Browse Forums General Discussion 1 Jun 07, 2005 4:53 pm G'day to everyone who reads this
We're building in Mill Park with one of the big name builders - I don't know if I can mention names here???? Anyway, just after all the tiling & painting was finished we received a call from from the local area supervisor to let us know they had forgotten to put any insulation in our walls!!!! A slight oversight! They've offered to refund us money for the wall batts and to upgrade the ceiling batts to an R5. Can anybody comment on how this will affect us? They claim that with the improved ceiling batts we'll still achieve a 5-star energy rating. We're a 28sq home on a concrete slab. Any help/comments/advice will be greatly appreciated. Cheers Matt insulation 2Jun 12, 2005 9:48 am if they are one of the major builders they will be part of master builders association. you should approach the masterbuilders association for their advice. you will probably pass the energy rating with the extra insulation because it is a cumulative system so greater insulation in the ceiling will up the score, but it doesn't mean that the house will perform properly. just think, if the walls are not insulated the house will heat up any time the sun hits the walls. passing the energy rating is one thing but take the big view and make sure you are not missing out on compensation because you will have to spend more heating and cooling your house for energy gained and lost through the walls. Re: Missing insulation 3Jun 15, 2005 11:17 am I wouldn't be happy with that. The roof may have extra insulation, but the walls will still let the heat in and out at the wrong times!
What exterior cladding do you have? Personally I'd be jumping up and down and seeking rectification. Re: Missing insulation 4Jun 16, 2005 9:34 pm Hi guys and thanks for your replies.
At first the builder was insistant that we accept their offer but after some haggling and a few emails to the next manager in line we have secured ourselves free air-conditioning & a retaining wall as well. Since ducted heating is already installed we should be right. It will cost us a bit more in heating & cooling until we insulate the walls ourselves - we can insert batts into the top half of the wall via the roof. That should help a fair bit and be relatively cheap. The important thing here is to stick by your guns when you have a dispute. We found that when one Manager wouldn't listen we'd go higher up - and you'd be surprised how much they hadn't been told about by the site supervisors. So I'm sure a few butts have been kicked. Thanks again to thos who posted a reply. Cheers Matt Re: Missing insulation 5Jul 07, 2005 2:40 pm Hi Matt, Im sorry for the late reply but have just joined this site. I am an energy rater and also work for an insulation company. There are many different products that you can use to insulate your ceiling to achieve a higher rating with great results. Insulating the top half of your walls may help a little but having a higher rating in your ceiling is going to be better for you. Regards Janelle Re: Missing insulation 6Jul 15, 2005 5:11 pm For other readers of this post I think it necessary to add a few comments.
If a 5 Star Energy Rating was included as part of the building application then the 'firm' should be required to issue a new rating to the council showing an achievement of 5 stars with the altered insulation levels. Boosting the ceiling insulation to R5 will not necessarily achieve this. The FirstRate programme used by the majority of Energy Raters throughout Victoria, including myself, to provide an assessment determines a star rating based on the 'envelope' performance of the home. Even though the overall energy rating results may not reflect it, to my mind wall insulation is an integral part of the comfort levels of the home in winter months.[in Vic] For the lack of a better example insulating the top half of the wall could be compared to standing outside with a beannie on your head, a woolen jumper & shorts. I'm not trying to be flippant but even if Matts obtained written documented proof of the energy level I'd be dissapoointed to a tune far exceeding increased roof insulation & a new wall. Peter Clarkson - AusDesign Australia www.ausdesign.com.au This information is intended to provide general information only. It does not purport to be a comprehensive advice. Re: Missing insulation 7Feb 11, 2006 8:28 am @everyone
How can someone forget insulation? How dumm can someone be? The right thing to do would be: Moving out at the builders cost. Alternative accommodation at the builders cost. Installation of insulation in all ext. walls at builders cost. Substatial compensation for inconveniences. Otherwise the homeowner will be the looser. Again it shows the rotten state the building industry is in in this part of the world. Re: Missing insulation 9Mar 03, 2007 10:10 am If I purchased a newly built house in Victoria that stats its 5 star on the energy report, and its stated at that the council and on there plans and building plans provided by the builder and shows that the roof requires sarking "foil" and insulation in all walls and SG glass and the plan was altered without council knowledge and I've just handed over a deposit for the home for a 5 star home and the energy report stats that R2.5 batts are meant to be installed in the walls which they are not and no sarking in roof and I find no insulation in the walls after handing over deposit.
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