With household bills on the rise, many Brits are finding alternative ways to keep their homes warm and expenses down. One top-rated builder has shared a clever DIY hack that can help knock £300 off your heating bill - and it'll cost you barely anything to do yourself.
Darren McGhee, who is owner of DMG Services, was crowned Screwfix's Top Tradesperson in 2019, and has been working as a roofer since the age of 16. The 42-year-old explained that not many people realise they can insulate their own homes, instead of forking out thousands for someone else to do it.
The tradesman has explained that insulation materials can cost as little as £18 from DIY stores like Wickes, B&Q and Wilko - and save you hundreds on your heating bills.
Darren told the Sun : "Fitting insulation in your loft space is the best way to stop heat escaping from your home - and it's also pretty cheap. Anyone can do this, you don't need to be a tradesperson.
"You can buy insulation from all local builder merchants or retailers such as B&Q and Wickes."
He says you'll typically need three layers of 100mm thick roll for around eight metres to notice a difference.
Darren advises wearing a disposable dust mask and gloves when laying the material, and using a Stanley Knife to cut through it.
His top tip is to "not fit the insulation tight to the eaves" and leave a 150mm gap for airflow - to avoid mould building up.
Savvy homeowners can find the cheapest option at B&Q for £18.60, and it has dozens of five-star reviews.
The Diall Insulation roll (L)6m (W)0.37m (T)100mm is described as an "eco-friendly alternative to traditional glass wool insulation" and is "extremely easy to lay and comes in handy sized rolls to fit many existing rafter spaces."
One rave review reads: "The moment I finished laying this product I instantly noticed a major and significant difference! The cold draft was gone and the warmth was kept in - which has lowered my heating bill!"
Another five-star reviewer wrote: "Loved it for ease of installing in my undercroft, so underneath the floor. Used a cheap staple gun where necessary, and only took a day to complete.. Hopefully, will help this winter, fingers crossed."
Do you have a life hack? We want to hear it! Email nia.dalton@reachplc.com.
