How insulating your home works, step by step.

What happens when I first get in touch?

You tell me what's going on, and I arrange a time to come and see it. Ring or WhatsApp me on 07763 789272, or use the form on the contact page. I usually reply the same day.

A few words help: which room, what you're noticing (cold, condensation, mould, noise) and roughly how old the house is. Photos are welcome but not essential. There's no charge and no obligation at this stage.

What happens on the free home visit?

Mostly, I listen. I'll ask which rooms feel cold, when you notice it, whether the heating makes much difference and what you've already tried. Some people have stopped using a room in winter; some have scrubbed the same mould off a child's bedroom wall every month. That tells me what you actually want to improve.

Then I look at the house itself:

• how the wall is built, for example solid brick, cavity, or a timber-framed panel under a bay window
• the condition of the plaster, render, pointing and gutters
• signs of damp and where they come from
• ventilation: trickle vents, extractor fans, gaps under doors
• practical details such as sockets, radiators, skirting and how much room space you can spare

I'll explain what I think is happening in everyday terms. If the real cause is a leaking gutter or failed pointing, I'll tell you, because insulation won't fix that.

Why do you do moisture modelling?

To check that the insulation I recommend won't trap moisture inside your wall. Insulating from the inside makes the brick behind it colder, so the system has to suit how that wall takes in and gives off moisture.

Using what I found on the visit, I model the wall with different systems and thicknesses. That's how I choose between a vapour-open build-up such as wood fibre or cork with lime, and a vapour-closed one such as PIR. The wall decides, not my preference.

What's in the written proposal?

Everything you need to decide calmly, in writing:

• a clear quote setting out the system, thickness, preparation and finishing, and what is and isn't included
• my public liability insurance details
• a pre-start information guide explaining how to get ready and what the days will look like
• the guarantee that applies, which depends on the service and is set out in the quote
• any ventilation improvements I recommend, organised with trusted trades

As a guide, internal wall insulation starts from about £2,000 per wall and bay window insulation from about £1,700 per bay. Take your time. Ring me with questions, whenever suits you.

How do we prepare before the work starts?

We agree a start date, and I organise anyone else the job needs, such as an electrician to move sockets, a plumber to take off and refit radiators, or a joiner for skirting and window boards. Skip or waste removal is arranged too.

On day one, floors, furniture and doorways are covered and protected before anything comes off the wall. If you can clear small items and ornaments beforehand, that helps; the pre-start guide lists exactly what.

What is it like while the work is going on?

Dusty in the room we're working in, but tidy at the end of every day. Plastering and insulation are messy jobs, so we keep the mess contained and clean up daily rather than leaving it for the last day.

Where possible I work room by room, so the rest of your home stays usable. A single wall typically takes 3–5 days depending on the system, and a bay window 3–5 days. Lime finishes need drying time, and I'll tell you in advance when the room will be ready.

What happens at handover?

We walk round the finished room together. I check the surfaces, reveals, corners and junctions with you, and explain what's now behind the plaster. The room is handed back ready to decorate; I don't decorate myself, but I'll tell you which paints suit your new wall finish.

What happens after the job is finished?

You get an aftercare and maintenance plan: how long to leave the walls before decorating, which paints to use, how to hang things on the insulated wall and how to keep the room well ventilated.

About four weeks later, I ring you to check the room is performing as it should and to answer anything that has come up once you've lived with it. If something isn't right, I come back and look. Want to see a finished example? Read the case study.