Internal wall insulation in Solihull.

What kind of homes do you work on in Solihull?

Mostly two types. Olton, Shirley and other suburbs have many 1930s semis, often with bay windows, generous rooms and long gardens. Olton also has Victorian and Edwardian houses from when the railway turned it into a commuter suburb.

Solihull town centre and Knowle were the borough's first conservation areas, and there are others, so some period homes need extra care. Each type gets cold in its own way, which is why I start by looking rather than quoting over the phone.

Why does my Solihull semi feel cold even with new windows?

New glazing helps, but the wall around it may still be the weak point. In many 1930s semis the panel beneath the bay is a thin timber and tile construction with little insulation. Some main walls are solid brick with no cavity.

Cold walls also pull heat from your body, so a room can feel chilly even when the thermostat says it is warm. Warming the wall surface is what changes how the room feels.

For a single bay, my bay window insulation service starts from about £1,700. For full walls, see internal wall insulation.

What difference does internal insulation actually make?

Mainly, the wall stops feeling cold. In one 1930s bedroom I insulated, with 225mm solid brick, 40mm of wood fibre cut the calculated heat loss through the main wall by about 71%.

The inside surface temperature changes too. On a 0°C day with the room at 20°C, the calculated wall surface temperature rose from about 14.5°C to about 18.4°C. A warmer surface means less radiant heat pulled from your body, which is why rooms feel comfortable at the same thermostat setting.

Those figures are for heat loss through that wall, not your whole energy bill, which depends on the rest of the house and how you heat it. The homeowner's description was simpler: the room warms up quicker and holds its warmth longer.

The full details are in the case study.

How do you insulate a Victorian or Edwardian house in Solihull?

Carefully, and usually with a breathable system. Period solid walls rely on drying out, so I generally prefer wood fibre or cork finished with lime, in line with government guidance on internal wall insulation for traditional buildings.

• Cornices, picture rails and deep skirtings are recorded and protected or reinstated.
• Tall walls and deep window reveals take more time, which is reflected in the quote.
• Where a house is listed, listed building consent is needed before work starts.

The Victorian home insulation guide and my lime plastering page explain the approach in more depth.

Do I need planning permission for internal wall insulation in Solihull?

Normally not. Internal insulation changes nothing outside, so it does not usually need planning permission, even within one of Solihull's conservation areas. Listed buildings need listed building consent for internal work. Building Regulations can apply when a large part of an external wall is renovated, and I will explain whether that affects your project.

External wall insulation is a different matter. It changes the look of the house, is more likely to need permission in a conservation area, and is awkward on a semi when the neighbour is not insulating their half. That is one reason internal insulation suits so many Solihull homes.

What will happen to my decorated room during the work?

It will be protected and kept as tidy as the work allows. Many Solihull homes I visit are well decorated, with fitted carpets and furniture chosen carefully, so this is often the first question.

• Floors and furniture are covered before anything starts, and we clean up every day.
• Only the room being insulated is affected; the rest of the house carries on as normal.
• If you want, I organise the electrician, plumber, joiner and waste removal.

The room comes back smooth and ready to decorate. I do not decorate myself, but you will know exactly when the plaster is dry enough for your decorator.

Solihull is a drive from Walsall. How does that work?

Solihull is at the further edge of my area, usually 40 to 50 minutes via the M6, depending on traffic. I plan visits in advance and group survey days, so you get a proper look at your home without rushing.

Once work starts, the same standards apply: floors and furniture protected, tidy every day, a handover inspection and a call about four weeks later. You can follow each stage on the how it works page.