We’re building our house out of polystyrene – we can slot it together like Lego & it’ll cut our heating bill down by 70%
A COUPLE who are building their house out of polystyrene have revealed they’ll end up cutting their energy bills down by a whopping 70%.
Hannah and Charlie are building their first house together, as properties in their area can cost up to £100,000.
So, with “very little experience” between them, the pair have embarked on the ambitious project.
But instead of using traditional materials, they are using ICF blocks (insulated concrete framework), which Hannah insisted is “the future”.
“It’s quicker, cheaper in the long run, stronger and better for the environment,” she said in a video on her TikTok page.
“It’s nine times stronger than a traditional build and it can save up to 70% on your energy bills thanks to the extra insulation.”
However, using the ICF blocks is somewhat “controversial” – given that they are so easy to put together, and would easily put bricklayers out of work.
“What will take a team of brickies a couple of weeks to do, we can stack like Lego in a few days,” she said.
“And the blocks stack together – there’s reinforced steel inside and then you fill the whole lot with concrete.
“Once it’s set, it’s rock solid.”
While using the blocks might “cost a little more upfront”, they’re saving on “labour, building time, human error and long-term heating costs”.
“They’re also fire-resistant, flood-resilient and super energy efficient,” Hannah added in the caption.
“And yes, you can still get a mortgage and remortgage later on.
“As long as the build meets UK building regs, mainstream lenders are happy.”
“We’re so glad we didn’t go down the traditional route,” she added.
People were quick to take to the comments, with one writing: “My parents have built so many ICF houses!
“It’s great – and so quick!”
“Interesting but all I’m thinking is when we have a random few weeks of boiling weather how hot it’ll be in there,” another added.
How to avoid falling foul to a cowboy builder
COMMENTS by Senior Consumer Reporter, Ellie Smitherman:
Realising you’ve been conned by a “cowboy” or “rogue” builder is a devastating feeling, especially if you’ve forked out £1,000s of your hard-earned cash.
Here are some tips that can help you avoid them.
CHECK REVIEWS
Most tradesman worth their salt have references or reviews online from their previous jobs.
If they don’t have glowing references from previous clients then they might not be all they seem.
Make sure to ask them for references or look on sites such as checkatrade.com for trusted reviews.
SIGN ON THE DOTTED LINE
One of the best protections you can have is a Joint Contracts Tribunal (JCT) document, which outlines the work, materials needed and payment dates.
A JCT protects you both by giving a start and estimated finish date, as well as the tradesperson’s working hours and when they will take breaks.
Sit down and go through each stage of the project: itemise everything they need, how much it will cost and both of your expectations.
If they don’t want to sign a contract, that’s a big red flag.
CHECK THEIR PAPERWORK
Before hiring any tradesperson for a job it’s important to ensure they are qualified, registered and insured.
Ask for a copy of their liability insurance and proof from official bodies that they have the right skills to complete the job.
They should be registered with different agencies – call them to ensure they are registered and have the qualifications to do the work.
You should also call the underwriters for their liability insurance to make sure it’s still valid.
If they make an excuse about not having documentation with them don’t hire them until you see it because they could be a rogue trader.
DON’T JUMP THE GUN
Be wary of someone asking for work on your doorstep if they’re saying they’ve noticed issues with roofing or windows that they can fix.
Also be cautious if they’re asking for payment upfront in cash, even before any work has started – this may be to avoid VAT so it’s rare a good business will operate in this way.
It could also prevent you from being able to claim any money back.
Try to always use a credit card to pay for jobs between £100 and £30,000, as this means you can claim money back under the Consumer Credit Act.
To which Hannah replied: “We are having a cooling and heating system so the whole house is recycled air keeping it a steady temperature.”
“‘Better for the environment’ by what metric? just the insulation/energy bills? how much?” someone else questioned.
“Yes, concrete uses cement (which has high CO₂), but it’s used more efficiently in ICF builds,” Hannah responded.
“And with 70% lower energy bills for decades, the overall carbon footprint is way better than brick.”
“We’ve found it’s been totally worth it so far, and less stress,” Hannah added to Fabulous Online.