Anyone used The Mark Group for cavity wall insulation?

[Knoxville]

I worked as a team supervisor for a company called PerDM that did the door to door surveys and direct marketing for Mark Group last year (my opinion of the former is already part of a rather large thread on scam.com) and I'd be very cautious about using them to be honest, if only because I have first hand knowledge of the quality of the surveys they accept and the way they book jobs. For instance it in no way shocks me that people have had the trouble making appointments with them, or that Saracen had a chap show up three months late and un-announced, they have all the organisational skills of a dead rhesus monkey.

They do use sub-contractors where applicable and nobody ever got back in touch with us about the quality of work carried out being below acceptable standards but I wasn't there long so it may just be I never saw any backlash from the jobs we booked in for them.

I might still have some paperwork in an old folder with the quality of materials and other such information though which I'll try and dig out. I also know that the local subcontractor for another such home heating scheme (which shall remain nameless) caused several hundred thousand pounds worth of damage in one street that I surveyed and most of the property owners involved saw not a penny of compensation because they failed to act in time after the work was carried out, because of the small print in the paperwork the contractor in question was obliged to do absolutely nothing to remedy the problems caused either.

I'd be careful mate, very careful...

[Jones644]

I am looking into cavity wall insulation for my third year project for university and currently looking into problems that have occurred with cavity wall insulation in dwellings, if you have had problems would you be so kindly and to email me on JonesAR8atCardiff.ac.uk to tell me about the issues you have had please?
Many thanks

[peterb]

I was looking for this thread! My surveyort came yesterday (original appointment was postponed).

Very pleasant, drilled a small hole in the wall, shoved an endoscope in it, and in a rather crestfallen voice said that he was delighted to tell me that I had cavity wall insulation fitted.

He then inspected the attic, and said that while the thickness was slightly below the minimum standard, the improvement by adding a few extra mm (especially as the attic is partly boarded) wouldn't be worth the cost, even with grants.

So, no hard sell, very professional approach, but I can't comment on the quality of the installation work - 'cos there won't be any!

[Zhaoman]

That sounds like a perfect outcome! Congrats!

btw is your house relatively new (last 10 - 20 years I suppose)? Because that would've been a sign that it already had insulation fitted.

[peterb]

That sounds like a perfect outcome! Congrats!

btw is your house relatively new (last 10 - 20 years I suppose)? Because that would've been a sign that it already had insulation fitted.

Yes, about 15 years old, so not a surprise,. although he did say that they come across houses that should have had insulation fitted at build, but hasn't because the builders were after saving a few bob.

[Zhaoman]

Yes, about 15 years old, so not a surprise,. although he did say that they come across houses that should have had insulation fitted at build, but hasn't because the builders were after saving a few bob.

That is sad to hear. Building a house without insulation would be a massive failure in the quality control of the contractors, the architects, services engineers and authorities. As an architect you'd have to have someone be on site nearly every day to check quality and make sure everything is being done to specification because that is your legal (and moral) obligation. It suggests the architects were in on it. The other members of the design team would surely have seen it too when they check up on site so there is no excuse for anyone. It would be like seeing your shopkeeper change the expiry date on a product and be OK with it. It's not like something small that is hard to miss, unbelievable really...

[peterb]

Maybe on a individual house, but on an estate when they are being mass built? I don't know, you would hope that a reputable big builder would have good QC, but if they sub-contract...

Anyway, today was good news for me!

[Sputnik]

Have you got that water softener plumbed in yet ?

[peterb]

Have you got that water softener plumbed in yet ?

No Not quite worked out how as I think I will need to re-do all the plumbing under the sink, and it looks as if the main stop cock needs freeing up first!

On my list of things to do - like re-arranging the pipework in the airing cupboard to give more shelf space!

However lots of other jobs like sorting and chucking more stuff after the move.

But THE most important job, getting FTTC installed, is done, and plans for running some CAT5 round the house are under way! (and I was delighted to see that Zen are doubling their download allowances from 1st April)

[Sputnik]

You'll have to get your finger out ! I've bought and fitted the softener and that included putting in 7 metres of waste pipe for it.

[peterb]

You'll have to get your finger out ! I've bought and fitted the softener and that included putting in 7 metres of waste pipe for it.

Well done! Are you pleased with the results?

[Sputnik]

Well done! Are you pleased with the results?

All seems good so far. Surprising how different the water feels. I bought a Monarch Midi in the end after much dithering over which to choose.

[speedypete53]

Absolute Rubbish I would not let The Mark group within a million miles of my property ever again . They are unreliable unprofessional and a total waste of time . I have tempered my response to keep within the rules if the forum!!!!!
Mark group called at my house to survey in Oct 2012, and i agreed to cavity wall and loft insulation. Finally after much time wasted on the phone got an appointment . When they arrived they stated the work could not be done to the rear wall as a single story extension existed. Even though the so called surveyer had had his attension drawn to a possible problem back in October.
I could go on but space is limited. My advice stay well clear of mark group.

[pp05]

I used it once. I won't be using it again. Which? portal might be a better bet Animus.

you cannot even write a bad review on there if the job is botched up. Mine was a simple job which was done okay but I got bumped.

Some tradesmen only get an account for 3 months, then cancel and get a new account etc so they don't pay fees. Which makes the whole system pointless as you need reviews for it to be effective.

If you're in London I could have suggested someone who did mine.

Has anyone tried any of the local worker review sites?

Like http://www.ratedpeople.com/ ?

I've got some tiling to do, and tbh I doubt its worth the cost of getting my parents tools n cutter up here, so was having a quick look at lunch the other day...

[Saracen]

My experience with the Mark group started out a bit iffy, and got no better as time went on. After about 8 months of being mucked about, with them either not showing up when expected, or showing up unannounced when not expected, or getting a call to "confirm" a non-existent appointment about 30 minutes before the fitters were supposed to arrive, I eventually told them to forget it. Or to be more specific, I was a little more blunt than that, with a critique of their management abilities that, IIRC, suggested I considered they'd be utterly unable to organise a bonk in a knocking shop.

I can't comment on the quality of the work, as none ever got done .... nor ever will be done, as long as I'm involved. I would not allow them on the premises after the farce last time, because I found them to be utterly unprofessional in their dealings with me, and with barely the organisational and customer relations ability of a suet pudding. It is just one, very limited, experience, but for me, once was enough.

[peterd]

Hi peterb,

Did you have the cavity walls done in the end? The Mark Group are still offering free insulation in Sunny Soton so was just wondering if you took the plunge...and if so, how did it go?

(Ooops - forget it. Sorry - original question appeared in Google search but only saw reply after joining forum
Regards
peterd.