Find an Accredited Member

Yes. The OSCAR Onsite Find a Member service is completely free for homeowners, landlords and property professionals to use. You can search for an OSCAR Onsite accredited contractor operating in your area for services including cavity wall insulation surveys, CWI inspections, cavity wall insulation extraction and associated remedial works.

There is no charge for using the directory or contacting an accredited member. We recommend obtaining an appropriate survey or assessment before deciding whether cavity wall insulation removal or other remedial work is required.

OSCAR Onsite accredited members are required to demonstrate appropriate training, competence, insurance and technical capability for the cavity wall insulation services they provide.

Depending on their scope of work, individuals within accredited companies may hold relevant industry qualifications including Level 2 qualifications covering cavity wall insulation surveying, inspection, extraction and clearance, together with other appropriate construction, retrofit and health & safety qualifications.

OSCAR Onsite accreditation is intended to help homeowners identify contractors who have been assessed against our requirements rather than relying solely on claims made by individual CWI companies.

Companies providing cavity wall insulation surveying, inspection, extraction or associated remedial services can apply to become an OSCAR Onsite accredited member.

The application and accreditation process includes checks appropriate to the services being offered, which may include technical competence, relevant qualifications, insurance, company information, working practices and compliance with OSCAR Onsite standards and requirements.

Once approved, accredited companies can be listed on the OSCAR Onsite Find a Member directory, helping homeowners and property professionals find suitably assessed CWI specialists in their area.

Companies interested in joining should contact the OSCAR Onsite membership team to begin the accreditation process.

The time required to remove cavity wall insulation depends on the size and construction of the property, type of insulation, condition of the material, cavity width, access, obstructions and how easily the insulation can be recovered from the cavity.

Some straightforward residential cavity wall insulation extraction projects may be completed within one or two working days, while larger, more complex or heavily obstructed cavities can take considerably longer.

Importantly, speed should not be the primary measure of a successful extraction. The objective should be to remove the defective or unwanted insulation thoroughly and without unnecessary damage to the property.

Following extraction, the cavity should be appropriately inspected to establish whether residual insulation, debris or obstructions remain. This is particularly important where new cavity wall insulation is being considered.

An OSCAR Onsite accredited contractor can assess the property and provide a more appropriate programme based on the actual cavity construction and condition.

Use the OSCAR Onsite Find a Member service to locate accredited cavity wall insulation specialists operating in your area. Our member network includes contractors providing services such as CWI surveys and inspections, cavity wall insulation extraction, cavity clearance and remedial works.

Choosing an appropriately qualified and insured contractor is particularly important where there are concerns about damp, mould, cold walls, defective cavity wall insulation or failed CWI installations.

Before commissioning cavity wall insulation removal, we recommend establishing the condition of the cavity and the likely cause of the problem so that any remedial work is based on evidence rather than assumption.

Yes, we strongly recommend having the property properly assessed before deciding to remove cavity wall insulation. Damp, mould, cold walls and condensation do not automatically mean that cavity wall insulation has failed, and extraction may not always be the correct solution.

A specialist Cavity Wall Insulation Condition Inspection Survey (CIS) can investigate whether insulation is present, identify its type and condition, assess the cavity for voids, debris, moisture-related concerns or installation defects, and help establish whether CWI extraction, remedial work or further investigation is appropriate.

An evidence-led survey can help homeowners avoid unnecessary cavity wall insulation removal and ensure that any recommended work addresses the actual problem.

Possible signs of defective or poorly performing cavity wall insulation can include damp patches, mould growth, cold internal walls, peeling paint or wallpaper, increased heat loss and problems that become more noticeable following prolonged or wind-driven rain.

However, these symptoms can have several different causes and should not, on their own, be treated as proof that the cavity wall insulation has failed.

A professional CWI Condition Inspection Survey can examine the construction and condition of the cavity, assess the insulation and identify evidence that may indicate poor installation, incomplete fill, voids, settlement, contamination, moisture-related problems or other defects.

The findings can then be used to determine whether the insulation can remain in place, requires remedial attention or whether cavity wall insulation extraction should be considered.