Free your loft economy by a B&Q advisor

Do you dread going into your loft because of the piles of junk and clutter lurking up there? Then you live in one of the millions of homes with money-making potential…that is also leaking cash and carbon dioxide.

According to eBay, there is a potential £17.7 billion cash in homes across Britain, and money and antiques expert Lorne Spicer agrees that "Anywhere between £100 - £500 is stored in the average three bedroom semi-detached attic. The money you make can pay for loft insulation which will make a huge difference to your heating bills, and reduce your carbon dioxide emissions, helping you do your bit to protect the environment…"

Nick Rickard, Insulation Expert at B&Q says: “One quarter of the UK’s carbon footprint is generated by our homes. If every house in the UK had the recommended level of insulation, we could save 4 million tonnes of CO2 a year. This would fill the new Wembley Stadium 500 times over.

“There are many different ways to insulate a home, but one of the simplest solutions is to install loft insulation. If you insulate your loft to the recommended depth of 270mm, you can save between £180-220 per year off your heating bill, and one and a half tonnes of carbon dioxide emissions.”

Many people are put off insulating their homes as they feel the hassle is too great. With a bit of time and energy, you can not only make money from the junk in your loft – enough to pay for the insulation - but can also do your bit for the environment.

Making Money from Your Loft
Go up into your loft and pull out all those items that you are holding on to for no good reason. There are many ways to earn money from your discarded items including selling at auction or on eBay. One of the most fun ways to sell your goods is to go to a car boot sale. You can search online for car boot sales in your local area at www.carbootjunction.com and www.carbootcalendar.com.

Lorne Spicer says: “The loft is a store of cash for most people even though they don’t realise it. There are some general rules of thumb that can help you cash in on clearing your attic:

1. Any item that typifies an era will have a value to retro enthusiasts or collectors. Think 1970s bright orange and clashing brown flowery wallpaper, TVs shaped as astronauts helmets and flared jeans.

2. Any item still in its original box will command between 10-20% more purely for having the packaging. From 1970s fondue sets through to 1980s action men or Barbie dolls. In some cases, just the packaging without the item will be worth money.

3. Any film or TV related merchandise will be worth money, even more if it’s signed. Anyone who finds the 1970s Corgi Magic Roundabout toys which cost £7 new is sitting on £1,000 in today’s market.

4. Any household gadgets that are redundant thanks to new technology are starting to become increasingly collectable. 1950s Kenwood Chef mixers, original Seiko digital watches, Sinclair calculators, Sega games through to the 1980s mobile phones all have a value.

5. Textiles from clothing to curtains are always worth a second look. A pair or William Morris curtains sold in Edinburgh for £2,500.

6. Key signs to collectability are any identifiable markings that help given information about where an item comes from, and who made or designed it. Most ceramic items have a backstamp on the base of the piece giving a manufacturers name e.g. Royal Doulton, Wedgwood, and the title of the piece. It’s easy to then take these details and use them to find dealers who might be interested in purchasing the piece.”

Insulating Your Loft
With as much as a third of heating costs escaping through the roof, the minimum level of insulation recommended for loft floors is 270mm, but it is common to find as little as 25mm, particularly in older houses.

Leaflets are available in-store and on B&Q’s website, giving tips on how best to insulate, and B&Q offers a home delivery service on its installation products to make things even easier for consumers. Additionally, B&Q has an online calculator that will enable customers to work out exactly the required amount of insulation from the comfort of their own homes – providing a start to finish insulation service.

B&Q sells a range of easy-to-use insulation products to cater for all budgets and requirements. The quickest and cheapest way is to use roll-out blanket type insulation, as most lofts can be completed in under an hour with this type of insulation. There are also different types of insulation if you are planning to use the loft as warm living space or for storage. For more information and advice visit diy.com/together.

B&Q has two top tips to ensure your insulation works effectively: make sure the total thickness is 270mm, and don’t squash it down.

The average UK home can be insulated for only around £300 and you can recoup this money and more within 2-5 years. Latest figures show that installing loft installation in a virgin loft can pay for itself in around one year. Topping up your loft insulation can pay for itself in 4-5 years.

B&Q has reduced the price of selected insulation by half until 7 June*. The half price discount is part of B&Q’s commitment to the ‘We’re in this Together’ campaign. The campaign is a partnership of collective effort: major brands and organisations reducing their own impact and helping you to do the same. * Prices valid from 20/04/07 – 07/06/07

If you need additional advice before you begin work, you can ask one of B&Q’s staff at your local store. Alternatively visit the B&Q website: diy.com where you can get further information on insulation and other home improvement projects.

The information and home improvement advice written by B&Q for this column was correct at the date stated at the top of this column.