wall insulation - insulmax anyone experience ?

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akoni

14 posts

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#2581285 8-Oct-2020 12:35

michaelmurfy:

So I just had a guy around to quote getting this done on my property (I also totally forgot he was coming around so didn't prep myself for this!) but he went around the property with an FLIR camera. The indicative quote figure I got means I can put almost 100% of this onto the ANZ Healthy Homes interest free loan.

I'll likely be going ahead with the install. The wool they use is made of glass and he states doesn't settle like actual wool does. The injection holes are also tiny. The amusing thing is they've actually used @wheelbarrow01's statement on their website: https://insulmax.co.nz/project/geekzone/

How much did they quote you? and how big is your house?

nickb800

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#2581297 8-Oct-2020 13:02

michaelmurfy: The amusing thing is they've actually used @wheelbarrow01's statement on their website: https://insulmax.co.nz/project/geekzone/

Including the geekzone viglink!

michaelmurfy

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#2581685 9-Oct-2020 01:13

akoni:

How much did they quote you? and how big is your house?

My quote came to $5290.00 which is seriously not bad. My house is 81m2 so a smaller 3 bedroom house built in the 1950's. $5000 of this can be put as an interest free home loan "topup" from ANZ bank (see ANZ Healthy Homes) so in my case I'll likely do it. They also handle all the council consent process etc.

One thing to note for this to work your exterior walls have to be in good shape. In my case I have 2x rotten parts of the exterior plywood that'll need to be replaced before they will proceed with installation.

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D1023319

524 posts

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#2582191 10-Oct-2020 09:45

I relative of mine has it installed.
He commented the biggest benefit is acoustic noise reduction as he lives on a busy road

Arcturi

18 posts

Geek

#2582736 11-Oct-2020 20:52

I had Insulmax installed in my 1960s brick veneer house a few months ago. It was towards the end of winter so I don't think I'll be able to tell whether it's made much difference to my power bills until we're through next winter.

The install took a couple of days as I think they only started in the afternoon of the first day. When I got home from work they had done 2 sides of the house and the installer used the infrared camera to show me what they had done. Interestingly I could stand in the corner of the room they had got up to and the wall that was done felt warm under my hand but the other wall (still to be done) felt cold.

I did not notice an immediate difference in warmth in the house, but I still have a fair bit of single glazing. My theory was that there are 2 corner bedrooms with more wall area than glazing, and the windows have pelmets and floor length curtains with really thick 3-pass thermal lining, so it seemed like Insulmax would make more of a difference in those rooms. I think I was wrong but oh well it's done now and I am still getting the windows done bit by bit. For anyone else I would say make sure your ceiling insulation is up to current standard (at the minimum) and get double glazing done before Insulmax.

What I AM expecting, is hopefully no more mould on the toilet wall (south side of the house, used to have a louvre window so it was freezing) or the flatmate's bedroom (south wall, behind furniture, and he didn't air his room out enough). The rooms on the south side do seem warmer but I have never taken measurements so it's very subjective. Also in summer on hot sunny days the bricks would heat up and then in the evening radiate that heat inside so it would be stifling until after midnight, so I'm expecting that will stop but haven't had a chance to test that yet.

Insulmax took care of the council consents (was actually an exemption) and when they came to do the quote he popped the cover off one of the power sockets to check it was TPS. I also had to sign something saying all the wiring was TPS, and I was satisfied about that because I've replaced pretty much all the single sockets in the house with doubles so I knew. The filling of the holes was average and I think they could have done a tidier job but it's not too bad and most people wouldn't notice it.

kotuku4

483 posts

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#2582825 12-Oct-2020 08:49

https://www.renovate.org.nz/1940-60s/insulation/

Blown-in insulation for walls

There is a range of blown-in insulation options for retrofitting insulation to existing walls. Currently none of the available systems hold a BRANZ Appraisal. Key considerations when retrofitting blown-in wall insulation are:

Only use this option if it is appropriate for the existing construction – for example, such products should not be installed into walls that do not have a flexible wall underlay (building paper or building wrap) installed behind the cladding. A 20 mm clear gap must be left between the underlay and the back of the cladding. This is to allow for some drainage and drying and prevent direct contact (and water transfer).
Injected or blown-in insulation must not be installed into any drained and ventilated cavity (especially brick veneer) – it will restrict the cavity drainage and drying.

Crispin

1 post

Wannabe Geek

#2601193 10-Nov-2020 18:08

Has anyone had Insulmax fill the wall cavities of a double brick house? I’m thinking of having it done on ours in Dunedin. It’s a fairly large house built in the late 1920s with steel frame windows - some of which have been retrofitted with double glazing. It’s also got a decent amount of insulation in the ceiling. This past winter was uncomfortable and I’m searching for ways to improve the situation. I’m sure it won’t be cheap so was hoping to find someone with a similar house who’s has it done before I plunk down the money.

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snnet

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#2601346 10-Nov-2020 21:26

Eeeek, if it's polystyrene being blown in be aware this reacts with tough plastic sheathed cables in the sense it can completely wear them down to the inner copper cores inside the walls

Arcturi

18 posts

Geek

#2601369 10-Nov-2020 22:01

snnet:

Eeeek, if it's polystyrene being blown in be aware this reacts with tough plastic sheathed cables in the sense it can completely wear them down to the inner copper cores inside the walls

The product being discussed is mineral wool and yes, should not be installed with older wiring, but is apparently ok with the newer TPS used since the 1960s.

snnet

1410 posts

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#2601449 11-Nov-2020 04:07

Arcturi:

snnet:

Eeeek, if it's polystyrene being blown in be aware this reacts with tough plastic sheathed cables in the sense it can completely wear them down to the inner copper cores inside the walls

The product being discussed is mineral wool and yes, should not be installed with older wiring, but is apparently ok with the newer TPS used since the 1960s.

Yeah, others have mentioned polystyrene products

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