Homeowners advised to take care when refurbishing

Posted: 13 Dec 2010 11:56:51 GMT

An expert has warned homeowners to take care when fitting loft insulation and carrying out refurbishments.

Homeowners should be wary of health issues when refurbishing their properties, it has been suggested.

Glen Irwin, sustainability director at Gifford, said people need to be aware of the condensation problems that can occur when abodes are being insulated.

"You have got to think about what you are setting in place - try and pre-empt that you are going to have an air-quality humidity issue and then put other interventions in," he added.

In terms of insulation, individuals do not need to worry about having a few inches fitted, as the most important part is the first five millimetres, Mr Irwin noted.

He indicated those who have just bought a dwelling should not worry about losing four inches across the width of a room and there is no need to go to such extremes in order for insulation to be effective.

According to research from Confused.com, of the 26.5 million homes in the UK, only half have loft insulation, while just ten million have cavity wall insulation.
 

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