Tír Na HiFi

augean-4354 wrote: ↑Wed Feb 12, 2025 1:45 pm House Insurance companies can have views on this.

In what sense?

If the spray foam installer doesn't use "cards" there is a danger of lack of air circulation between the roof membrane and the insulation, build up of moisture and then rot. Lots of cases in the UK apparently where spray was just sprayed directly on under the membrane. Installers just use cardboard stapled between the rafters, and then spray onto that - once the foam solidifies durability of the card doesn't matter and a small gap is left between the top side of the foam and the membrane.

Insurance companies saw the risk and sought to limit their exposure by not insuring where spray insulation was done in that way. Not sure what the position is here.

Fran wrote: ↑Thu Feb 13, 2025 12:05 am If the spray foam installer doesn't use "cards" there is a danger of lack of air circulation between the roof membrane and the insulation, build up of moisture and then rot. Lots of cases in the UK apparently where spray was just sprayed directly on under the membrane.

Yes, I do remember us discussing that. I'll keep an eye on quotes as we get them.

Since we're talking about house isolation; did anybody fixed squeaking noisy floors, and maybe added some sound proofing inside floors or walls?

Recently we got our UPVC windows and doors serviced. The fitter replaced the seals, all opening handles and any hinges that were worn. The windows were replacements for the original teak windows and around 25 years old. Air tightness and sound isolation are the big wins resulting from this work.

My iPhone has an app called DB, it measures sound levels. I am not very familiar with DBs but the following test might mean something more to you than me. There is a solar farm being built close to our house (about 2 to 2.5 Km as the crow flies). The machinery being used emits a staccato like sound which goes on continuously most days. Standing on our doorstep the sound reading is a steady 85DB. Inside the closed door the reading is 75DB. Audibly that is a significant difference whatsoever the readings say.

I can't recommend a company, but just to say, make sure whoever does it pays attention to details, e.g. around windows, around the footing etc. cold bridging is a big challenge in any retrofit.