Advise

Green Homes Grants & FREE Insulation

Fri, 11 Jun 2021 00:00:00 +0000

Claim up to £10000 with the Green Homes Grant

Which Benefits Qualify For Free Insulation?

If someone in the property receives one or more of the benefits listed below then you should qualify to have Cavity Wall Insulation, Internal Wall Insulation, Loft Insulation or Room in Roof Insulation installed completely free of charge:

Armed Forces Independence Payment
Attendance Allowance
Carer’s Allowance
Constant Attendance Allowance
Disability Living Allowance
Pension Guarantee Credit
Income-related Employment and Support Allowance (ESA)
Income-based Jobseeker’s Allowance (JSA)
Income Support
Industrial Injuries Disablement Benefit
Personal Independence Payment
Severe Disablement Allowance
Tax Credits (Child Tax Credits and Working Tax Credits)
Universal Credit
War Pensions Mobility Supplement

Why retrofitting insulation is so important to climate change

Mon, 16 May 2022 00:00:00 +0000

It’s no secret that having well-fitted, high-grade home insulation makes your property more energy-efficient. It keeps your home warmer during the colder months and improves the comfort of your home all year round. Many of us think about how home insulation directly affects our household without thinking of the broader impact on the environment. But the truth is the two are closely related.

In the UK, a net-zero target has been set to reduce carbon emissions by 100% of 1990 levels by 2050. This means there is now a significant focus on energy-saving practices and a drive to make consumers more aware of the consequences of climate change.

Home insulation plays an essential role in the fight against climate change, and in this blog, we will look at what that role is and why it is so important.

Sustainability

Sustainability has become a hot topic amongst homeowners in recent years. This is because we are more aware than ever before of our own energy consumption and carbon emissions. Many of us see this as the first step in doing our bit to reduce our eco-footprint with lower carbon emissions and more sustainable practices.

One key thing we can do as property owners is to insulate our homes, be that in the loft, floors or walls. As insulation helps keep your home warm in the winter and cool during the hottest days of summer. It offers an easy, practical way to reduce your household’s energy consumption. Lower energy consumption means that critical non-renewable resources can be conserved and will last longer. This could add up to enormous savings if more households around the country were properly insulated.

It helps reduce greenhouse gases.

There is a high demand for electricity, natural gas, propane, and other fossil fuels to heat our homes and workplaces in the UK. Unfortunately, the process of producing heat usually involves burning fuels that release high amounts of CO2 into the atmosphere. The climate change crisis is heavily influenced by carbon dioxide, and to tackle the effects of climate change, we must look to reduce this.

Energy use at home is estimated to account for around 14% of the UK’s greenhouse gas emissions. Because over half of the energy we use at home is for space heating, home insulation can significantly reduce the amount of heat lost through the walls, roof and floors. This means less energy is required overall to heat an insulated home and means that the home is emitting a much lower amount of CO2 into the atmosphere compared to a house without insulation.

A practical solution

We all need to do our bit to tackle climate change and reduce our carbon footprint. One easy way to do this is by installing insulation in your home. Not only will you benefit from having a warmer home and lower energy bills, but you’ll also be helping to tackle climate change too.

Why remove and replace loft insulation?

Thu, 19 May 2022 00:00:00 +0000

We all know that heating costs are rising. So, when you consider that 25% of the heat you lose from your home leaves through the roof, it’s not surprising that good loft insulation is deemed essential by many homeowners. Not only can it reduce heat loss, but good quality insulation can considerably reduce your energy bills. The payback on getting your loft insulation replaced with a more effective insulation type can be less than two years.

My loft is already insulated. Why should I replace it?

As with everything, insulation doesn't last forever. Well-fitted loft insulation has a typical shelf life of 30-40 years before it starts to deteriorate and becomes less effective at insulating your home. The result of having a poorly insulated loft is higher energy bills and less heat retention. Of course, if your insulation suffers secondary damage such as water or fire damage, it could need replacing sooner.

Loft insulation removal

If your loft insulation hasn’t been replaced in decades, it’s likely to have become ineffective and caused a spike in your energy costs. Dirty loft insulation can also signify that pests have been living in your loft space, such as mice, rats or pigeons. The presence of pests can cause an unhealthy living environment. The old insulation should be removed professionally and controlled so it doesn’t disturb or affect the rest of your home.

Can I remove the existing insulation myself?

Unless you have experience in removing loft insulation, we would advise against taking a DIY approach. Loft insulation contains several harmful irritants, including fibreglass and rock wool. These materials should not be breathed in. A professional loft insulation remover will be able to remove and dispose of old insulation safely using appropriate protective equipment.

Replacing your loft insulation

Once the old insulation has been removed and safely disposed of, it can be replaced with a newer, higher performance loft insulation. We will help you choose the best insulation to suit your property. The options available include:

Insulation Rolls - One of the most widely used types of loft insulation made from fibreglass and natural fibres, it effectively keeps in (or out) heat.

Spray foam - Spray foam insulation is sprayed into an area and then expands to fill the space. It is a very effective insulator, especially for getting o areas that are hard-to-reach but unfortunately, you would not be able to mortgage the property with this in situ (so not recommended).

Would you like to know more? Get in touch.

Loft insulation and boarding costs explained

Fri, 24 Jun 2022 00:00:00 +0000

The loft: an area of the home which has huge potential but is often overlooked by homeowners. The loft can be a fantastic storage area to keep those seasonal items you don’t want cluttering up your main living space all year round. Think Christmas tree and decorations or big bulky winter coats that go unloved during the summer months.

Homeowners who choose to board and insulate their loft area benefit from having a safe, secure space to keep their items and can move around their roof area safely.

Every house has a loft area, but to be able to safely move around you’ll need to board it. The cost of boarding the whole loft will vary depending on the size of your property and how much of the loft you want to be boarded. One of the great things that makes loft boarding so affordable is that you can have as much or as little of your loft boarded as you need.

In addition to proving you with a safe, usable space boarding your loft will also improve your home insulation and prevent heat loss. As a result, you may see a reduction in your energy bills too!

If you’re considering getting your loft insulated and boarded you may be wondering how much it costs and if it fits the budget.

We’ve put together this handy article to answer your questions.

How much will it cost?

The factors that affect the cost of insulating and boarding your loft include:

The size of the space you want to be boarded
Whether there is already insulation or not
The type of flooring chosen to board your loft
Whether an access ladder or hatch is needed or already installed
If any electrics are required - for example for a light

Depending on the above the cost of boarding and insulating your loft could be between £600 and £4000. However, most homes fall somewhere in the middle with the UK average cost being £1500.

Additional costs which may apply

In addition to the price to board and insulate your loft space, you should also be aware that any additional work or requirements to make the space usable may see a cost increase. For example:

Providing new loft access, if there is currently no safe way to access your loft area
Widening of the existing hatch in order to make it easier to store larger items
Loft shelving for organisation purposes
Clearance services, to remove any debris from the existing loft space
Adding lights or other power points to make the space more usable
Insulation
Roof repairs to deal with any leaks or damaged areas that could ruin your loft space

If you need any further advice on loft insulation and boarding costs, contact a professional for help. We at Extract Insulation are always happy to answer whatever questions you may have.

Loft insulation removal costs explained

Mon, 27 Jun 2022 00:00:00 +0000

While loft insulation brings many benefits; there may come a time when it needs to be removed. It could be simply that the homeowner wishes to upgrade their existing loft insulation to a higher grade to save money on their energy bill. Alternatively, it may be a result of another problem, such as a vermin infestation or damaged insulation resulting from an external roof leak.

Unfortunately, no loft insulation lasts forever and will need replacing at some point. Whatever the reason, there are, of course, some costs involved in removing it.

What factors affect the cost of removing loft insulation?

Several factors will affect how much you pay to have your loft insulation removed. These include:

How accessible your loft is. If your loft space is challenging to get to or unusually small, it may take longer to access.
How much insulation there is to remove.
What type of insulation needs removing. Some insulation types are more complicated to remove than others, and therefore, the job will take longer.
The condition of the insulation to be removed. If your existing insulation is in bad shape, it could be dangerous to remove and dispose of it.

How much will it cost?

With all the above factors considered, the average price customers pay to have their loft insulation removed is from £700 based on a three-bedroom semi-detached property. For an accurate quote and more information, please contact us.

The price you pay may vary depending on any extra services you require as part of the insulation removal. For example, loft cleaning, boards if needed, or specialist equipment to remove old insulation.

Can I remove loft insulation myself?

Because of the health and safety precautions you should take, we would not recommend any unqualified individual remove loft insulation themselves. Whilst it might appear to be an excellent way to save money, insulation contains irritants such as fibreglass and rock wool, which are extremely dangerous if breathed in. Always appoint a professional who will be fully equipped to handle loft insulating materials safely.

Loft Insulation Removal Service

At Extract Insulation, we offer a complete service to remove loft insulation and replace it where necessary. Our professional and experienced team has removed all types of loft insulation and can advise on the best loft insulation for your home to replace the removed materials. Please get in touch to learn more about our services and for a personalised quote.

A guide to the ‘fabric first’ approach to insulating UK homes

Mon, 22 Aug 2022 00:00:00 +0000

What does fabric first mean?

A fabric-first approach means that buildings should focus on the performance of the components and materials that make up a home, rather than focusing all attention on post-construction additions.

Although post-construction additions, like solar panels, can help boost the sustainability of a home, they should not be seen as the ultimate solution. Ideally, homes should be made with a focus on sustainability from as early on as possible.

Using a fabric-first method means paying attention to things like using natural ventilation, maximising airtightness, eliminating thermal bridges and, of course, optimising insulation.

Only when insulation is viewed as a priority, will we be able to deliver truly eco-friendly homes.

Benefits of the fabric-first approach

Sustainability has become a major concern for many industries in the past few years and the housing and construction industry is one that needs significant change.

With the fabric-first approach, housing developers can ‘build in’ sustainability to every home. Here are some of the benefits that come from switching to this new approach:

Improves energy efficiency. Fabric-first ensures that UK homes do not suffer from heat loss, and it removes our dependence on offsetting the carbon footprint once a house has already been built using mechanical or electrical renewable technologies.
Saves money. Not only can this approach make the building process quicker for developers, cutting down on project costs, but it also will help homeowners reduce their energy bills.
Reduces maintenance. If houses are built to be sustainable, there will be no need for retrofitting or ongoing maintenance in the future as homes are already built for purpose.

How is the government driving forward a fabric-first approach?

The Government introduced the UK Energy Security Strategy, which included £1.8 billion of funds that will go towards introducing energy efficiency measures and improving up to 500,000 homes across the country.

Although there aren’t currently any regulations that are pushing forward the fabric-first approach as strictly as many environmental activists would like, it is something that is expected to be included in the upcoming Future Homes and Buildings Standard 2025.

How panels and battery storage systems could help beat rising energy prices

Mon, 22 Aug 2022 00:00:00 +0000

What are solar panels and battery storage systems?

Solar panels are layers of semi-conducting material that you can install on the exterior of your home (usually the roof) to generate renewable energy from the sun’s rays.

These cells can work all year round, even on days when the sun doesn’t seem to be shining, to transform sunlight into the energy that can power your everyday appliances, electric heaters, or your electric vehicle.

Most people who have solar panels installed will also set up a battery storage system in their home which can store the energy generated by their solar panels during the day, saving it for when you need power later on.

The benefits of solar panels and battery storage systems

We’re all struggling with the dramatic energy price hikes at the moment, one way that we can reduce our reliance on expensive energy providers is by generating our own solar energy.

For many homeowners, using solar panels and a battery storage system can help reduce your energy bills by as much as 70% every single year.

Although setting up these systems will require significant investment in the short term, the cost savings that you can enjoy as a result of it will make your money back in no time.

On average, solar panels can last for around 25 years and can provide your home with reliable, green energy and help you cut down on your monthly outgoings.

Power your home with Extract Insulation

If you’re interested in powering your home with green energy and cutting down on your monthly bills, our friendly team of solar experts would be more than happy to talk you through the entire process.

We know that everyone’s energy requirements are different, so we’ll work with you to design a system that works for your needs and provides the cost savings you’re hoping for.

Get in touch with us today to find out more.

Make your home energy efficient on a budget with the Government grants

Mon, 22 Aug 2022 00:00:00 +0000

ECO4 scheme

The ECO4 scheme is the fourth instalment of the Government’s Energy Company Obligation (ECO) scheme which aims to make homes more energy efficient, tackle fuel poverty, and introduce more alternative energy solutions.

The scheme runs from 1 April 2022 to 31 March 2026 and will target the least energy-efficient buildings occupied by low-income and vulnerable homeowners.

The ECO4 scheme is available to:

Homeowners or private tenants
Properties that currently have inefficient electric heating
Individuals who get income-related benefits (such as Child Tax Credits, income-based Jobseekers Allowance, Universal Credit etc.)

Successful applicants for the scheme can get free electric storage heaters installed, or gain grants that can go towards cavity wall insulations or loft insulations.

Home Upgrade Grant

The Home Upgrade Grant is a grant that’s designed for use by local authorities who want to support low-income households.

There’s a total of £150 million of funding that’s been set aside to fund various energy-efficient measures.

To be eligible to receive some of the money given to the local authorities, homeowners must live in an eligible location, have a household income of less than £30,000 and be in receipt of some sort of government benefit.

Another piece of criteria you must meet is that, if your home has an EPC rating, it must be D, E, F or G. If you don’t know what the rating for your house is, you can still apply and see if you’re able to organise for a rating to be given to your home while you wait.

The money given through the grant scheme can go towards the following:

Draught proofing
Loft insulation
Cavity wall insulation
Room-in-roof insulation