Despite the many advantages of cavity wall insulation, there are also many potential problems. The main one is that it can allow moisture to enter the home. Professional inspectors like the Property Care Association can inspect your home to check for potential leaks, condensation, and damp. A common cause of this issue is damage to the internal walls and structural parts of your home.
Common sense checks to make before installing cavity wall insulation
Before installing cavity wall insulation, it is essential to carry out a survey of the wall to ensure that the wall is suitable for the work. This will involve a borescope to inspect the condition of the cavity wall. It is also important to clean any existing material from the cavity before fitting the new insulation.
Cavity wall insulation is an excellent way to keep heat in the home while reducing your energy usage. However, cavity wall insulation can create air pockets, which can lead to mould and damp problems. Some cavity wall insulation installers offer ventilation services to help keep the home free of damp and mould. You should also take into account the level of humidity in your house before deciding to install this type of insulation.
One way to tell whether your walls are solid is to check whether they have a one-inch-wide gap at the top. Alternatively, you can check the insulation in your loft, which may have a cavity. If you find one-inch-wide holes, it is likely that your walls have cavity wall insulation. If you find the insulation spilling out onto the top of the wall, you should contact a professional insulation installer to seal the wall. However, it’s important to remember that not all homes have cavity walls. If your walls are made of stone, you probably do not have cavity walls.
Lastly, cavity wall insulation should be installed according to the manufacturer’s instructions. It needs to be correctly fitted to achieve its stated R-value. If the insulation is compressed, the air pockets are destroyed and the insulation will lose its R-value. As a result, cavity wall insulation is an excellent way to lower your energy bills.
Before installing cavity wall insulation, make sure the existing wall is not corroded. If the wall ties are damaged, you should remove two bricks from the inside frame before installing the insulation. Otherwise, you could cause damage to your home.
Wind-driven rain as a major issue
Cavity wall constructions have become increasingly popular with housing developers and self-builders, but you need to ensure that you avoid exposure to wind-driven rain. This is because rainwater that is blown into a wall at force will seek out weak spots and eventually enter the wall cavity.
There are a number of factors that influence the risk of wind-driven rain in a given building or site. These factors can include topography and the exposure level of the site. As a result, the right type of cavity wall insulation is essential for coastal environments. It should be noted that the wrong type of cavity wall insulation can cause wind-driven rain to penetrate the masonry wall, causing premature corrosion of wall ties. This can result in cracking or bulging of the outer leaf of brickwork, and eventually, catastrophic brickwork detachment.
Wind-driven rain can also cause condensation to form on the internal walls of a home. This moisture can then seep through the cavity and cause damp conditions. In addition to this, some homes are not suitable for cavity wall insulation. These homes are typically located in areas that experience heavy rainfall.
Cavity wall insulation should be installed by a certified installer. A registered installer should be able to provide references and provide guarantees for their work. A professional installer will ensure that the insulation will fit your house and is suitable for the weather conditions in your area. By choosing a reputable and experienced cavity wall insulation installer, you will be able to avoid a lot of hassle later.
Cavity walls should be inspected thoroughly before installation. Be sure to check the cavity wall insulation for obstructions, unfilled mortar joints, and debris. These can prevent the insulation from filling the cavity evenly. This will cause gaps in the insulation, resulting in ‘cold spots’ on internal walls.
Cavity wall insulation may be expensive to install and may require a specialist. However, the benefits far outweigh the risks. Professional installation of this insulation can save you thousands of pounds in energy costs. You can also ask the insulation company to cover the costs of cavity wall removal and damp remediation.
Cost of removal of failed cavity wall insulation
In addition to causing a number of symptoms that could mean you need to have your cavity wall insulation removed, failed insulation can cause serious structural damage to your property. It can result in dry or wet rot to the woodwork, cracks in external walls, and the risk of mould growth.
Getting rid of failed insulation is not cheap. It could cost you tens of thousands of pounds. But the cost of removal is far less than repairing a home with failed insulation. Experts say that up to two million homes are affected by this problem. If not remedied, the damage can become so extensive that it may be impossible to sell the property.
In addition to dampness, another common cause of failing cavity wall insulation is clumping. This causes the insulation to become less dense and can lead to colder areas of the walls. The damp insulation may also hang off the wall ties, causing the walls to crack. Fortunately, there are some simple fixes that can address this problem and avoid having to replace the insulation.
Unfortunately, governments have not done enough to create a system that helps homeowners identify the extent of their problems. As a result, rogue insulation installers have been known to install insulation in properties that were not suitable for it. These homes often have porous bricks, which allow for moisture to penetrate the insulation. The problem can result in the homeowner being unable to sell their property or prevent a prospective buyer from getting a mortgage. In such a case, it’s vital that you have a reputable company check your house for any damaged insulation.
There are several types of cavity wall insulation available. What type you choose will determine the cost of removal. There are mineral fibres and foam insulation, which are rigid water-repellent materials most often installed on exterior walls. However, if they are not installed correctly, they can cause major problems. They can result in cold patches and voids in the wall that allow heat to escape and damp to creep in.
In the case of a failure of the insulation, you may have to have it removed. This can cause damage to your walls and plaster. You may also have to remove bricks in order to get rid of the wet insulation.
Symptoms of damp
Despite its many benefits, cavity wall insulation can also cause damp problems. If it is installed incorrectly, it may not have the proper ventilation to keep the house dry. This can cause high levels of humidity, which can lead to mould growth. Fortunately, there are a number of simple steps you can take to solve your damp problem.
First, you should check your walls for signs of damp. If they are discoloured or have a musty smell, this is a sign that your insulation is failing. Excessive moisture in your home can damage your walls and can even damage your furniture and other items inside.
Second, check for any items poking out of the inner cavity wall. If you see any gaps, they may have caused leaks or damp. Similarly, you may have noticed cold spots in your inner walls. Cold air can enter the cavity through these gaps, causing moisture to condense.
Finally, check your insulation for other problems. Often, poorly installed cavity wall insulation can lead to problems. This could be because the insulation was not installed properly, or because it was not filled fully. If the cavity is too small or too narrow, EPS beads may not bond properly to the wall, increasing the risk of condensation and mould. Most homeowners have no idea whether their walls are properly filled, so this can be difficult to detect.
Luckily, there are some ways to treat damp in cavity walls. One solution is to use a salt inhibitor. You can use this substance on both the inner and outer walls of your home. This prevents any further salt damage. To remedy your damp problem, you must first find the source of the problem.
Poor brickwork can also lead to moisture leaking into the wall cavity. When this happens, water can penetrate through the cavity wall insulation and transfer it to the inner wall. This can lead to the development of damp symptoms and reduce the insulation’s effectiveness.