This site is dedicated to Cavity Wall Insulation Problems, providing information on this important subject. Cavity wall insulation is advertised as increasing energy efficiency however it can also bring with it problems, suck as increased occurance of damp, and it is important for homeowners to be educated about the subject. Information on this topic follows below.
To begin with one needs to know the reasoning behind building walls with cavities in in the first place . Cavity walls first became popular in coastal areas to prevent damp resulting from rainfall. The idea is to build an inner-wall and outer-wall with air space in between in order to prevent rain from seeping through the outer-wall and causing damp on the inside of the building. It is, therefore, the air-filled gap between the inner and outer-walls which prevents the rain from getting in – so when these homes with cavity walls were originally built it was never intended for the wall cavities to be filled with insulation.
Today is has become popular to fill this gap with cavity wall insulation such as foam, blown fibre or polystyrene beads in order the greatly reduce heat loss throughout the home. In the majority of cases the introduction of cavity wall insulation causes no problems however, in some cases, it has been found that the introduction of cavity wall insulation has resulted in damp problems. This is due to rainwater driving through the outer leaf of the cavity wall and wetting the insulation material which not only reduces its insulating effectiveness but also causes damp in the building’s interior.
What are the risks?
There are various factors which are likely to increase the risk of your cavity wall insulation causing problems.
- If the building is constructed from porous materials and if it is exposed to prevailing weather conditions then it may be at risk.
- Any debris left inside the wall cavities or dirty-wall ties will also increase the likelihood of problems arising from introducing cavity wall insulation.
- Use of poor installation methods by installers of cavity wall insulation can also result in damp problems. such as using the wrong kind of insulating material
It seems, therefore, that while the introduction of insulating materials can reduce heat loss and lower energy bills, it is not without its risks. If you do decide to proceed make sure that your property is ideally suited to this procedure and make sure you use a reputable company. It may also be worth making sure any procedure is insurance backed guaranteed should any problems arise in the future.(see below)
Is your home suitable for cavity wall insulation?
The following factors will will be relevant in whether your home is suitable for the procedure:
- Was your home built after the 1920s?
- Is it made of brick?
- Are the walls at least around 3000mm(12inch) thick?
If the answer to these three questions is yes then it is necessary to look at the pattern of your brickwork to determine whether your home has solid walls or cavity walls. If the pattern of brickwork a continuous “side on” pattern – so each brick appears to be the same size -then it is likely you have cavity walls which are suitable for the procedure. Whereas if they are laid out “side on, end on” – so every other brick appear to be smaller – then it is likely you have solid walls.
What are the benefits?
It is worth noting that more recently the methods and materials used to install cavity wall insulation have improved greatly and the associated damp problems have become less prevalent. You can have cavity wall insulation fitted for around £250 and it is estimated that this wll result in an annual saving on fuel bills of arond £120, meaning the payback time (time which it takes to recover the costs of the procedure) is a mere 2-4 years. This represents excellent value for money. In addition to this, if you have your cavity wall insulation fitted by a registered installer then it will be guaranteed against damp problems for 25 years with the Cavity Insulation Guarantee Agency – giving you piece of mind.
What’s even better is that those on lower incomes are eligible to receive a government grant covering 100% of the cost of fitting your insulation, whilst everyone else who doesn’t qualify for the full 100% grant will still be eligible for a 50% grant. This makes the decision on whether to go ahead with a the procedure a no-brainer, just make sure you use a reputable installer and have it backed by guarantee.