Keeping It All Together (to stay in your home)

KEEPING IT ALL TOGETHER

In this series of people profiles, we put park people under the spotlight. This month is a little different as Bella Brodie catches up with a park home owner who did things a little differently when he needed some help with his park home. 

Our interviewee this month is a quiet, unassuming gentleman. Like many others we’ve interviewed has grafted hard all his life.  He had an interesting career, working in a drawing office straight from a village school, then spending time in the army at Blandford Forum, where he had the responsibility of registering and kitting out all those coming in on National Service at a rate of about 300 a fortnight. Of that time he says; “There was quite a bit of apprehension in the air, a lot of these lads didn’t really know what they were coming into so it was particularly difficult for them.” He often wonders what happened to them.

After his army term he then returned to the drawing office, working his way up through the ranks until he was in charge of planning and production in a company constructing re-enforced buildings.  After the war it was a huge growth industry as a lot of reconstructive work was taking place.  Following a spell in double glazing, he then worked as a regional manager with a building merchants, and then eased himself into semi-retirement for a while with a role as a security guard.

He found his move into a park home was a good way of releasing equity for the full retirement he later wanted to enjoy with his wife and they’ve been happy in their home. 

It’s only in recent years he’s found things a little tougher. His wife hasn’t been well, suffering from arthritis which is often triggered by the cold and at 86 he hasn’t been in the best of health himself. He’s now waiting for a replacement valve and double bypass operation. After being married for 56 years they’ve only spent one night apart in all that time, so to them being able to stay together in their own home is high on the list of their priorities. 

They bought their pre-owned park home eight years ago, on a nice corner plot with a good garden overlooking fields, and have been very happy there, with plenty to keep them busy and a lovely community life. They knew they’d have to do a bit of work in the home though and had to replace radiators and kitchen units fairly early on. 

Their local council was pro-active in letting residents know that they could get support with some housing maintenance issues if needed and under certain circumstances, and they successfully applied for new double glazing which made quite a difference. However that didn’t quite address the biggest problem which was that the floors were very cold. He explained; “When you think about it heat rises, but it draws the cold air up from below which cools it down again. It was really cold underfoot, and it was making us feel very cold generally. It was worse for my wife because it would trigger her arthritis so I knew I had to do something.”

Cathi Foale from Park Home Chassis Services adds; “Park home residents often complain about their homes being cold with specific mention of cold floors. Home-owners will generally automatically turn the thermostat up to increase the heat output because their feet feel cold, regardless of the air temperature further up. Consequently that increases energy costs and doesn’t actually address the heating problem.”

Fortunately help was at hand for our park home owner.  His pro-active and supportive council contact checked the couple’s eligibility and came back to say they could help again.  All he had to do was get three quotes and for the Council to check out the companies concerned so they could satisfy themselves that they were reputable and would do a good job.   

He did that but found that the solutions suggested varied quite a bit. Having carried out some research, read articles in Park Home & Holiday Caravan and having some knowledge of insulation issues having worked in double glazing himself for a while, our home owner wanted to see what Park Home Chassis Services would suggest. He was pleasantly surprised to hear after inspection that the chassis was fine but also that they had a comprehensive solution to under floor insulation. The PCHS method involved adding boarding underneath which was fitted closely around joints and inlets, in addition to expanding polyurethane spray foam.  Two other firms suggested spraying underneath but with his building experience he wasn’t convinced that their methods were comprehensive enough to do the job as well as PHCS. 

Cathi Foale said: “The majority of modern day park homes are fitted with a brick skirting which disguises the steelwork chassis, wooden floor bearers and supports under the home, and is aesthetically pleasing. However, to ensure that moisture is not transferred from the bricks in to the timber fabrics of the home, a minimum of 25mm gap is required between the two surfaces. However, this allows cold air to circulate underneath the home.

She continues; “The Park Home Chassis insulation system uses closed-cell polyurethane spray foam and we think it is among the most efficient insulating materials commercially available. The nature of this foam provides for a highly effective air barrier, low moisture permeability and excellent resistance to water which is ideal for under floor insulation of park homes. It also helps eliminate any fungal or rodent infestation. The system provides permanent insulation which does not shrink or settle and maintains air seal, providing 8 tines more insulation value than the current park home standards.”

Now that the work has been carried out our home-owner and his wife have said they could feel the difference immediately.  We wish him all the best for his forthcoming operation, after which we hope they’ll soon be back together and fit for the future again in their nice warm park home. 

For further information on Park Home Chassis Services, visit www.parkhomechassis.co.uk, email info@parkhomechassis.co.uk or call 0118 984 3107

In a nutshell:

• Some local Councils may offer assistance with the costs of insulation or refurbishment work if it helps residents keep healthy and happy in their own homes.  
• The gap between the skirting and the home is required to disperse trapped gases under the home that may arise from any faulty gas fitting. The gap allows a movement of air underneath the home but this inevitably means that floors become very cold throughout the home.
• Our home owner says that his home is now much warmer, they could feel the difference immediately. He was very pleased with Park Home Chassis Services and the work they carried out. 
• If you feel cold underfoot but are worried about money don’t know where to start it’s worth speaking to PHCS and/or your local Council. Between them they may be able to make it happen!