My husband and I are thinking about making an offer on a house built between the 1930s and 1970s in the Midlands, U.K. The place has an EPC rating of Band E and, notably, lacks cavity wall insulation. We know this isn't something we can tackle ourselves—we'll need to hire a contractor. Can anyone advise whether this issue can be resolved and roughly what the costs might look like?
3 Answers
Blown-in insulation will definitely help, but honestly, it’s not the ideal method. The best option is usually to remove the drywall or plaster and install high-quality insulation, but that can get pretty costly. If you have old wiring, the expenses can add up even more. I did this with my 100-year-old house and kind of regret not just buying a better property initially!
If you’re keeping an eye on costs, you might want to take out the plaster yourself—especially if the walls are older. It's likely plaster, considering the lack of insulation. Make sure to get a dumpster for the debris, as this also lets you inspect any old plumbing or wiring that may need an upgrade. You could potentially do some of the work with just hammers and pry bars. Putting in bat insulation is simpler, too; a stapler is all you’d need to keep it in place. When hiring contractors, definitely get multiple quotes and don’t just go for the cheapest option; look for quality as well. And if you can recycle any old metal left over, that could earn you a little cash back!
One common solution for this situation is to have insulation blown into the walls. This process involves cutting small holes between the studs near the ceiling and using a blower to fill the cavity with loose insulation. It works best if the walls have minimal obstructions. Also, for the attic, you could consider rolling out batt insulation, which can help improve overall energy efficiency.