How to become a certified insulation installer
Why you should think about becoming an insulation installer
It’s common knowledge that insulation is one of the best ways to save energy and money in our homes. In fact, according to the Energy Saving Trust, the average three-bedroom semi-detached house could save £310 with full insulation installed.
Naturally, this means that certified insulation installers are in high demand. And with the launch of the Energy Company Obligation (ECO) scheme, installers can take on more jobs and increase revenue. In other words, it’s a great time to invest in this sort of career.
To find out if insulation installation is the trade for you, we’re going to break down what the job involves. This includes what you’ll be doing on a daily basis, how much you could earn, and what qualifications you’ll need.
What does an insulation installer do?
When it comes to insulation installation, there’s a lot more to the role than sealing cavity walls. From loft insulation to covering air ducts and piping, the insulation jobs on offer can be complex and varied.
You could end up doing any of the following on a given workday:
- Setting up scaffolding or access platforms where required
- Carrying out pre-installation surveys
- Marking out ventilation, wiring, and pipework ducts in buildings
- Calculating the volume of space to be filled and the amount of material required
- Drilling holes into the walls of buildings to inject insulation materials into cavity spaces or fit pre-formed cladding
- Making sure that insulation materials and installation methods meet building regulations
Of course, these are just typical insulation installation jobs. And with more experience and training, you could certainly find yourself doing more specialised work.
How much money can I make as an insulation technician?
As we’ve already pointed out, insulation is becoming more and more popular. This means you can earn a lot of money as a certified installer, especially if you run your own business.
Below is a quick look at what you could earn in this role. Read our article on insulation installer earnings for a more detailed breakdown:
- Apprentice installer – £11,060 per year
- Trained installer – £17,560 per year
- Experienced installer – £37,440 per year
Do I need qualifications to become an insulation installer?
As with many trades, you don’t need qualifications to become an insulation installer. However, customers are far more likely to trust that you know what you’re doing if you have accreditations.
Therefore, if you want to train to become an insulation technician, we recommend gaining at least one of these qualifications:
- A Level 1 Award in Construction Crafts
- A Level 2 Diploma in Building Insulation Treatments
- A Level 2 Certificate in Construction Operations
- A Level 2 Certificate in Construction and Building Crafts
On top of this, we’d also suggest beginning an apprenticeship course. This will give you hands-on experience in the role while also letting you earn as you learn. It’s a win-win situation!
What training courses are on offer to insulation installers?
There are now several excellent wall insulation courses on offer to those looking to enter the field. Such as the City & Guilds course for the installation of external and internal wall insulation.
However, additional training providers in this area also include Goldtrowel UK Ltd and AbleSkills. Usually, these run for around five to six days and will cost between £500-£2000.
Booking onto either course will put you well on your way to becoming SVQ/NVQ Level 2 qualified in Insulation and Building treatments.
Upskilling as an insulation installer
Once you have your qualifications for installing insulation and some hands-on experience, the next step is to upskill. Upskilling is vital if you want to gain further qualifications and better-paying jobs. It can be done with any of the following:
- Studying courses on installing more advanced insulation materials
- Researching installation best practices
- Improving your sales and marketing skills with an eye on running your own business in the future
- Acquiring further certifications through additional training courses.
And on top of these, you can also get in touch with Checkatrade to see how we can help.
We have plenty of other insulation-related articles, such as how to start your own insulation business. As well as other trade articles, like how to become a plumber, if you’re interested in another career.
Insulation training FAQs
What is the Energy Company Obligation?
The Energy Company Obligation Scheme, or ECO, is a government programme designed to make UK homes more energy efficient. The scheme concentrates on helping people with lower incomes, as well as those considered vulnerable.
Under ECO, grants are available to cover all or part of the cost of energy-efficiency measures. This in turn is good news for installers, as they now have access to a wider customer base.
What insulation measures can be installed under ECO?
Under ECO regulations, all of the following forms of insulation are covered by the government scheme:
- Cavity Wall Insulation
- Gas Boiler Replacement
- Loft Insulation
- Solid Wall Insulation
- Other heating
There are thousands of homeowners looking for insulation work
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