Insulation and How Not To Fit It.
Just a brief note.
A month or so ago I voiced my concerns regarding the poor quality of some of the work around the various free energy grants to fit Air Source Heat Pumps, solar panels and extra insulation, which in some instances, left the home owner and their home worse off. (the original articles can be found here, here and here).1
Today, my concerns regarding poorly installed insulation have again been confirmed as this story on the BBC News website shows. In this case, the insulation was fitted to the outside of the building (usually 50mm of an expanded foam) covered by a render.
This is the right place to fit insulation to some buildings, in theory, as the wall itself stays warmer and the dew point (where moisture condenses within the wall), moves outwards. However, with a thicker wall, obviously your roof will need extending in some way at the eaves and verges. In the BBC article, this is where poor work allowed water to penetrate the building. With the render effectively sealing the building, this water will inevitably lead to damp and moulds inside. Especial care also has to be taken around windows and doorways as again, the wall has in effect become thicker.
above: external insulation fitted to the walls, prior to rendering. Note the detail at the eaves, extending the roof to cover the extra thickness of the wall.
If we really want to improve the quality of the housing stock here in Cymru, something which is absolutely necessary, rather than just generate income for contractors and producers, then we would do well to give far more attention to building control and scrutiny of the work.
Thanks for reading. Comments welcome. Hwyl! Chris.
I was going to send this as a note but couldn’t work out how to add links within a note….anyone got any clues? Ta.
Back in the 2000's part of my work included helping eligible vulnerable people to access 'Warm Front' grants that, after an initial survey, could entitle people to wall and loft insulation, and even a new boiler and radiators to be supplied and fitted in their homes. Our experience on the ground was, sub contractors were coming from all over the country (as the govt would only work with business with a very high minimum turnover) that excluded local (and accountable) fitters, the work that was identified in a home wasn't prioritised in terms of biggest impact so the grant would often be used up on the easiest to supply and fit items that left gaping holes (no pun intended) in the homes efficiency, things like loft insulation would often be supplied but not fitted because contractors wouldn't move items that older people often had stored in loft spaces but were no longer accessible to them through frailty so the rolls of rock wall were just left in a pile in the roof space and because of the way the procurement for equipment worked the radiator packs came a standard of 7 rads - so some homes had rooms with no heat (again, those rooms with easy access were prioritised regardless of the occupants usage) and some smaller home owners were left with brand new unfitted rads to dispose of. My personal experience in my home was that, being on a low income, a survey identified that we would benefit from some free fitted loft insulation. We were given a date for installation that we couldn't commit to yet no alternative was offered (i had said that i could fit it myself but that wasn't allowed) and after a few months we received a parcel of two energy saving lightbulbs and a note confirming our 'grant' had been spent, so presumably the contractor just kept the money/materials assigned to our property? The note also advised that as we had had a grant we wouldn't be able to apply for any other grants to improve our homes efficiency. I was on a low income, we had 3 very young children and lived in an ex-council property that while being very well built (1949) had very old Crittal windows (but fortunately the previous owner had fitted good secondary glazing) and draughty wooden external doors - We were very fortunate to have a local 'energy advice centre' staffed by very helpful and well informed staff, i had just started on my 'permaculture' journey as our library had a copy of 'The Permaculture Way' by the late, great, Graham Bell and i had signed up for a weekly PDC with the amazing Aranya (his first one as lead tutor)and took to heart Bill Mollison's comment (in one of his global gardener films i think) about in a cool temperate climate 50% of design should be about buildings and i had gained a CD Rom of 'The Yellow HouseGuide to Eco-Renovation' by George Marshall. Being poor but concerned i think our situation meant we had an attitude that felt we could do somethings ourselves. My Mother in Law very generously lent us the money to purchase enough reflective rolls of Rockwell insulation (not the best stuff i know but B&Q had it on a 50% off offer) to massively improve the depth of loft insulation. I cannot recall who said it but, 'Having an eco home is easy, stop all of the draughts, insulate it to the hilt and fill it with antique (second hand)furniture' this attitude would need to be tempered by some knowledge of air flow, condensation and access to experts that care or information that can be understood before it is applied. I dont know if the illustration you gave Chris is a lack of competence or just not caring about the future impacts?