Installation of EPS

[saveasteading]

We've got professionals in today. 2 guys expect to do 300m2 of dpm and eps today, then tomorrow pir 2nd layer and dpm. Day 3 pipes.

They started cutting the eps with a hand saw. I guess this suffices for a smaller house. But one has popped out and come back with one of these and a 150mm blade. Watching him use it he can do curves and angles that a hand saw can't, plus very much quicker.

I was surprised he didn't have one already.

There is no sign of a table saw, or circular saw, for long straight cuts. That's what I had expected.

The cutting dust is hand- brushed into the gaps.

More to follow.

[saveasteading]

Here's an update. The insulation was laid in 2 layers over 3 days, with pipes going in behind. 

Screed poured today, day 4, 

 

 

in 2 hours plus the same again in prep, waiting and washing up.

The 4 days wasn't enough for the 350m2, and there was Russian swearing, we think, from the first gang under pressure. They suddenly didn't understand English when questioned about quality issues.

For anyone who hasn't seen it here's a video. It is very runny indeed, and it only goes hard if you wish and believe enough. 

[Mr Punter]

They often set up tripods to set the levels.  Is this 2 guys working and 1 shouting at them?

[Nickfromwales]

On 23/03/2026 at 11:14, saveasteading said:

We've got professionals in today.

 

2 hours ago, Mr Punter said:

2 guys working and 1 shouting

LOL

[saveasteading]

5 hours ago, Mr Punter said:

tripods to set the levels.

That's what I expected. But this was less technical. They broke a slat from a pallet and marked 40mm and 50mm on it.. min and max depth. That seemed to work as there was about 1/4 m3 waste.

 

But as for waste.  I was optimistic that there wouldn't be much insulation wastage and that was the case. I didn't deduct for stud wall areas, did add 2 sheets for mistakes or lack of care, and had 3 sheets surplus. It will ho in walls.

BUT what cutting waste there is, is very bulky, perhaps 5 x by volume, maybe more.

And the packaging waste is dreadful too, with cardboard snd cling wrap and eps spacers. 

Moral... allow a skip cost simply for the insulation and ufh.

 

Being petty and mean... (cost conscious and efficient) I found that the cling wrapping compresses dramatically when rolled up and squeezed into bags. Ie I took it out of the skip and compressed it. Pipe offcuts take lots of space too. And the eps packing baulks look useful so are set aside.

Saved £150 or more in an hour.... I care much more than they do.

 

Stop press.... I'm told pir will rise in price by 10% then another 18%. So I guess eps and plastic pipes will do too.

 

[JohnMo]

7 hours ago, saveasteading said:

allow a skip cost simply for the insulation and ufh.

Or use PIR, ours came with zero extra wrapping etc.

[saveasteading]

43 minutes ago, JohnMo said:

PIR, ours came with zero extra wrapping etc

We had a layer of each. The pir was clingwrapped in sixes and had eps packing. It certainly kept the boards in good condition.

[Oz07]

I wouldnt be choosing my insulation based on the packaging it comes in. Eps all the way for me if you have the depth. Cheaper and easier. 

[saveasteading]

16 minutes ago, Oz07 said:

Cheaper and easier. 

Eps is approximately half the price and half as good. So every individual  building needs it's own logic.

Our eps was also cling-wrapped. That may have been at the merchant's depot. It had the huge advantage of not blowing away, as one single sheet did.