Meet the Ecofurbers: Richard’s retrofit story

When Richard set out to future-proof his 1960s detached house in Sevenoaks, his goal was clear: he wanted to make his home “heat pump ready” and tackle some suspected insulation issues. 

Like many of our customers, Richard was motivated by climate concerns and a desire to invest his budget wisely. He knew he needed an expert plan rather than relying on guesswork to get it right. 

👉 Step 1: DISCOVER your options

Curious about what’s possible for your own property? Stop the guesswork and use our free online Ecofurb Options tool to get a quick snapshot of your home’s energy-saving potential and estimated upgrade costs.

Richard’s Journey with Ecofurb

In March 2025, our Retrofit Assessor visited Richard to carry out a full home survey for his Ecofurb Plan.

Richard’s home has mixed wall construction: mostly cavity walls, with some tile hung and painted solid wall sections on the front and rear elevations. A follow-up borescope inspection quickly confirmed his suspicions: the cavity walls were filled with 1960s-era foam that had clumped together and failed over time.

Furthermore, the solid wall areas were completely uninsulated, meaning those areas were acting as a cold spot (thermal bridge) and allowing heat to escape.

We worked with Richard to put together a practical, phased plan. Because we offer a flexible journey, Richard, who is quite handy, chose to tackle the loft insulation himself. Armed with our advice on maintaining proper eaves ventilation and using loft legs, he successfully boarded and insulated the space for storage.

👉 Step 2: PLAN your retrofit roadmap 

Ready for a step-by-step specification tailored to your home and budget? Order your Ecofurb Plan today and get independent, expert advice from our qualified Retrofit Coordinators

Installing the energy efficiency measures

For the more complex work, we brought in our trusted installation partners. They extracted the failed 1960s foam from the cavity walls and replaced it with a modern bead system, applied external wall insulation to the solid-wall areas, and upgraded ventilation to help prevent moisture build-up.

 

Richard initially tried to source his Air Source Heat Pump (ASHP) independently through a large energy supplier but quickly grew frustrated by their lack of organisation and poor communication. Having already experienced our seamless coordination, he asked us to take the reins. We introduced him to an accredited expert from our vetted network of heat pump installers, and we oversaw the installation process, taking the stress off Richard’s plate.

👉 Step 3: DELIVER your home upgrade

Don’t leave your installation to chance. We can connect you with our vetted network of installers, complete with independent quality-assurance checks, so you only pay when the work is signed off.

A wild colony of bats appeared!

Retrofit journeys rarely happen without at least one surprise! While prepping the exterior to apply External Wall Insulation (EWI) to some tile-hung areas of the house, the installation team discovered bats.

Because bats are a protected species, work rightly paused and the materials were safely stored away from the weather while Richard applied for a bat license.

Our installation partners demonstrated incredible persistence and support, waiting until the weather warmed up and working alongside an ecologist to ensure the bats weren’t disturbed.

As Richard wanted to remove the tiles and have a rendered finish over his newly installed EWI, they installed new bat boxes, painting them with the same breathable render used on the house so they blended in nicely.

 

What is Richard’s retrofit like to live with?

The project wrapped up in March 2026. By removing the old hanging tiles and applying a fresh, modern render as part of the EWI finish to match the other sections with that same finish, the home has been transformed – visually and thermally!

 

Richard and his wife are thrilled with the results. They now have a warm, highly efficient home powered by clean energy which looks great, and the absolute peace of mind that comes from knowing the job was done right.

As Richard wanted to remove the tiles and have a rendered finish over his newly installed EWI, they installed new bat boxes, painting them with the same breathable render used on the house so they blended in nicely.

A 1930s terraced house in Waltham Forest

Work Carried Out

  • Extraction of failed 1960s foam insulation
  • Cavity wall insulation (CWI) refill with modern beads
  • External wall insulation (EWI) on solid wall areas, finished with a fresh render
  • Air Source Heat Pump (ASHP) installation
  • Ventilation upgrades
  • Loft insulation (DIY with Ecofurb guidance)
  • Safe removal of asbestos
  • Ecologist-approved bat boxes
Vaughan and his Retrofit Coordinator discussing plans at the table

Ecofurb and its partners provide expert, accredited advice

We check that all our partners hold the right accreditations for the work they do, and will advise you on what is appropriate.

This includes any required industry standards, and normally includes TrustMark registration. Our renewable energy generation installers are MCS certified.

For most grant-funded work, or if you request it, we and our contractors can work to government PAS (Publicly Available Specification) 2035.

Find out more and get your Ecofurb Plan here