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Why Do It Yourself When You Can Still Get Grants For Loft Insulation?

Guest post by: Paul Sherrington

Article Overview: Contrary to the popular view that we lose more than 50% of body heat through our head, it turns out this is, in part, a myth. The only reason we lose so high a percentage of heat through our heads is because we normally wear trousers, coats and jumpers. As a result, the only part of the body where heat can escape is the head. Think of it this way, if we put a hat on but didn’t wear any clothes, would you feel all snug and warm?

Why Do It Yourself When You Can Still Get Grants For Loft Insulation?

So if it's cold, better to wear a hat (and trousers and jumpers and shoes). And the same goes for your home. You should install Loft Insulation (and Cavity Wall Insulation, and draft excluders). However, there is a big difference between a hat and Loft Insulation. There are grants for Loft Insulation - you can't get a grant for a hat.

Why install Loft Insulation?

Since 2004, domestic energy bills have gone up by a staggering 75%. And more is to come. The Government watchdog, Ofgem, have warned that the wholesale price for gas is likely to increase by 13% by next spring, leading to average annual gas bills alone going up by about £81 to £706.

According to the Energy Saving Trust, a family heating their home with a gas boiler central heating system will save between £40 and £145 from Loft Insulation depending upon how much Loft Insulation is already in place.

Thinking of doing it yourself?

Why bother when you can access generous grants for Loft Insulation.

Depending upon your circumstances, you may be able to get your Loft Insulation installed free of charge. Otherwise, the most you could expect to pay would be around £149. So here are a few reasons why you should take advantage of the grants for Loft Insulation, and get a professional to do it:

1. Insulating a loft yourself could take you most of a day. A professional installer can complete the work in around an hour.

2. Lofts are dark, cramped and dangerous. There is a very good chance that you may:

• bang your head - (painful)

• put your foot through the ceiling - (costly and time consuming to put right)

• fall through the ceiling - (painful, costly and even more time consuming to put right)

• damage your pipe work - (potentially very costly when you have to get an emergency plumber out)

• Disturb electrical cabling - (you don't want to go there!)

3. Lofts tend also be dirty, dusty places. Not healthy places to be without a mask to prevent you inhaling dust or maybe tiny particles of old Loft Insulation.

4. Laying new insulation can cause irritation and itchy skin

Grants for Loft Insulation = a professional job

Instead of doing it yourself, access the available grants for Loft Insulation, and get a professional in. Remember, the amount you pay will also cover the cost of:

• lagging your pipes & tanks

• draught proofing & insulating the loft hatch

• fitting a walk board to a cold water tank

So even if you manage to avoid putting your foot through the ceiling or damaging your pipe work/electrics, by the time you have added up all these extra costs, you'll find you haven't saved that much money. And unless you are a seasoned DIY enthusiast, the quality of your finished job will probably not be up to the same standard.

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Article Tags: grants, Loft Insulation



Related Forum Posts
Re: Government Grants; sources and experiences - Quoting two investment experts on msnbc discussing grants for small business recently: Ken Yancey, CEO of SCORE "I've been doing this for 16 yrs and never met anyone that got a grant." Phil Town, bestselling investing author, "...must be 20-30 websites about U.S. grants. I think they're all scams." Government grants are not available for for-profit start ups. Grants that are available are generally for very specific geographic areas and/or for specific development (environmental for example) and/or for non-profits. These grants are usually meant to create jobs for under developed areas. I hate to see so many entrepreneurs waste valuable time and resources chasing non existent grants. When the CEO of SCORE says he never met someone that got a grant, it's time to sit up and listen. This is actually the very reason the new funding source (below) was created.
Different Types of Funding - Finance for business can be obtained through a number of different sources. Let's review some of those channels to help you decide what's right for your business needs: Grants There are over 930 different EU and UK grants and loans available from over 100 issuing bodies. This is the cheapest form of finance and an important part of the funding package that companies and individuals need. We can help you find your way through this maze. Technology Micro Projects: 50% of eligible costs up to £20,000 Research project: For a technical and feasibility study of an innovative idea for new technology 60% of costs up to a grant of £75,000. Development project: For development up to pre production 35% of costs up to a grant of £200,000 Developing an innovative idea: valuable for small companies and individuals at the start of a technical project: 75% of costs of hiring a mentor and consultants. Export To start exporting or moving into new markets grants of 50% of costs up to £20,000 each. Training and Education Knowledge Transfer Partnerships, Achieving Best Practice in Your Business, Investors in People Modern Apprenticeships New Deal for various grants. Environment BOC Foundation for the Environment: 25% to 50% of Project cost, typically £20,000 to £100,000 Clean up Fund: Emission reducing equipment up to 75% of cost Community Chest Fund: Up to £25,000 for projects near active SITA sites High Impact Fund: £150,000+ for larger projects near SITA sites Assisted Areas Regional assistance grants of between 10 and 35% for capital expenditure in less favoured areas of the UK. Loans Loans are an excellent source of finance if you have suitable security to borrow against or a reliable earnings stream. This needs to be planned and presented well to obtain funds. Credit cards Provides up to 56 days free credit if you play the game! Overdraft Banks are surprisingly supportive when presented with a well thought through plan and competent management. Bank Loans Lenders tend to look for a good business plan and security. Typically the loan is approved by a centralised back office function rather than the person you meet. Terms and rates depend upon the risk. Repayments can be very flexible to meet your specific needs. Mortgages These can include flexible repayment terms to meet your business needs. This can even be incorporated into your overdraft finance so that you have one flexible account for both personal/ business mortgages and overdraft Small Firms Loan Guarantee Scheme Up to two years trading: Up to £100,000 Over two years trading: Up to £250,000 However these are difficult to obtain and are a loan of last resort. Export Guarantee Scheme This is government backed insurance against appropriate export documentation. Mezzanine This is a halfway house between loan and equity. It can be an innovative way of raising funds for the more established business. Mostly for expansion capital. Equity This is not as easy as the papers would have you know. Only 1% of business plans received by Venture Capital Funds are successful. However, a good business proposition consisting of a strong demand for the product or service, management track record and a sound financial plan will enhance the chance of success. Business Angels These are high net worth individuals who are successful businessmen looking for investment opportunities. They can provide both time expertise and money. Typical investment size is £25,000 to £250,000 but can go as high as £2m for the right opportunity. Exit within 3-5 years. Venture Capital These are investment funds seeking high rates of return. However typically investments are over a million pounds. Some funds are targeted at lower amounts depending upon the sector and region. These funds are looking for exponential capital growth over 3-5 years. Asset backed finance This can cover machinery, sales invoices even sales orders. It can be a very flexible source of finance to the growing business Leasing This will cover your capital expenditure and spread the cost over a three to five year period. It is particularly useful if you do not have taxable profits to maximise your capital allowances. Sale and leaseback of a property you own is another good source of funds. Factoring Factoring offers a sales ledger administration and debt collection service. Up to 95% of an approved sales invoice is paid within 48 hours, quicker if required. Credit protection is also available to protect against a bad debt. The Factor will own and place a first charge over the book debts and they might also take other charges, depending upon the strength of the financial information. Invoice discounting Invoice Discounting can be Confidential or Disclosed; it depends upon the strength of the financial information. The service is the same as Factoring, except that the sales ledger administration and the debt collection is the responsibility of the client and not the Factor. Pre payment of the approved sales invoice is still up to 95% and the factor will still have a first charge on the book debt and therefore own the debt. This service can also have credit protection cover. All sales invoices need to be for a business to business debt, and some proof of delivery is generally required. Trade Finance This is funding provided against stock purchases, signed contracts and orders whereby the funder will prepay a certain percentage of the value Pension fund It may be possible to use your pension funds for a loan back to the business What do u think about it?


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