Cost of insulating older house VS buying new house?
Discussion
I'm in a position of being able to afford to buy a house cash. Not of high value as I would like to invest the rest for income.
Houses in my area of West Yorkshire can be had for £120kish. Buying a new house around here could be done for £160-170kish... Can an energy efficiency C older house be insulated for a decent amount of cash ( as well as upgrading bathroom and kitchen) or would I be better off with a new house?
My priority is a warm house!!
Houses in my area of West Yorkshire can be had for £120kish. Buying a new house around here could be done for £160-170kish... Can an energy efficiency C older house be insulated for a decent amount of cash ( as well as upgrading bathroom and kitchen) or would I be better off with a new house?
My priority is a warm house!!
I very much hope it is possible - as I'm about to do it!
We are due to move 1st week in September to a fixer upper. Not sure if you use the same EPC energy reports on the mainland but in NI the new house (1970's build) is rated at EPC F30 which is low on the scale. Our current property (also 1970's) is a fairly average D58 (we hooked up to gas, smart thermostat, new radiators, roof insulation etc)
The full EPC report on the new property suggests spending around 5k on insulation work. We plan to go with a gas system again, smart thermostats, room and roof insulation, efficient lighting, changing open fires to wood burners etc The house is £257k and we are setting aside £40k for renovations with an additional £10k contingency. I'm expecting 5-10k of the spending to result in energy savings.
Happy to invest in it and do the work as well presented properties on the street are £320k+ and this will hopefully be a long-term home
I had calculated that this new home will cost an additional £100p.m. to run in terms of energy cost (based on its current condition) so I'm hoping to reduce that.
We are due to move 1st week in September to a fixer upper. Not sure if you use the same EPC energy reports on the mainland but in NI the new house (1970's build) is rated at EPC F30 which is low on the scale. Our current property (also 1970's) is a fairly average D58 (we hooked up to gas, smart thermostat, new radiators, roof insulation etc)
The full EPC report on the new property suggests spending around 5k on insulation work. We plan to go with a gas system again, smart thermostats, room and roof insulation, efficient lighting, changing open fires to wood burners etc The house is £257k and we are setting aside £40k for renovations with an additional £10k contingency. I'm expecting 5-10k of the spending to result in energy savings.
Happy to invest in it and do the work as well presented properties on the street are £320k+ and this will hopefully be a long-term home
I had calculated that this new home will cost an additional £100p.m. to run in terms of energy cost (based on its current condition) so I'm hoping to reduce that.
Sprayfoam insulation can be done and good results achieved depending on cavity size (much better than injected glass insulation. . The downside is your house wont be as breathable especially with closed cell. The companies my brother spoke to were aslo a PITA and its not the cheapest.
Flooring is more of an issue to insulate. A friend has a newbuild with tiles all downstars and its fine to walk on bare footed where as this house slippers are required.
Flooring is more of an issue to insulate. A friend has a newbuild with tiles all downstars and its fine to walk on bare footed where as this house slippers are required.
Older houses tend to have higher ceilings, so insulating the ground floor can be done to a degree, just means shortening doors an inch or so and renewing skirtings etc.
Internal insulating the walls with foam boarding bonded on and plasterboard over the top also helps and does not reduce the internal space that much as its only the external walls that need doing.
Likewise fully insulate the roof space and fit double glazing and install an A rated boiler and you are nearly then up to current building regs and EPC levels.
The vac bagged insulation is the most efficient and thinnest, but not cheap,
Internal insulating the walls with foam boarding bonded on and plasterboard over the top also helps and does not reduce the internal space that much as its only the external walls that need doing.
Likewise fully insulate the roof space and fit double glazing and install an A rated boiler and you are nearly then up to current building regs and EPC levels.
The vac bagged insulation is the most efficient and thinnest, but not cheap,
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