Insulation quote

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chimera

506 posts

Ultimate Geek

#199051 2-Aug-2016 14:05

I've got a rental that I gotta get insulated, size for insulation is about 95sqm.

Got quoted around 3,800 to have underfloor (R1.8) and ceiling (R2.9) Greenstuf insulation fitted.

An extra ~$150 odd on top of that for disposing of existing underfloor foil and a call out charge.

Someones taking the piss, surely...

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20578 posts

Uber Geek

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#1602960 2-Aug-2016 14:12

How easy is access? Builders crack estimates the price at $3300 to $5600, so yours isn't bad.

Ceiling insulation material costs around $1400. Assume underfloor costs a bit less as it's not as thick, so let's say $2500 in materials. $1300 to install isn't crazy.

MikeAqua

7779 posts

Uber Geek

#1602965 2-Aug-2016 14:19

Sounds ballpark reasonable. For that price does someone come and QA the work?

Mike

chimera

506 posts

Ultimate Geek

#1602975 2-Aug-2016 14:30

timmmay:

How easy is access? Builders crack estimates the price at $3300 to $5600, so yours isn't bad.

Ceiling insulation material costs around $1400. Assume underfloor costs a bit less as it's not as thick, so let's say $2500 in materials. $1300 to install isn't crazy.

Admittedly under the floor isn't the easiest, its low to the ground maybe 900mm. Access to ceiling is easy as.

My brother used to work for an insulation company when he was a student, would take 2 of them less than a day to do a similar size house. I think your materials cost estimate is well high, I've bought underfloor insulation much cheaper than that direct from the insulation warehouse before - and doing a quick search on trade me I see greenstuf 120sqm for $900 so I would say $2k on the absolute high side so its more like $1,800 in labour. Assuming that's the case and a day's labour for 2 people to install, then ~$100 + GST an hour is pretty good money to throw fluffy stuff into a ceiling...

Blanch

254 posts

Ultimate Geek

#1602989 2-Aug-2016 14:50

Grab your box cutter, it's time for some DIY (it's what I did when I saw my quote).

Disrespective

1925 posts

Uber Geek

#1603029 2-Aug-2016 15:24

Under floor insulation can easily take more than a day or two to do. If they're installing polystyrene they'll have to tape all electrical wiring before fitting the sheets as the wire sheath doesn't like the polystyrene and will cause it to melt... not ideal. This won't necessarily be easy or fast depending on where your wiring is.

Then there's the fact that it's working under a house and you have to pay a premium for people to do a job nobody wants to do. Then there's margin on top of your materials cost you can find, so add 5-10%. Then there's the fact they might not be quoting for generic polystyrene so that will have a premium attached.

Id say your quote is pretty decent, but both jobs are easy to do if you want to do it yourself.

If you want, you could also get a client supplied materials price. You buy the insulation, and they do the hard work. It'll save you some, for sure.

chimera

506 posts

Ultimate Geek

#1603047 2-Aug-2016 16:00

Disrespective:

Under floor insulation can easily take more than a day or two to do. If they're installing polystyrene they'll have to tape all electrical wiring before fitting the sheets as the wire sheath doesn't like the polystyrene and will cause it to melt... not ideal. This won't necessarily be easy or fast depending on where your wiring is.

Is that based on experience? I've installed underfloor insulation (staple gunned up lengths of pink batts) by myself on a 60sqm 2 bedroom rental unit we had, about 1200mm off ground, was hard work but only took me 3 hours. I've installed Expol underfloor insulation by myself on an extension we did to our own home (about 70sqm) which took me just over half a day. Two guys on a 95sqm house, while its more restrictive due to the height, will not take more than a day. Especially considering they do this all the time, I wouldn't be surprised if they had oversized skateboards they could lie down and manoeuvre around on!

Issue with this other house is its 2 hours drive away, so while I could do it its not like its around the corner

I still think its overly expensive, so will get alternate quotes.

mattwnz

20145 posts

Uber Geek

#1603051 2-Aug-2016 16:04

Why not higher than R 2.9 for the ceiling? You can go up to around R 6, considering most of the heat loss is through the ceiling. I would also install glass insulation in the ceiling, as it tends to be one of the only types of insulation you can go over IC downlighters with. Otherwise you end up with holes in teh insulation for the light fittings.

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chimera

506 posts

Ultimate Geek

#1603086 2-Aug-2016 16:29

mattwnz:

Why not higher than R 2.9 for the ceiling? You can go up to around R 6, considering most of the heat loss is through the ceiling. I would also install glass insulation in the ceiling, as it tends to be one of the only types of insulation you can go over IC downlighters with. Otherwise you end up with holes in teh insulation for the light fittings.

Because its a rental property and I'm simply dealing with the new requirements that will be coming out.

Disrespective

1925 posts

Uber Geek

#1603096 2-Aug-2016 16:47

Have they quoted based on a site inspection? If not their price will allow for contingencies.

I have done expol insulation myself under my own house (87m2) with a head height of about 450mm and it was a dog of a job. It took me the whole weekend on my own, and I had to tape almost all of my electrical wiring. If they are quoting your place without having seen it, then they'll be factoring in a percentage of that kind of installation into the price.

chimera

506 posts

Ultimate Geek

#1603103 2-Aug-2016 17:03

Yes they've seen it

MikeAqua

7779 posts

Uber Geek

#1603343 3-Aug-2016 09:30

To comply with the new rental requirements do you have to be able to show the insulation was installed by trained installers or anything like that?

My rental is well insulated. R3 in the walls, R5 blanket over the existing insul-fluff in the ceilings. But I did it, over 10 years ago. The stuff in the walls was within the scope of a building permit.

Mike

chimera

506 posts

Ultimate Geek

#1603370 3-Aug-2016 09:57

MikeAqua:

To comply with the new rental requirements do you have to be able to show the insulation was installed by trained installers or anything like that?

My rental is well insulated. R3 in the walls, R5 blanket over the existing insul-fluff in the ceilings. But I did it, over 10 years ago. The stuff in the walls was within the scope of a building permit.

https://www.beehive.govt.nz/sites/all/files/Q&As.pdf

While its not a requirement for another 3 years, we told our tenants we would get the house insulated for them soon - especially because she has asthma and has 3 young children all under 5. I understand that the property manager needs to indicate to new prospective tenants now that the house they are looking at is insulated or not - I don't know whether the property manager does a visual inspection or you need to pay some 3rd party contractor to use their eyes and look or not. According to the above Q&A it only seems to state it in arse about face manner:

13. How will compliance be monitored and enforced?

Where a tenant considers a property doesn’t meet the insulation or smoke standards (or existing requirements under the Housing Improvement Regulations, they will be able to use existing processes to take a case to the Tenancy Tribunal and the Tribunal can make a work order, and order exemplary damages of up to $3000. There are, however, a small minority of landlords seek to take advantage of vulnerable tenants. Where severe breaches of the Residential Tenancy Act are alleged, the Government believes it is appropriate that it is able to investigate and, if necessary, take direct action against such landlords, rather than on behalf of a tenant. That is why the Government will also provide MBIE with new powers to take direct action in the most serious cases, and there is a significant risk to tenant health and safety.

Willuknight

146 posts

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#1603562 3-Aug-2016 13:51

I got a quote recently for Earthwool underfloor. 150sqm of material, $540 inc. gst and freight.

BTR

1527 posts

Uber Geek

#1603564 3-Aug-2016 13:54

Your replies seem a bit aggressive considering you asked the question, some people have said its reasonable and other have said why not do it yourself.

Every house is different, installing Expol in my house 100sqm took two of us two days because its a horrible job that is fiddly and draining considering you spend most of the time on your back with your arms above you. Does the quote also include them laying black plastic on the ground?

If you are not happy with the quote shop around or do it yourself....

mattwnz

20145 posts

Uber Geek

#1603569 3-Aug-2016 14:00

chimera:

mattwnz:

Why not higher than R 2.9 for the ceiling? You can go up to around R 6, considering most of the heat loss is through the ceiling. I would also install glass insulation in the ceiling, as it tends to be one of the only types of insulation you can go over IC downlighters with. Otherwise you end up with holes in teh insulation for the light fittings.

Because its a rental property and I'm simply dealing with the new requirements that will be coming out.

That is no reason to do it to the minimum though, and the standards will rise over time, which may mean relaying another layer in the future. Fibre glass is also probably cheaper than polyester, so you should get more R value for your buck. It does mean that your occupants will be in a warmer healthy home, which potentially means less mould too, so less maintenance, and looks like your current tenants health problems would benefit from it. So it shows some good faith from you to do this. So potentially worth your while doing it to a higher standard, than just the bare minimum.

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