Retrofitting

This is where the problem will lie. The One Stop Shop providers are basically just getting quotes on your behalf. Builders will see who they are quoting for, determine it is grant work, and price accordingly. Yet to go through the whole process myself but already I have a feeling the SEAI grant scheme money may never make to down to benefit the home owner 😕.

The other curious thing is that there is such a gap between granta available to OSS and to individual grants. Why the latter do not cover doors, floors, windows etc just doesn't make sense. If the aim is to make as many homes energy efficient why not have the same grants apply to both? It's very poorly executed.

The OSS that has responded to me has told me that they won't get involved where there's ane extension/builder:

"we are not in a position to take on board any projects where there is a builder involved or if there is an extension to be built at the same time."

The OSS I am enaging with is more than happy to quote me for additonal non-SEAI grant work, and is also happy to engage with any SEAI registered contractors I put forward. They still get their fees and I spoke at length to them about this. We all understand it is early stages in the process but they were in agreement that this is a scenario that will arise over and over again.

A large amount of One Stop Shop SEAI grant work being undertaken may be on homes being fully renovated from E up to maybe B rating. You would expect the new house owner to be doing other works to the house at the same time as it makes complete sense. My guess is your OSS will change their approach as they think it through further. Otherwise they may not generate as much business.

Builders will also need to review how they work and get paid for these type of jobs. They will have to invoice the OSS for the grant work and invoice the homeowner for the non-grant work. I spoke with a potential builder who did a previous extension for me and, although he had not thought it through, he indicated this would not be a problem for him.

I got quoted 50k after the grants for the above work.

That's overestimation to say the least.

There's noway those items cost that much.

Are these quotes via the One Stop Shop providers?

I intend to package all the SEAI work into one and look for a single quote, but may end up ultimately dealing with seperate vendors as you say.

I will obtain quotes from my OSS, through my architect via a tender process, and directly from a couple of builders I know. This should hopefully give me a good breath of costs. To note, I am doing works above the SEAI grant work so have engaged with an architect for this purpose anyway.

So I got quoted 60k and without grants 82k

the wrap

2 doors

heatpump and rads

2kw PV system

project management fee

i died of laughter going why do I have to pay 7k project management fees. They told me this is for specialist project management work, I went I am a project manager (which I am) I should be able to do this he went nope you have to pay as you need a project manager, As I have a ego I said to myself how hard is this to project manage?,

the one stop shop also said I have a flute on my house and need attic installation, one there isn’t a flute and two I provided paperwork for my attic insulation and they could see the grade but nope it needs to be redone … 4 years after I got it done ….

since this quote I am after sorting my wrap, windows and doors, for 14k, getting my PV system quotes next week and on to the heat pump, target for all work is about 30k to 35K, and being honest with myself being a project manager doing my own project work is a walk in the park haha don’t have deadlines to worry about ha,

but yes these one stop shops are a rip off

To be honest after the research I have done, it appears that doing individual upgrades makes more sense. I am not sure what kind of demographic can afford 70-100k on energy upgrade in a context of renovating a home where you already spending large sum.

Yep, that's basically it. It's just too expensive. I already hired a contractor do do attic insulation and will proceed with individual upgrades. Have a guy coming in to give me a quote for solar PV and new boiler.

So is this scheme essentially useless? What is the point of grants if they the increase the prices by double?

Im a B3 and was considering triple glazed windows, attic insulation, 2 doors and some wall insulation. Assuming I should just do it privately? Or using individual grants?

Has anyone actually used the scheme effectively and saved money?

If starting from a B3 rating OSS probably isn't going to be an option. For OSS you must achieve at least a B2 rating AND improvement of at least 100kWH/M2/Yr. So a B3 (125-150) would have to be in the A2 (25-50 ) band at the end of the process. That is going to need a lot of detailed work to achieve most of which wouldn't be covered by the grants. I would doubt that an OSS would even engage with you.

Individual measures would still be an option if starting from B3 but you may need to do them at the same time to avoid hitting B2.

I received a quote back today and I’m still picking my jaw up from the floor. 137k plus unspecified sundries less 27k in grants for a typical 1970 semi-d with extension in good condition. It might be cheaper to knock it and start again :-)

I’m no expert on costs but they want 8k for 2kW solar. Thanks to the guys over in the renewables forum I know that’s approximately 3 times the market rate. If the one stop shop is gouging on that I assume they’re gouging on the rest

Which oss was this with actually?