Reduce your energy bills and stay warmer with insulation solutions from InstaGroup

InstaGroup design insulation products which are installed in retrofit projects and new build properties around the UK.

They have over 40 years’ experience supplying and accrediting a network of local installers who are monitored by their experienced team of InstaGroup Technical Inspectors.

InstaGroup will pass your enquiry onto your local network installer.

Insulating a loft is usually fairly easy and straightforward. You'll need to have a loft hatch with access for the survey to be completed, and your loft should be free of clutter so your installer can get iin and assess it accurately. It takes up to 2 hours to install loft insulation in an average three-bedroom house. Larger homes and bungalows may take a little longer as they have a bigger loft space.

Many people chose to have their loft space professionally insulated as it is hot work, often in cramped and hard to reach areas. Also, the material should be laid safely, paying close attention to any electric cables, downlights and ventilation needed in the loft space.

There are various Government funded schemes both on a national and local level. The most widely accessible scheme is called the Great British Insulation Scheme (GBIS), this can fund the majority of your loft or cavity wall insulation if you meet certain conditions around your Council Tax bands & current Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) rating. Another national scheme is called the Energy Company Obligation (ECO) where, depending on your circumstances, this could fully-fund significant improvements around your home including insulation.

Your local installer will be aware of the guidance of both of these schemes and will be aware of any local schemes which may be available through your local authority. During your initial phone call with the installer please let them know you are interested in Government funding and they will advise as appropriate to your personal situation.

Your home energy assessment will take around 15-45 minutes, depending on the size of your property.  The survey will be carried out by a local fully-qualified Domestic Energy Assessor, an experienced surveyor who is trained to provide expert recommendations for domestic properties.

Your surveyor will arrive at your pre-booked appointment and spend time both inside and outside your home, checking out key areas where your property could be losing heat.

You are welcome to go around with the assessor if you prefer. It’s a good opportunity to talk about your experience of ‘cold spots’, draughts or ‘hard to heat’ areas in your home. Your surveyor will check the condition of walls and pay close attention to any extensions or conservatories.

They will also take photographs of the outside of your property, so there is a visual record for the insulation technicians to confirm suitability. Another check is to have a look into your loft or roof space: if loft insulation is already installed it’s worth knowing that it might not meet today’s recommended standards.

Lastly, the surveyor will measure up any areas to be treated in order to provide you with an accurate quote.

If you plan to use the loft or attic for storage you will need to lay loft boards over the joists after installation is complete and we may be able to provide this service at an extra cost. You can discuss your storage needs at your no-obligation survey.

How long it takes can vary, depending on the size of your property, number of windows, and how easy it is to reach all the external wall areas. The usually estimate is 1-2 weeks from start to finish.

Before booking in your external wall installation your InstaGroup project manager will check that outside walls are structurally sound and have no penetrating damp.

If everything looks good, your project manager will cover off any points with you such as access to electricity and water, temporarily removing wall furniture such as outside lights, drainpipes and satellite dishes, plus – if needed – clearing areas around walls for scaffolding.

Installation itself is straightforward. First your installer will affix a system of insulation panels to the outside walls of your property, then apply weather-proof render in the colour and finish of your choice, giving extra attention to the areas around windows and sills to ensure no break in the insulation which could impact its overall effectiveness.

If you want to install external wall insulation in your home you should inform the Building Control Officer at your Local Authority. They can tell you whether or not planning permission is required for your property.

Many properties won’t require planning permission as insulation falls under ‘permitted development’ if the finished result doesn’t dramatically alter the building’s original external appearance.

Cavity wall insulation is expected to have a lifetime of over 40 years. It's worth remembering, however, that you should still undertake normal home and building maintenance and wall repair to keep your home weather resistant

If your home is joined to another property InstaGroup can plan your cavity wall installation around it.

For semi-detached or end-of-terrace properties their installers will use a special wall cavity barrier or ‘brush’. This effectively blocks the shared wall cavities and prevents the insulation material spilling into neighbouring cavity wall sections.