Here are the answers to some of our most frequently asked questions. If you have anything specific you would like to ask we should be very pleased to hear from you.

Q.How can I make my home more energy efficient?

A. Well, a good starting point is to look at your central heating system and how well your home is insulated. If you have cavity walls then installing cavity wall insulation can save up to 35% of your heating bills. It will also improve the comfort of your home. You should choose a CIGA registered installer to ensure that the installation will be covered by an independent 25 year guarantee providing you with peace of mind. If your loft has less than 150mm of insulation then this should also be topped up to current standards, typically 270mm for mineral wool insulation. If you own a gas boiler that is more than 15 years old it might be as well to consider changing it. Today's state-of-the-art gas boilers with dedicated controls can cut your heating and hot water bill by up to 30%. There are now models that fit comfortably and unobtrusively inside a kitchen cabinet and provide high performance and will probably pay for themselves in terms of running cost savings within a couple of years. But don't forget - anything to do with gas must be dealt with by a CORGI installer.

Q. Will I really save money by improving the insulation of my home?

A. By reducing the amount of energy that is required to maintain your home at a comfortable temperature, insulation can substantially cut your heating bills and contribute to all our futures by reducing greenhouse gas emissions. However, you may choose to take some of this benefit by improving the comfort of your home and ensuring it is cosy and warm in Winter.

Q. Is it simple to improve the levels of insulation?

A. Well, certain jobs, such as cavity wall insulation, are covered by detailed technical standards and require specialist equipment operated by trained technicians. Others, such as improving levels of loft insulation, can be carried out by the householder, although it is important to check manufacturers guidance on the correct handling of products and ensure that adequate safety measures are taken. In either case, the use of an appropriately registered contractor will ensure that the installation is carried out to the highest standards and that the maximum savings will be achieved with the minimum disruption.

Q. What should I be looking out for so far as maintaining my home is concerned?

A. It doesn’t take long to check your home. First give the walls a look over and if they are rendered make sure that none has dropped off and is likely to allow rain penetration and therefore cause damp patches on the home interior. Check the roof and chimney, preferably using binoculars. Broken tiles or slates should be replaced as a matter of urgency by an expert who has the right equipment to work safely at height. Also check gutters and drain pipes for damage and leaks.

Q. I want to build an extension but where do I start?

A. The first thing to consider is whether you want to go out or up? Some properties are especially adaptable to utilising roof space. Once you’ve agreed how you would like to extend, you will then need to seek professional advice from an architect, architectural technician, building surveyor or a builder. Each of these disciplines is covered by an association who will point you in the right direction for an appropriate contact in your area. Also you may need planning permission although many around-the-house projects present no legal or statutory problems in this respect.


Q. My home is quite cold and draughty - what is the best remedy?

A. There are many proprietary draughtproofing systems around, which you can find in your DIY store, builders merchants or hardware shop. They are easy to fit around doors and windows if you follow the instructions. Loft insulation is important, too. It’s available in three different ways. You can buy it in a roll, slab or granular forms but whichever you choose, to be really effective, it must be a minimum of 11 inches (270mm) thick. Of course, up to 35% of heat loss can occur through poorly insulated external walls, so many people these days opt for cavity wall insulation which needs to be carried out properly by a specialist.