Internal house insulation

[Blobber]

So we have the grant folks round, you know the sort where everything is "free" and once its fitted life will be idyllic and cheap anyhow what's peoples thoughts on internal insulation which I assume will be the plasterboard with the foam stuck to the back, as always lots of doom and gloom spouted about so Im trying to make sense of it all, anyone got any real world experience

 

[Kayos]

Depends on how it is fitted

Fitted properly, maintaining ventilation and not just sealing everything up, it will be fine

Poor install, it will be a nightmare

 

[marlinspike]

We get lots of cold calls about insulation. We must get on a circulating list because we get several a week, slightly different script each time, then they stop, then a few months later they start up again.

 

[Blobber]

Depends on how it is fitted

Fitted properly

But thats the problem, what is fitted properly? its not something ive used in this situation

 

[Nomad]

My ex got the same offer and went for it in her stone built 1820s cottage.

Pray you don't get the same cowboy install crew she did.

They plastered all corners with modern sharp angles so the house lost its lovely "soft curves" inside feel.
She kicked them off the job when they went to install surface mount wiring (her pets would chew that angry be killed! She was promised concealed wiring same as the original).
Kitchen sash window is now odd as the insulation sheets mask the frame, also the 2 sides are now different angles

 

[winchman]

Depends on how it is fitted

Fitted properly, maintaining ventilation and not just sealing everything up, it will be fine

Poor install, it will be a nightmare

Thats the point
Some building need to breath very few don't
Its easy and cheap to do it the wrong way thats why so many are having claims against them

 

[Kayos]

But thats the problem, what is fitted properly? its not something ive used in this situation

Sealed where it needs to be sealed, to the wall without voids, corners sealed etc but the ventilation of the house must be maintained

 

[Blobber]

Sealed where it needs to be sealed, to the wall without voids, corners sealed etc but the ventilation of the house must be maintained

Does the origional plaster need to be removed back to brickwork or can it go straight over the top?

 

[Kayos]

Does the origional plaster need to be removed back to brickwork or can it go straight over the top?

In my experience it depends. If the plaster is solid it can stay but it is always better to go back to the brick

 

[Pigeon_Droppings2]

My ex got the same offer and went for it in her stone built 1820s cottage.

My understanding is that stone needs to breath...so there needs to be a vent gap between the stone and non breathable insulation....breathable is ok.

We have done insulated plasterboard in our 1930s solid brick terrace and it's been totally fine.

Guess I'm saying that it works provided it's suitable for the building.

 

[Smallfry]

We get calls about this almost every day. I tell them we live in a caravan, and they usually ring off immediately. How rude

A couple of years ago, friend of SWMBOs has a new build. Cavity wall insulation, 100mm cavity, thick stuff in the roof as well. External walls were always cold, and there was some mould forming. Builders (Croudace) said it is down to her lifestyle and drying laundry.

I was asked for an opinion. What I found was, dot and dab plasterboard on the walls, suspended floor on timber joists, with airbrick ventilation, but no sealing between the floor and plasterboard, so cold air behind.

In the end, they had the whole house traditionally replastered, a room at a time. Blockwork behind the plasterboard was terrible too, a lot of the perps were devoid of mortar. Much better now, and no mould at all.

So getting grant stuff fitted properly ? Good luck with that one.

 

[MetalMonkey]

My understanding is that stone needs to breath...so there needs to be a vent gap between the stone and non breathable insulation....breathable is ok.

This is now what is getting recommended, but wasn't always the case.

Trouble is everybody insulated everything to within an inch of its life, and now mould has hit the headlines, everything must be ventilated.
Very few of the outfits actually look at the building as a whole and apply something appropriate, its all cookie cutter approach and box ticking.

These cold callers are sales companies, and the ones that aren't outright scams will contract work out to the lowest price.
If they were actually any good they wouldn't have to ring around every day...
You are better off finding somebody that actually specialises.

 

[Robotstar5]

We get calls about this almost every day. I tell them we live in a caravan, and they usually ring off immediately. How rude

I either put the phone down or tell them it's a rented property (it isn't) then they put the phone down, in either case the number gets added to the call guardian block list.

 

[reb78]

This is now what is getting recommended, but wasn't always the case.

Trouble is everybody insulated everything to within an inch of its life, and now mould has hit the headlines, everything must be ventilated.
Very few of the outfits actually look at the building as a whole and apply something appropriate, its all cookie cutter approach and box ticking.

These cold callers are sales companies, and the ones that aren't outright scams will contract work out to the lowest price.
If they were actually any good they wouldn't have to ring around every day...
You are better off finding somebody that actually specialises.

Can you still take advantage of any grants this way? I'm not sure how it works but if there's a grant can you ask your trusted builder to do the work, or even do it yourself if capable, and still claim somehow?

I want to install solar. I have no idea how to determine if there are any grants, some people mutter that there are, and how to avoid cowboy outfits. I'd rather my electrician did all the work but don't know if we can take advantage of any grants (if there are any) if we go that way.

 

[Kayos]

I either put the phone down or tell them it's a rented property (it isn't) then they put the phone, in either case the number gets added to the call guardian block list.

I had one call me and say she was "the local energy expert" I suggested she googled my phone number

 

[Robotstar5]

I had one call me and say she was "the local energy expert" I suggested she googled my phone number

I've called them out on that one too as my phone shows the caller location, "how can you be local when you're over 100 miles away?" they either give up or press on in vain

 

[Kayos]

I've called them out on that one too as my phone shows the caller location, "how can you be local when you're over 100 miles away?" they either give up or press on in vain

Googling my phone number takes you to my website, offering energy saving and Decarbonisation Solutions ....

 

[MetalMonkey]

Can you still take advantage of any grants this way? I'm not sure how it works but if there's a grant can you ask your trusted builder to do the work, or even do it yourself if capable, and still claim somehow?

I want to install solar. I have no idea how to determine if there are any grants, some people mutter that there are, and how to avoid cowboy outfits. I'd rather my electrician did all the work but don't know if we can take advantage of any grants (if there are any) if we go that way.

Depends a lot if your electrician is MCS accredited and has all the equipment to install solar. Not all electricians are, or want to be - and they are tightening up on all of that next year as well.
So you might be best of speaking to an electrical company that specialises in solar, they should also have an idea of what grants are available.

Keep in mind that a lot of ECO is being canned next year now, and they are back tracking on FITS payments and such.

On the other hand if you are not trying to get a feed in tariff or apply for a grant, then you have more options open - but the return on investment may not be viable.

 

[gaz1]

stone built soil filled walls

grant job

pink gripfill stuck to walls cannot breath



damp coarse needed as a cellar then 4x2s on there side if we insulated inbetween the wood they refuse to insulate the walls as already done it was close to being refused as not a quick job for them ( pink gripfill and stuck to wall ) space lost 90mm board 2" wood +1" spacing

 

[Onoff]

Lots of issues to contend with!

Come back with what they're offering in terms of build up.

Biggest issue as touched on above will be how and where they plan to fit the vapour control layer and let the wall breathe. Could turn into a mould / condensation nightmare. If they propose positive input ventilation you might end up just pushing your expensive heat out. Mechanical Ventilation & Heat Recovery the best way.

Sockets and switches will need proper extension boxes and the wires likely extending.