Internal wall insulation in Perry Barr.

What kind of homes are in Perry Barr?

A real mix. Towards Birchfield and Handsworth there are Victorian and Edwardian terraces with solid brick walls and back additions. Further north towards Great Barr, much of the housing is interwar: semis with bays and short terraces. There are newer homes too, which usually have cavity walls and are rarely the ones I am called to.

The older houses have the familiar problems: cold front bedrooms, mould in back additions and bay windows that never seem to warm up. The difference in Perry Barr is that many of the homes are let, and some sit right on busy roads.

My house is on a main road. Can you help with noise and cold together?

Partly. Any extra layer on a solid wall changes how sound travels through it, and wood fibre in particular is dense enough to help a little. But insulation is designed to stop heat, not sound, and most road noise comes through windows, frames and vents.

If noise matters as much as warmth, I can design one build-up that does both, within reason. The guide to soundproofing a wall and the wall soundproofing service explain what is realistic.

I own a rented house in Perry Barr. What should I do about mould?

Take it seriously and act on the cause. Private landlords already have duties on damp and mould under the Housing Health and Safety Rating System and the Homes (Fitness for Human Habitation) Act 2018. Awaab's Law currently applies to social landlords, with its extension to private renting expected but not yet in force.

The quickest route is to clean the mould safely, check for leaks, then deal with the cold wall and ventilation together. I give you a clear written scope explaining the cause, which is useful if a tenant or the council asks what has been done. The landlord checklist for reported mould and the free landlord damp and mould guide go into more detail.

Can the work be done with tenants living there?

Yes, with planning. I work one room at a time, protect floors and belongings and tidy at the end of each day. The tenant needs to know the timetable and that the room will be out of use for several days.

Between tenancies is easier and quicker, because I can do several rooms in one visit. Either way, a written timetable agreed in advance avoids surprises. The guide to living at home during the work is a good thing to share with tenants.

Is a Perry Barr terrace treated differently from a semi?

Yes. In a Victorian terrace, the main targets are usually the front wall and the back addition, which often has three outside walls. In an interwar semi, the side gable wall and the bay are often the coldest parts.

• Terrace: back addition first if mould is the issue, front bedroom first if comfort is.
• Semi: the gable wall and bay first, then the rest room by room.
• Bay windows: brick in most Victorian terraces, often lightweight panels in interwar semis.

The Birmingham bay window page explains both kinds of bay.

What does it cost and how long does it take?

Internal wall insulation starts from about £2,300 per wall. PIR with PU adhesive is usually £2,300 to £3,000 and three to four days. A breathable wood fibre and lime system is around £3,000 and about five days, and it is my usual choice on old solid brick with any history of damp.

Each wall loses 20mm to 80mm including plaster, depending on the system. A detailed breakdown of what drives the price is in the internal wall insulation cost guide.

Which areas around Perry Barr do you cover?

All of them. Perry Barr is usually 20 to 30 minutes from Bloxwich, depending on traffic. I also work in Handsworth, Kingstanding, Great Barr and across Birmingham.

Every job starts with a free home visit and a moisture check, followed by a written quotation. See the process for each step.