When you come to install insulation within your home, in all likelihood you’ll be seeking advice from professional installers and contractors within your area. The problem is, how do you know that the information they’re providing you with is reliable and in your best interests?
Thankfully, the UK’s insulation industry has come a long way in recent years. Today, there are many official accreditations and notable indicators that will help you sidestep the cowboys and rogue traders.
So, if you’re looking to hire an insulation contractor for your cavity wall, underfloor, roof insulation, or any other insulation project, be sure to follow our sure-fire tips to choose an installer that can get the job done to the highest standards.
General qualities to look for in your insulation installer
As with any tradesperson or contractor you hire to work in your house, it’s always recommended to look out for certain general qualities, which will offer you great insight into whether they’re the right installer for you:
Experience
Certain types of insulation jobs can be highly complex and will require an experienced contractor to get the job done right. Avoid the amateurs and hobbyists at all costs. To ensure you’re working with an experienced professional, do some background research into the contractor to learn how many years they’ve been in the business, the accreditations and qualifications held by their company, and whether they provide photos of their work.
Reliability
It’s always a major headache when works overrun or tradespeople turn up late for the job. When you hire a contractor for your insulation install, you want to know that they’re reliable and won’t cause great inconvenience within your home. A great way to check for punctuality and professionalism is to look out for genuine consumer reviews left on tradesmen recommendation sites and social media pages. The better the ratings and reviews, the more likely they’re an insulation contractor you can trust.
Friendliness & professionalism
It may not count for much in terms of the quality of work, but at the end of the day, you’ll be inviting someone to work in your home. It’s only understandable that you need to feel confident you can trust these persons. Always look out for contractors who provide excellent levels of customer service and who have a track record of professionalism within the industry. Here again, the consumer reviews and ratings will come in handy.
Safety
Whatever the insulation job, you definitely don’t want any damage caused to your property. Not only could damages cost you hundreds of pounds in repairs, but they could also potentially harm you and your family in your own home. Before hiring a contractor, be sure to ask them about their safety precautions and how they handle insulation materials to prevent potential health risks. Reputable insulation companies will be able to provide you with a run through of the practices and procedures they have in place to ensure works are carried out to the highest standards of safety.
Costs
Don’t just accept the first insulation quote you receive, no matter how attractive the offer may appear. It’s always a great idea to shop around for quotes from insulation installers in your area and compare like for like. You should also be cautious of any insulation contractors who insist you sign a contract on the first meeting. Reliable contractors will be more than happy for you to take the time to consider their quote and proposed works. That way you can make an informed decision with confidence.
Explaining insulation related credentials & qualifications
Once you’ve shortlisted a few potential insulation contractors within your area, it’s also a good idea to drill down into their accreditations. These qualifications are an indication of the company’s levels of professionalism and will demonstrate how well trained and up to date their installers are with the latest insulation and installation practices.
As with any trades industry, it can be difficult to understand what these niche qualifications actually stand for. So, we’re providing a general overview of the most common insulation-related credentials and why these are important to you when you’re looking to hire a contractor for your insulation project:
National Insulation Association (NIA)
The NIA represents the insulation industry in the UK. Its members, who include manufacturers, system designers, and installers of insulation solutions, are fully committed to maintaining and raising standards within the insulation industry on behalf of homeowners. By choosing an NIA approved insulation installer, you can rest assured you’ll be avoiding a cowboy tradesperson.
Energy Efficiency Association (EEA)
Insulation companies who are members of the Energy Efficiency Association are working towards coordinating better communication and collaboration within the field of energy efficiency. The purpose of the association is to provide consumers with greater clarity on all things energy and insulation in order to drive out the rogue traders who prey on unsuspecting homeowners and give the industry a bad reputation.
Green Deal Approved
Insulation service providers who are in possession of a government-backed Green Deal accreditation have official authorisation to provide a range of services to customers, including assessing the energy efficiency of their properties, giving advice about energy-saving products and home improvements, as well as carrying out insulation installs.
PAS 2030
PAS 2030 is a government-backed Publicly Available Specification for the installation of energy efficiency measures in existing buildings, which was first introduced in 2013. These standards are updated every two years to enable insulation installers and contractors to take in new learning and best practices. This ensures they are qualified to carry out the full insulation installation process from start to finish, providing services to homeowners before, during, and after their insulation install. The most recent version of this accreditation is the PAS 2030:2019.
PAS 2035
PAS 2035, on the other hand, is a best-practice accreditation that ensures installers and contractors are qualified to carry out domestic energy retrofit projects. This accreditation is working towards eliminating problems associated with defects, shallow retrofit, accountability, poor design, and performance gaps. All in all, PAS 2035 ensures installers take into consideration the entire home, household, and surrounding environment when proposing insulation improvements. This ensures homeowners can look forward to an optimal energy performance within their property.
Final tips when hiring an insulation contractor
Finally, before hiring an insulation contractor, it’s highly recommended to check the following two factors:
1 – The quality of the insulation materials
If your insulation contractor is providing their own insulation materials, then make sure they are supplying high quality materials from a leading insulation manufacturer. Whether it’s spray foam, mineral wool, panels, or any other type of insulation material, ask the contractor about the reputation of the manufacturer and the R-values of the material itself. R-values will indicate how well the insulation will keep heat from leaving or entering your property. Top tip, if insulation materials are unbranded, then avoid at all costs, as there’s no guarantee of their effectiveness or quality.
2 – Are they fully insured and vetted?
It’s always recommended to work with insulation installers whose works and products are insured and vetted through Qualitymark and Trustmark accreditations:
- Qualitymark – Qualitymark is one of the UK’s leading Insurance Back Guarantee (IBG) and Deposit Protection providers for the home improvement industry. Insulation companies in possession of a Qualitymark badge will be able to provide you with an IBG to cover your domestic insulation installation. Your selected Installer can choose varied durations of IBG to match the duration of their own workmanship guarantee. For insulation-related jobs, a 20- to 25-year minimum IBG is recommended to cover the full expected lifespan of the insulation materials.
- Trustmark – Meanwhile, the government-approved TrustMark accreditation requires that insulation contractors and installers provide a minimum two-year financial protection mechanism for all works carried out in and around a homeowner’s property. This includes, but is not limited to, product warranties and workmanship. The TrustMark accreditation is another tell-tale sign that you’re working with a professional who has the homeowner’s interests at heart.
Get a home insulation quote in your area
Now that you know what to look out for, you can start searching for a professional and highly qualified insulation installer in your area.
And why not begin your search by requesting a free, no-obligation quote from Smartstone. Our network of Government Trustmark approved installers have a reputation for offering sound advice, expert insulation and home improvement recommendations, as well as professional insulation installs on a wide range of room and property types across the UK. We can even provide you with guidance on any grants and funding schemes you may be entitled to in order to cover part or all of your insulation costs.
