Skip to main content

Ready to hire?

Post your job in minutes, browse real reviews and choose who to speak to.Post a job

Need some tips or advice?

Ask a question
Insulation

Mixture of issues presumably relating to either insulation issues or foundation issues.

Anonymous user 15/03/2024 - 2.53 PM

Hi ya. We did a mutual exchange last year from a cosy 2bed property into a larger 2 bed property. Since temperatures dropped before Christmas we have noticed no end of issues with the home in regards to temperatures of walls and floors to name but a few. We have ice cold skirting boards with a cool air coming off them in our living room. This is where the two exterior walls meet and doesn't get much sun and heat . I also think there may be an issue with rain seeping into the crack around outside of house. I have notice several blown bricks and cracks around outside of house. One zig zag crack under window in dining room and cold floors inside the house radiating in from the corners. Playing on the floor with my littlun is quite uncomfortable when it's Cold! There are small patches of mould in bathroom despite good ventilation. I have dipped floorboards upstairs where boards are away from skirting. 2 doors don't sit flush in frames now , walls are like ice to touch. No matter how high I have the heating they stay the same. If I have heating high then wallpaper along bottom of wall gets damp and lifts. I have been told there is cavity wall insulation , presumably this needs checking. I also have loft insulation presumably which needs checking too. It is an older house approximately 1960s i think so understandably design and ability to hold warmth is different.The doors and windows allow so much cold air through no matter how much bodging and sealing I do. Some have been 'fixed' however theyre pushing 20yrs old.My heating bill is through the roof and my youngest has had more colds since we've been here than ever before! Housing company seem to not want to admit something more serious is going on. Feel like the whole situation is driving me loopy. I guess I'm just asking for advice please. I know in my gut that something is a miss and im reluctant to mask the issues with home improvements if more serious work is needed before hand. Thanks in advance

Are you a tradesperson and able to answer this question?

Log in

4 Answers

shalom property development ltd

Rating: 5 out of 5
Covent Garden, London
hello, sorry to hear about your trouble. based on my understanding of your issue, I think your house doesn't have a foundation(proper), your floor downstairs is a raised floor with ventilation access points bringing in cold air. Because of the age of the house, your cavity walls might not be insulted, your windows might not be double glazed. We've done one similar to these and the solution was to use internal insulation as it was a mid-terraced house. external insulation is also another option. There's also spray insulation which can be done. Get an EPC rating for your house and proceed from there. if more than E be prepared to upgrade.
Answered23 January 2020
1

BlackfenBuilders

Rating: 4.7 out of 5
Sidcup
Sound like you may have some movement issues too. With the cracks and blown bricks I would keep an eye on them to make sure the don’t grow or more bricks blow. The cracks in mortar can be repaired reasonably easily for a trades person. This may also be a factor to the draft coming through by the skirting and freezing walls. New windows fitted well would stop the draft coming in as the windows are20 years old. I would check to see if the house has cavity insulation as this would help massively.
Answered23 January 2020
0

THE CENTRE FOR CREATIVE ENTERPRISE LIMITED

Rating: 5 out of 5
Nottingham
Do you own or rent this is really important. If you own did you have a proper survey report? Sounds to me you have major issues that need professional looking at by an energy assessor or b expert like us that specialise in creating SMART Homes that dry free of damp well insulated and fit for purpose.
Answered24 January 2020
0

Handyman Locksmith

Rating: 5 out of 5
Chipping Norton
Yes good answers above and covering most issues the cavity needs checking with an endoscope camera, process drill a hole in the external skin the use the probe to see if it's clear or full of poly bead insulation to name but one. If it's clear then filling the cavity will make a massive difference. But you will need to get an EPC rating on your place. And yes do you own it or rent it if rent then the landlord (council) (private) will have to foot the bill. And you may or landlord have to dig an inspection hole for the footings to see if they are adequate! if not underpinnings will be required. Back to the walls, sounds like no insulation in the cavity! you can dry line the whole lot with insulation and foil backed plasterboard which will completely change your house but you must start at the beginning with all the advice given on here. Hope we have helped you
Answered25 January 2020
0