This is worth a bit more exploration/clarification. If you’re going to go to the cost/mess of ducting for a DCV I think you’d be better off going all the way to MVHR, particularly as there is airtightness work being done. I doubt it would cost much more.
C1 BER House - How to approach upgrades?
- Thread starter Wandering_Dazed
- Start date
Crazy. It looks to me that everything is at least twice the price what it ought to be and I'd like to see their calcs for the sizing of the hp.
A grand to block up a flue ...
4 grand to lay fibre in an attic and install soffit vents ...
Nearly 7 grand for a 2.6 kWp solar pv array
9 grand for the ventilation ...
.
.
.
Even taking the grant into account I reckon you are still being ripped off.
Never-mind that and other than the expected BER uplift, have they made any guarantee of workmanship, quality, air tightness figure, heating cost reduction or comfort improvement?
(I recently was called out to a house who had a similar scale of grant aided works done to their house last year ... and the reason for contacting me was that they were still cold and had eye watering high esb bills ... and were €80k poorer)!
Tread carefully!
A grand to block up a flue ...
4 grand to lay fibre in an attic and install soffit vents ...
Nearly 7 grand for a 2.6 kWp solar pv array
9 grand for the ventilation ...
.
.
.
Even taking the grant into account I reckon you are still being ripped off.
Never-mind that and other than the expected BER uplift, have they made any guarantee of workmanship, quality, air tightness figure, heating cost reduction or comfort improvement?
(I recently was called out to a house who had a similar scale of grant aided works done to their house last year ... and the reason for contacting me was that they were still cold and had eye watering high esb bills ... and were €80k poorer)!
Tread carefully!
Last edited:
Wandering_Dazed
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I'll ask them for their calls.
Indeed, plus they only mention one chimney when in fact there are 2. I said in the online meeting one had been sealed at the fireplace already bar very crudely.
I told them my understanding on Solar was to max the amount of panels where possible. I was told the Contractor would be able to discuss what is possible based off roof type etc Didn't fill me with confidence as they know the roof type cos they surveyed the whole house for 2+ hours. Albeit it was a guy with an IPad taking pics and measurements.
I've no idea on costs for such and how invasive this is to install. I shall get googling.
Hard for me to know but going to talk to a mate who is has had pretty much all this done to his (smaller) house.
"have they made any guarantee of workmanship, quality, air tightness figure, heating cost reduction or comfort improvement?(I recently was called out to a house who had a similar scale of grant aided works done to their house last year ... and the reason for contacting me was that they were still cold and had eye watering high esb bills ... and were €80k poorer)!"
No in short, they provided itemised estimates on what each of these upgrades will change in the house. They admitted they were chasing HLI to avail of grants and tolls suit the heatpump. I'll share the summary of the changes in a separate post.
I always try to "thread" carefully But seriously I do appreciate your insight here. In terms of the cost of the airtightness test (which I know you are an expert in), does that cost look way out?
Wandering_Dazed
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Here is the summary of the reports findings.
I'm still absorbing it all but did tell the OSS that I was expecting the net of grant cost to be ~50k.
I can contact other OSS's with the report to see if they can bring it all in at a lower cost.
I also have questions to go back to the current OSS as there are obvious errors on their template report. (i.e. 1 chimney instead of 2, and 15 rads when the house is entirely UFCH ground and 1st floor)
All observations very welcome, including all critiques.
I'm still absorbing it all but did tell the OSS that I was expecting the net of grant cost to be ~50k.
I can contact other OSS's with the report to see if they can bring it all in at a lower cost.
I also have questions to go back to the current OSS as there are obvious errors on their template report. (i.e. 1 chimney instead of 2, and 15 rads when the house is entirely UFCH ground and 1st floor)
All observations very welcome, including all critiques.
I don't see any mention of an air tightness test.
I can't comment on the 'structural air tight measures' mentioned as there is no detail on what those measures are. Anyway, it's meaningless in the absence of the test / guarantee.
Wandering_Dazed
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Apologies @Micks'r the copy and past from the PDF report is a bit messy. To clarify, this is the Air Tightness line item:
I hear you on the above and thank you.
I posted my experience of our “journey” on Boards.ie a couple of years ago.
You might get something from in OP.
www.boards.ie
g
You might get something from in OP.
BER - E1 to B2
Hi Folks, Looking for advice. Have a standard 1970's 3 bed semi with flat roof garage/utility to side.
www.boards.ie
g
Wandering_Dazed
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Thanks g, do you have any costings on the upgrades you had done compared to what I shared?
I've already sent an email to the OSS querying multiple items as others have shared. Along with essentially telling them all the prices are higher than I had researched.
To be honest it was all done kinda piecemeal over the last 18 years. We got our builder to do some additional bits while he was doing our extension which saved us a lot. Though it was a pain in the ass living with it with a young family, but we got through it. I stuck mountains of insulation in the attic. Good quality stuff which was on special in Homebase. It was a one-day but horrible job which I likened to trying to put wallpaper up in a submarine ! Improvements were pretty much immediate though.
The most recent upgrade was the 4kw solar panel system we put up 2 1/2 years ago. Didn’t opt for the battery as we have the clean export guarantee back to the grid. System cost €5,100 after the grant. Should be at break even in three or so years. That gave us the BER at B2. In a 1948 semi-d.
Sorry I can’t be of more help. Good luck with whatever you decide OP.
g
The most recent upgrade was the 4kw solar panel system we put up 2 1/2 years ago. Didn’t opt for the battery as we have the clean export guarantee back to the grid. System cost €5,100 after the grant. Should be at break even in three or so years. That gave us the BER at B2. In a 1948 semi-d.
Sorry I can’t be of more help. Good luck with whatever you decide OP.
g
All of those prices seems on the very high end to me.
€4000 to lay 200mm rock wool is insanely expensive, then what is the extra €1,500 for makins a new attic entrance for? IF there's decent attic access and space this should be a 1 day job for 2 people. About €2k max if getting done professionaly - very easy to DIY also.
Some of the window prices are very high too (but the doors seem about right) - I would recommend you shop around once you have dimensions and specs.
€1k each to seal a flue and chimney very expensive.
€4k of non-descript structural air tightness measure - you need a description of these works
€6k for a DCV system but that not including an addtional €3k for the pump???
€6800 for a 2.6kW PV system - this should be about €3,000 after grant if you get it from a stand alone supplier
And then a nice €4k fee on top despite them gouging you at every turn
€4000 to lay 200mm rock wool is insanely expensive, then what is the extra €1,500 for makins a new attic entrance for? IF there's decent attic access and space this should be a 1 day job for 2 people. About €2k max if getting done professionaly - very easy to DIY also.
Some of the window prices are very high too (but the doors seem about right) - I would recommend you shop around once you have dimensions and specs.
€1k each to seal a flue and chimney very expensive.
€4k of non-descript structural air tightness measure - you need a description of these works
€6k for a DCV system but that not including an addtional €3k for the pump???
€6800 for a 2.6kW PV system - this should be about €3,000 after grant if you get it from a stand alone supplier
And then a nice €4k fee on top despite them gouging you at every turn
Wandering_Dazed
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My project is still ongoing, took 4 months for the One Stop Shop to come back with a updated quote. Was told they could make it more competitive but it actually went up, now €71k.
The alleged reasoning behind this is the house is a block timberframe c9nstruction and they are unsure of the level of air tightness. There was talk of doing a pressure test to help here not sure why they haven't.
I need to get some quotes from elsewhere to compare before moving forward.
Wandering_Dazed
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Quick update after having some conversations with other OSS's it was brought to my attention that I was not provided with a Technical Assessment from the original OSS. Which cements my lack of faith in the current HEA, quote etc. I have asked them to supply the same to me for my interest in their workings and to get further high level quotes.
The fun continues...
The fun continues...
...and a battery!
Wandering_Dazed
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Indeed they didn't even quote for the no. of panels, inverter and battery as requested!
I got 3 OSS quotes and the lack of detail is crazy. Still debating what to do. I'm living away from home but moving back in Aug so was hoping to start works soon after to get the benefit for the winter even though its probably wishfull thinking.
I've read in several threads that the OSS is a rip off, would love to get some details where someone got the same work done by individuals cheaper.
@Wandering_Dazed any update on your side? Thanks.
I've read in several threads that the OSS is a rip off, would love to get some details where someone got the same work done by individuals cheaper.
@Wandering_Dazed any update on your side? Thanks.
Wandering_Dazed
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The current update on my side is that the original OSS doesn't have/won't give me a Technical Assessment of their proposed solution.
Let's call a spade a spade, the HEA is not a technical assessment at all! After paying for the initial site visit and the contractor to view my house I expect to be able to see their "workings" as it were. I asked them multiple times about COP re. heat pump etc. and just got fobbed off. Let alone the fact I paid ~1k for this service which took them 3 months to issue me with a quote and didn't included the Solar panel solution I asked them for. Oh on that last point they informed me that the amendments to the Solar piece would be an extra €10k:
Another OSS I'm in contact with was pretty amazed that I didn't have a technical assessment provided, I need to call them to see what they can do for me after sharing the HEA and house details with them.
I'm seriously considering filing a complaint to the original OSS (I'm not going to name and shame them publicly as I presume that would cause issues for Brendan) but as one who is actively marketing their wares on public platforms I expected much better.
If it wasn't me trying to chase the window/door grants I would 100% have done what others have advised, shopped around and got individual quotes for the upgrades. SEAI grants for windows/doors only available via OSS's (in my case the most expensive upgrades) is nonsensical!!!
Let's call a spade a spade, the HEA is not a technical assessment at all! After paying for the initial site visit and the contractor to view my house I expect to be able to see their "workings" as it were. I asked them multiple times about COP re. heat pump etc. and just got fobbed off. Let alone the fact I paid ~1k for this service which took them 3 months to issue me with a quote and didn't included the Solar panel solution I asked them for. Oh on that last point they informed me that the amendments to the Solar piece would be an extra €10k:
So the above would raise the quote to over €80k. Obviously every house is different but the above has left me with ZERO confidence in this OSS. Let alone that I have already paid ~1k for this!
Another OSS I'm in contact with was pretty amazed that I didn't have a technical assessment provided, I need to call them to see what they can do for me after sharing the HEA and house details with them.
I'm seriously considering filing a complaint to the original OSS (I'm not going to name and shame them publicly as I presume that would cause issues for Brendan) but as one who is actively marketing their wares on public platforms I expected much better.
If it wasn't me trying to chase the window/door grants I would 100% have done what others have advised, shopped around and got individual quotes for the upgrades. SEAI grants for windows/doors only available via OSS's (in my case the most expensive upgrades) is nonsensical!!!