Laura

So I’m trying to sign up for a Wickes Trade account online. They ask for proof that I’m a tradesperson. I’m not. But how fussy will they be? If I submit photos of my headed paper and business card that I’ve just spent a couple of minutes making, will they even question it?!

Brilliant, thank you. A way to save pennies on materials is most welcome, and I’m looking forward to testing out that spreadsheet when I get a mo, I do love a good spreadsheet, and seems an ideal way to weigh up our options!

By obsessively reading up on it, looking at my bank balance, talking to our friendly RICS surveyor, and watching for raised eyebrows (and whatever the online equivalent is) whenever I talk to others about it. You lot are helping broaden my thinking on the subject!

Brill, thanks all, that helps clear my head a bit. I think this one is a reasonably long-term home for us, so we’ll do a sensible amount of insulation without going OTT. I especially like the idea of using loft insulation under the floors to help qualify for free loft insulation! That passivhaus stuff is fascinating, but probably not us this time... I love the character of this new house, definitely wouldn’t want to stop it breathing!

See, I’m at the stage where I don’t really know what’s mad and what’s achievable! I like the idea of MVHR, but suspect that’s on the mad side for a large-ish old house... The roof is in pretty good nick, I stuck my head up in the loft, it smells dry andthe underside of the tiles is lined with a bitumen felt. It looks to have been redone at the same time as the rest of the terrace. (No bats, which I’m slightly sad about, but it’s probably a good thing really!)

Thanks all, top tips. I’ll be seeking a specialist quote for internal wall insulation before the purchase is complete, and definitely getting a specialist in to do it, I like the idea that it can be modelled rather than just sticking a finger in the air to figure out the dew point. If we were to do windows, underfloor and walls do you reckon it’d be in that order? I know the internal wall insulation is easily damaged by things penetrating the vapour layer, so I’d guess it wouldn’t be very clever to put in new windows afterwards?!

Thank you Onoff, really useful pointers. I don't think any of those faux pas have been committed yet, so will try to keep it that way. We have a proper building survey being done in the coming week. I think it's a forever home, we certainly want it to be comfortable. Will do as much of the work as I'm able to, but defer to experts on things like the internal wall insulation - from what I've read that's fraught with damp causing potential...

Thanks John, damp is a concern. There is a tiled gutter along the ground between the two down pipes, maybe we should extend that. I quizzed the tenants when we looked round it, they reckon it isn’t damp, hopefully our surveyor will agree! I’m hoping that there’s a bit of a gap (just a foot or so) under the floor beams, it sounds pretty hollow.

We are buying an end of terrace Victorian house, it was a corner shop, so isn’t standard layout, it has 4 similar size rooms downstairs and 4 bedrooms along a long corridor upstairs, plus a shower room and bathroom bolted on the back. It needs new windows and as much insulation as I can add, especially along the long north-facing outside wall. I will do underfloor and loft insulation myself (assuming it's reasonably straight-forward!), but what order do I do everything in? Windows and floors before walls? And should I add piping for underfloor heating while I've got the floorboards up? Radiators will all have to come off the walls to do internal wall insulation anyway... Does UFH even work with old floor boards? Top tips would be much appreciated, thanks!

Thanks Onoff, I’ll do just that!

Hello, I'm new to the forum, will soon have a house in need of insulation... Will post my questions in the relevant forum!