This is such a useful review of our insulation kit that I thought I should reproduce it for other customers. Some fabulous info and of course the 5 stars we always aim for!
"Top Notch - product and company
Full marks for Matthew and all his team - each and every one very helpful, knowledgeable and most enthusiastic in my several calls trying to decipher symptoms to repair our 45 yr old + AGA, and even an email question responded to on a Sunday.
Product is great and will undoubtedly improve thermal efficiency of the AGA.
Installing is actually straightforward for a competent DIY'er - who reads the fulsome online instructions first, and then reads then again. I did not, I just skimmed through them. Don't be me!
If you are going to buy this kit, read the online fitting instructions first and take on board about the removal of the chrome hob caps. Then try and remove yours first. If they do not easily unscrew (and you are going to have to resort to the chisel method) you can add the replacement set to your order (nb: would be useful to have a set of 6 available to order).
A couple of add-ins to the instructions:
1. The position of the tie rods is critical. You do not want to be fiddling around with their position whilst you and/or a few others are holding up the iron top, which is not light. I would fully recommend getting a tape measure and, before removing the top, noting down the exact position of each tie rod in relation to a fixed position - back/side wall or edge of kitchen unit etc. Once you have removed the old rockwool, shifted old vermiculite around, poured and levelled new, placed blanket and cut our shapes etc, they almost certainly will have moved. Even 5mm out will be enough to make replacing the iron top a real pain.
2. Get a spray gun (we used old window cleaner one), fill with water and spray a mist over the rockwool as you are removing it to bin liners. This will kill off most if not all of the dust. If you do this with the hoover nozzle technique (see instructions) as well, dust will be close to non-existent. This does mean another pair of hands, so you will need another face mask (one is suppllied - nice touch, as are the Love Hearts sweets!).
3. Do wear gloves that go up the arms (Marigolds are fine) as rockwool is v itchy. If you get it on skin, don't try and wash off, but use a strip of some sort of sticky tape (electrical, duct or sellotape) and stick it / dab it repeatedly all over the affected area. It will pick up the fine strands no problem. If you wash, it tends to embed the fine strands within the pores.
Finally, the blanket came as one large rolled-up bundle wrapped in plastic and three loose 2.5' long blocks (roughly 3"x3"). At first I spend time trying to prise apart the blanket as instructions said two pieces. Finally dawned on me it was only one and it fitted over the entire section. The long blocks were, I think, to be used across the very front and around the hot plate section on LHS (if you have a 4 oven version). And when you have fitted the blanket, don't forget the tie rods. Almost certainly they will have shifted a bit. Refer to your measurements, push them into place then shift vermiculite to hold them there.
Take photos of each stage. Not so much for practical purposes but to bask and reflect on a job well done at the end!
TL;DR - excellent kit, excellent company. Would recommend!"
