New build - no insulation

[NorthernDave]

Private Eye has had a reasonably long-running series about several of the housebuilders taking the mickey by delivering new-builds which are half-finished. It's not online, but a search should unearth a forum discussing it.

Our local councillor, who spent many years as chair of the planning committee, reckons that the big developers won't put a spade in the ground unless they're sure of a minimum profit of 25% on what they're building. The preferred profit margin is 33% or more though, apparently - to put that into simple numbers that's over £83,000 profit on a £250k house.
I'm struggling to think of any other industry with such huge profits on big value items like that.

 

[Slick]

Our local councillor, who spent many years as chair of the planning committee, reckons that the big developers won't put a spade in the ground unless they're sure of a minimum profit of 25% on what they're building. The preferred profit margin is 33% or more though, apparently - to put that into simple numbers that's over £83,000 profit on a £250k house.
I'm struggling to think of any other industry with such huge profits on big value items like that.

Doesn't always work exactly like that and they have to resort to subby bashi g to make it work. Pricing is a dark art, some refurb jobs were going for a 5% return, some less during the recession.

 

[screenman]

Our local councillor, who spent many years as chair of the planning committee, reckons that the big developers won't put a spade in the ground unless they're sure of a minimum profit of 25% on what they're building. The preferred profit margin is 33% or more though, apparently - to put that into simple numbers that's over £83,000 profit on a £250k house.
I'm struggling to think of any other industry with such huge profits on big value items like that.

Is that profit or margin?

 

[Sandra6]

Warm roof - insulation along line of rafters, cold roof - insulation along line of ceiling. Yours is most likely to be a trussed rafter cold roof. If there's a cavity it can be filled, if there's a loft it can be insulated.

Thanks, that explains it really well.

They'll just pump the foam into the walls and put those rolls down in the loft.
The house will not have to be pulled down.
My house was built in 1969 and if you want to live in a cold house you should live here.

It's not as simple as just filling the loft though, because that's my bedroom! There is a roof space above part of the bedrooms though, apparently whatever they're going to do needs to be done through my room above. It sounded like they were going to "drop" the insulation in from above. I don't know how that works.
Everything online seems to point towards the need for scaffolding and moving out though.
Not the best start to the new year, but I should know more by the end of the week, thanks for the input.

 

[MikeG]

We all know that there's never any problems with those.

At least render can't burn!

 

[MikeG]

Thanks, that explains it really well.



It's not as simple as just filling the loft though, because that's my bedroom! There is a roof space above part of the bedrooms though, apparently whatever they're going to do needs to be done through my room above. It sounded like they were going to "drop" the insulation in from above. I don't know how that works.
Everything online seems to point towards the need for scaffolding and moving out though.
Not the best start to the new year, but I should know more by the end of the week, thanks for the input.

So, your's isn't as straightforward as some said it would be. I urge you to take independent advice on this, and not just let the housebuilder do the work unchecked. Get them to put their proposed redemption method statement in writing, and give it to the surveyor/ architect who you will be using to do a survey prior to them doing the works. The things is, if the U values of this house require a polyisocyanurate insulation to make the walls comply, that is impossible to fit by pushing down from above. It may be they are proposing a loose-fill insulant which are typically half as efficient as PIR insulants such as Celotex. These details are really, really important!

 

[furball]

If your house is part of development it may be you are not alone. Might be worth speaking to neighbours.

 

[threebikesmcginty]

Just knock it down now and save all the bother.

 

[Hyslop]

Hi Sandra, I'm afraid I can offer no advice whatsoever,(I began my working life as an archaeologist after all,not a lot of help,I realize) however after time away,I saw your post.Moral support goes without saying.Keep us posted eh?And,if there's someone responsible who can be stuffed,you stuff 'em

 

[oldwheels]

Hi User46386. Yes I have a tumble drier but in the kitchen there is also a now disused cat door at floor level. The vent hose for the tumble drier goes outside so no condensation in the house. You can get condensers which dry the exit vapours from the drier. Never used one myself but someone I know has one and it works fine. Just like a dehumidifier really when you have to empty the water out when finished drying.

 

[keithmac]

Sorry to hijack the thread a bit but has anyone on here had that beaded cavity wall insulation done in their house? Thinking about having it done as my hallways freezing (pre1930s house). I have read a few complimentary reviews but also a few horror stories that have put me right off.

Have a good long look before you decide to fill the cavities, there are companies now that are flat out removing the cavity insulation due to damp problems.

The outside leaf of the wall is not 100% watertight and the "insulation" acts as a bridge between the two wicking water into the house.

As for the original post, Celotex insulation price has nearly doubled, maybe they didn't just "forget" to fit it?.

 

[threebikesmcginty]

Sorry to hijack the thread a bit but has anyone on here had that beaded cavity wall insulation done in their house? Thinking about having it done as my hallways freezing (pre1930s house). I have read a few complimentary reviews but also a few horror stories that have put me right off.

Of the few walls left when we converted our current house we used an insulation made of recycled plastic bottles. From memory it cost around £150 and I’ve got to say it works really well. We were lucky to as we were replasterboarding the inside we were able to apply it from the inside so it avoided drilling the external walls.

 

[rich p]

recycled plastic bottles.

Consider how much cheaper it would have been if you could have used empty beer bottles.
Probs about £150?

 

[classic33]

Consider how much cheaper it would have been if you could have used empty beer bottles.
Probs about £150?

Beer in plastic bottles!

 

[Davos87]

After doing a bit of reading around have decided not to have it done and have cancelled the free survey. Read a few too many horror stories and although my house is old and the hallway is cold I have no damp problems whatsoever and don’t want to risk any in future. Will pursue insulation from the inside. Will try and find the article that informed my decision and link it later.
Here it is. http://www.askjeff.co.uk/cavity-wall-fill/