24 Cumberland Avenue, Beeston, NG9 4DH.
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Our 1930s semi-detached house has solid walls and a 1999 two-storey extension with insulated cavity walls. It is fully double-glazed throughout. In January 2023 we had an informal thermal imaging analysis done to identify where the house loses heat and where there are draughts. The list below starts with easier and cheaper changes and then moves towards larger, more complex and costly projects.
See below for more information, with the least expensive first and the number of £s giving a rough indication of cost. [Information provided April 2026.] |
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1. DRAUGHT-PROOFING £
We sealed many places to prevent draughts:
2. REFLECTIVE RADIATOR PANELS £ We fitted reflective foil behind radiators on external walls to reflect heat back into the room rather than allow the heat to disappear through the wall. |
Caulking gaps between floorboards & skirting boards in downstairs hall.
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3. LAGGING OF PIPES £
We lagged exposed heating pipes in the bathroom airing cupboard and downstairs hall cupboard to reduce heat waste. |
Water tank pipes lagged.
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4. WINDOW BLINDS ££
We fitted thermal roller blinds in all bedrooms’ window recesses (to avoid curtains being pulled in front of radiators and trapping the heat behind them).
We fitted thermal roller blinds in all bedrooms’ window recesses (to avoid curtains being pulled in front of radiators and trapping the heat behind them).
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5. INSULATING ABOVE AIRING CUPBOARD ££
The top of the bathroom airing cupboard (which houses the hot water tank) had a loose cover and the warmth from the well-insulated hot water cylinder and pipes constantly escaped to the loft. Now a sealed little wooden ‘ceiling’ has been put in and all the gaps around the pipes going to the loft have been sealed with silicone. 6. RAINWATER HARVESTING ££ We had 4 rainwater butts fitted to cover all gardening and pond needs, as well as flow-reducing attachments to all taps and showerheads. |
Airing cupboard sealed ceiling and pipes.
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7. THERMAL UNDERLAY ££
We fitted thermal underlay and carpet in the downstairs hallway and understairs cupboard to draught-proof and insulate against the cold underfloor space. We also fitted thermal underlay and new carpet in the box room, because an unheated back porch is under a third of the room. |
Internal cold draught (purple) from underfloor space via skirting & floor boards gap.
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8. LOFT INSULATION ££
We topped up 30 years old loft insulation to new standard thickness. We also insulated the brick wall towards the extension bedroom with hung rockwool sheets, as the thermal imaging showed that the cold from the main loft spread through that solid brick wall. |
Cold (purple) coming through internal solid brick wall from old loft to extension bedroom
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9. DOUBLE-GLAZING £££
We had the porch and the old front door double-glazed, so now the whole house is double-glazed.
We had the porch and the old front door double-glazed, so now the whole house is double-glazed.
10. MOVING RADIATOR AWAY FROM WINDOW £££
To reduce heat going out through the wall in the box room, we replaced the old radiator under the window with new smaller one near the door.
To reduce heat going out through the wall in the box room, we replaced the old radiator under the window with new smaller one near the door.
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11. EXTERNAL WALL INSULATION ££££
We had external wall insulation (90mm plus 3 finishing layers of mesh and render) fitted during 2023 around the front and side of the old house (which has solid brick walls) and 20 to 50 mm in the unheated front porch. It is the area finished in grey render. |
External wall and bluebrick insulation around bay window.
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12. SOLAR PV PANELS AND BATTERY ££££
We had 16 solar PV panels and an 8 kWh house battery fitted.
We had 16 solar PV panels and an 8 kWh house battery fitted.
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BENEFITS
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Mock Tudor re-created with external insulation boards.
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PROBLEMS / LESSONS LEARNED
The external wall insulation did not disturb the inside of the house, but needed scaffolding and the work was quite weather dependent. The installers managed to beautifully re-create the mock Tudor black & white frontage with painted insulation boards and the grey render looks in keeping with the neighbourhood.
Air circulation: As our house became more insulated and draft-proof, we needed to make sure the air trickle vents above windows were open, as a completely sealed house can lack fresh air and develop condensation and mould/damp problems.
The external wall insulation did not disturb the inside of the house, but needed scaffolding and the work was quite weather dependent. The installers managed to beautifully re-create the mock Tudor black & white frontage with painted insulation boards and the grey render looks in keeping with the neighbourhood.
Air circulation: As our house became more insulated and draft-proof, we needed to make sure the air trickle vents above windows were open, as a completely sealed house can lack fresh air and develop condensation and mould/damp problems.
FUTURE WORK
- The extension bedroom currently has polished floorboards. This year we will put Thermofloc insultation under the floorboards and put in thermal underlay and carpet, as the warmth and noise insulation to the kitchen/diner below is very poor. Thermofloc is a very light, non-toxic insulation material made from shredded unsold newspapers treated with fire-retardant minerals. Our ceilings can carry a 10cm layer of it. (Weight 4kg/1m2).
- The downstairs room at the back of the old house will be fitted with thermal underlay and carpet next year.
- When the current gas boiler needs replacing, we will get a suitability assessment done for an air source heat pump. Hopefully there will be some grants available towards the installation cost.
Disclaimer: Please note that EcoTrail-NG9 aims to provide information as accurately as possible but the information on this page has been provided by the property owner.
