dodgy individuals who worked for them are still out there, so all consumers should stay alert!

welsh_dean

Furts, I completely agree that you'll never get rid of cowboy builders. Even for the apprentices coming through that have no intentions on being a cowboy are often shown 'short cuts' from employers and colleagues which results in problems further down the line. Unfortunately when you have little or no knowledge of the trade you have to assume you're being taught correctly which isn't always the case. I'm also in the building game and have seen this happen.

If I remember correctly you said that you've recently won the battle of getting your home insulation rectified but it took 3 years to do so. I'm currently renovating my home top to bottom and despite there currently being no damp in the kitchen area I don't want to be installing a new kitchen to later find out there's damp coming through the walls behind it. At the same time I can't wait 3 years to possibly get this resolved through CIGA. Despite being in the building industry I have little knowledge regarding damp. As you've had this problem for 3 years or more have you looked in to other methods of rectifying this? For example would a standard damp proofing injection in to the brick work cure this problem. I don't have cash to throw at this but neither do I have years of waiting for an answer from CIGA or the cash to install a 2nd kitchen 2uesrs down the line as the problem has spread drastically

Furts

welsh_dean wrote: »

Furts, I completely agree that you'll never get rid of cowboy builders. Even for the apprentices coming through that have no intentions on being a cowboy are often shown 'short cuts' from employers and colleagues which results in problems further down the line. Unfortunately when you have little or no knowledge of the trade you have to assume you're being taught correctly which isn't always the case. I'm also in the building game and have seen this happen.

If I remember correctly you said that you've recently won the battle of getting your home insulation rectified but it took 3 years to do so. I'm currently renovating my home top to bottom and despite there currently being no damp in the kitchen area I don't want to be installing a new kitchen to later find out there's damp coming through the walls behind it. At the same time I can't wait 3 years to possibly get this resolved through CIGA. Despite being in the building industry I have little knowledge regarding damp. As you've had this problem for 3 years or more have you looked in to other methods of rectifying this? For example would a standard damp proofing injection in to the brick work cure this problem. I don't have cash to throw at this but neither do I have years of waiting for an answer from CIGA or the cash to install a 2nd kitchen 2uesrs down the line as the problem has spread drastically

If you genuinely believe the CWI is causing damp then pursue this with CIGA. You will have to chase them up - the processing is slow, the motivation seems poor - expect many emails and phone calls. Ultimately a "surveyor" will visit, but do not expect thoroughness and expertise. A report will be written, but you may have to chase up to get to see it. Then you will have to decide if the verdict is genuine. This procedure should be done within 3 months - less if you keep chasing.

Two problem areas exist. The default position of many people is to blame damp on CWI when it could be other causes. The second is if rectification is required will CIGA actually recommend then fund this?

Hence a battle can then start which takes time to resolve.

Smiley_Dan

Yeah, you're going to have to prove it's down to the CWI first of all. Where is the damp?