Internal wall insulation in Harborne.

What kind of homes does Harborne have?

Around the High Street there are many Victorian and Edwardian terraces with solid brick walls, front bays and back additions. On the roads further out, interwar semis are common, often with lightweight bay panels and either solid or early cavity walls. The Moor Pool estate is an early twentieth-century garden suburb and a conservation area, with its own character and detailing.

Those three types need different approaches, so I start every visit by working out what your walls are actually made of.

My buyer's survey says there is damp. Should I worry?

Not necessarily. Survey reports often flag high meter readings on old walls, which can come from condensation, a leaking gutter, bridged ground levels or salts in old plaster, as well as rising damp. Many buyers are then told they need a chemical damp proof course straight away.

Before spending on that, it is worth finding the actual cause. The guide for people told they need a damp proof course explains how to tell the difference. As a Domestic Energy Assessor and Retrofit Assessor, I look at moisture and heat loss together, so the fix for one does not create a problem with the other.

Where does insulation fit in a renovation?

Early. Internal wall insulation changes the wall line, so it should come after any rewiring and plumbing changes on outside walls and before plastering, decorating, new floors and kitchens.

1. Outside repairs: gutters, pointing, roof leaks.
2. First fix electrics and plumbing, sockets moved to suit the new wall.
3. Internal wall insulation and plastering.
4. Ventilation, such as extractors, through trusted trades.
5. Second fix, kitchen, decorating and floors.

I can work alongside your other trades. If you also need ceilings or walls replastered elsewhere, my plastering service covers skimming, replastering and Artex.

Can you insulate a house on the Moor Pool estate?

Internal insulation does not normally need planning permission, because the outside of the house is unchanged, and that includes houses in conservation areas. Listed buildings need listed building consent for internal work. Moor Pool houses have their own detailing and some have particular restrictions, so it is sensible to check with the council or the estate before any work. I will raise this at the visit.

On these houses I usually recommend a breathable system and lime finish, which suits the original construction. The lime versus gypsum guide explains why.

What about the cold bay in a Harborne semi?

Many interwar bays in Harborne, as across Birmingham, have a lightweight timber panel under the window with a thin lining inside. That panel loses heat quickly and lets draughts through. Bay insulation starts from about £2,300 and is usually three to five days. The Birmingham bay window insulation page shows what I find when I open them up.

For the rest of the house, the room by room guide for 1930s semis sets out a sensible order.

What does it cost and which system suits a Harborne house?

From about £2,300 per wall. PIR fixed with PU adhesive is usually £2,300 to £3,000 per wall over three to four days and suits dry, sound walls. Wood fibre and lime is around £3,000 per wall and about five days and is my usual choice on Victorian solid brick. Thickness is typically 20mm to 80mm per wall including plaster.

In an empty house, several rooms can follow one another without moving furniture, which keeps the timetable short. The internal wall insulation cost guide covers what affects the price.

Do you come to Harborne?

Yes. Harborne is usually 35 to 45 minutes from Bloxwich, and I plan surveys in advance. I also cover Kings Heath and Moseley, Handsworth and the rest of Birmingham. You get a free home visit, a written quotation and a follow-up call about four weeks after the work. See the process.