John shares his experience of the recent retrofit improvements to his home.

John has lived at Maes-y-Mor for several years and recently had energy efficiency upgrades carried out to his home as part of our ongoing retrofit programme. Although the work is now complete, he recalls the process beginning under less-than-ideal conditions.

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“They started putting the scaffolding up just after Christmas, which wasn’t great timing. The weather wasn’t kind, and they were short-staffed, so things didn’t move as quickly at first. It would’ve been better to wait for drier weather, but fair play, the team just got on with it, even working in the wet.”

Despite the delays, John was pleased with how the work went. “I had no problems at all with the lads. They were good.  Polite, respectful, and they just got on with the job. I know this place gets cold and windy in the winter, so anything to keep the heat in is a good thing.”

John’s home received external wall insulation, roof venting, and other improvements. “The scaffolding was up before the new year and they finished within the last two weeks. The insulation itself only took a couple of days to go on, and the rest was just waiting for dry spells to do the rendering and painting.”

When asked whether it felt intrusive, John was quick to reassure: “Not at all. You just have to put up with a bit of drilling and noise for a day or two. But they work outside, and they don’t need to come through the house, they were great about that. I just opened the back gate and let them get on with it. If I needed to go out, I’d let them know, and it was no issue.”

John especially appreciated the efforts of George, the site manager. “He was always around checking in, and the team would leave things by the door, so I knew what was happening next. The communication was excellent, if there were any delays, he was the first to notify us.”

With changes just completed,  the long-term benefits of the insulation are still to be felt, but John is optimistic. “I haven’t noticed much change yet, but we’ve just come through a warm spell. I’ll really see in the winter if it keeps the heat in. It feels like the house is breathing better already, and I’m hoping it won’t sweat when summer gets hotter. They’ve put the vents in, so it should be fine.”

He’s clear about one thing: it’s worth doing. “You’ve got to put up with a little bit of disruption, but it’s nothing major. A couple of noisy days and a bit of waiting around for the weather to cooperate. In the long run, it’ll make the house warmer, and it already looks a lot better.”

And his advice to other customers? “Have it done. No question. The improvement to the property is clear. Even if there are some delays, the actual time they spend working on your home isn’t long – two weeks, tops. It’s a minor inconvenience for something that’ll make your home better for years to come.”

The improvements at Maes-y-Mor were made possible thanks to a £1 million grant from the Welsh Government, supporting energy efficiency upgrades in homes across Wales.

This work forms part of our wider journey towards Net Zero, making homes more comfortable, lowering energy use, and reducing carbon emissions. By introducing measures like external insulation, we’re not only helping our customers cut costs and stay warm, but also playing our part in building a more sustainable future for everyone.

Published 24/06/2025