Insulation

[RChurch]

Hi all,

Just about to buy all my insulation for the refurbishment / renovation / repair (depending on your viewpoint) project and wondered if anyone has come across any 'deals' on insulation? January sales?!

Looking for either sheepswool or hemp based products and need about 90m2.

cheers
Churchy

 

[Penners]

I have no idea whether you would qualify for a grant or subsidy for your insulation, but there is a scheme (unless it's been cancelled in the recent machinations) whereby the Government subsidises loft insulation, if you satisfy a number of criteria.

But don't get your hopes up! I suggest you do some research. Here are a couple of places to start:

http://uk.sheepwoolinsulation.com/cert/

http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/Environmentandgreenerliving/Energyandwatersaving/Energygrants/DG_10018661

 

[RChurch]

Great looks interesting thanks Penners - will have a nosy and keep all informed for future reference if it's useful?

cheers
Churchy

 

[Penners]

Great looks interesting thanks Penners - will have a nosy and keep all informed for future reference if it's useful?

cheers
Churchy

That's definitely useful, Churchy. Other may be grateful for the information.

 

[AMc]

If you have NO roof insulation at all you may be able to get a subsidised installation from a your energy provider e.g. http://www.uswitch.com/insulation/ as part of regulation to reduce their overall carbon emissions. The subsidy is going to be replaced with a loan later this year.
I very much doubt you will get to choose the materials used but rockwool et al are breathable.

You can also pick up subsidised roll insulation at the big DIY sheds - they packaging says it mustn't be used for new building but unless you turn up regularly and buy a van full I can't see how that can be policed.

 

[Penners]

A year or so ago, I got a very subsidised top-up to our loft insulation, despite having about three inches of it already. But the rules may since have changed, and/or it may have been because I'm old, infirm, incompetent, barmy... etc.

 

[tobydog]

Sorry Penners but I looked at your response rather too quickly and read "old, infirm, incontinent, barmy, etc" !! :wink:

 

[AMc]

A year or so ago, I got a very subsidised top-up to our loft insulation, despite having about three inches of it already. But the rules may since have changed, and/or it may have been because I'm old, infirm, incompetent, barmy... etc.

Still true until they implement the loans - but you get a bigger subsidy for having none - which the unscrupulous might use as an excuse to strip what's there, get more added then chuck the original back in again

 

[MdB]

Still true until they implement the loans - but you get a bigger subsidy for having none - which the unscrupulous might use as an excuse to strip what's there, get more added then chuck the original back in again

You would have to pay me more than £50 to do that horrible job...
(I'm currently improving the insulation in our loft to include a load of celotex style slabs I got for free. It means moving a lot of rockwool around which I hate - even though I have a fairly decent facemask.)

 

[Penners]

Sorry Penners but I looked at your response rather too quickly and read "old, infirm, incontinent, barmy, etc" !! :wink:

Understandable, tobydog. That day can't be far off.

 

[paddytt]

We were quoted £155 (as the excess over and above the grant) for natural, "blown fibre" for the loft in our 5 bed thatched house. Not sure exactly what the material is yet, but at that price, do I need to ask any more questions...?

TT

 

[Lime]

Decades ago I had a loft insulated with blown glass fibre.
Apart from the usual problems associated with glass fibre the method used of blowing the insulation teased out and separated the fibres so much that it went almost to nothing if anything was laid on it.
I saw the amount of fibreglass that went into the machine and it wouldn't insulate my shed installed normally.
The blown method also makes moving the insulation to service or repair other items in the loft very difficult.

 

[MdB]

Rolls of normal rockwool are so cheap at the moment, I wouldn't go near blown fibre for the reason Lime outlines.

 

[RChurch]

Thanks all!

Unfortunately or fortunately depending on which way you look at it I happended across my local homebase store this week and rolls of Knauf mineral wool were going for £3!!!!!!!

Loft now insulated for approx £12!

Going to go for hemp batts for the walls and vaulted ceilings - just got to find a competitive price now.

Didn't investigate the grants / subsidy routes due to time and probable form filling etc etc etc.

I have been recommended to install a vapour barrier in the sitting room (stone, rubble walls etc ) that I have now battended out before drylining - have been suggested to use something like Intelligent Vapour check like Intello Plus.

Any thoughts?

cheers
Churchy