Cavity wall insulation is one of the best ways to reduce energy bills and save money. By reducing heat loss, insulation allows less heating energy to escape into the environment and extends heater lifespan.
First step to cavity wall insulation should be having an assessment by an approved installer. They will drill a hole and use a boroscope to check that your walls are suitable.
Insulation Materials
There are various insulation materials you can inject into a cavity wall; the ideal material depends on your property and needs. Rock (mineral) wool is one of the easiest materials to install as it simply slides between inner and outer walls – providing excellent thermal and acoustic performance while remaining non-combustible and mold/mildew-resistant; not to mention being made from recycled materials making it one of the more eco-friendly options available!
Other insulation options available to homeowners are blown polystyrene beads or granules, both offering good insulative properties at a reasonable cost. Unfortunately, however, they’re not as effective as mineral wool as moisture can enter through its porous beads, leading to dampness and mold growth in your property. Therefore it’s essential that a qualified technician conduct a full and proper application of EPS in your property.
Installation Method
Cavity wall insulation is a straightforward and expedient process that takes only minutes to complete. This involves injecting special material between two walls, filling any gaps that exist and providing thermal insulation that keeps homes warm in winter and cool in summer. Installation usually occurs in one day without leaving your property unoccupied while this work is carried out – no drilling of holes necessary!
Cavity wall construction offers many advantages over standard brick walls, one being its ability to keep moisture at bay from moving from outside into a building. The space between two skins allows any moisture that penetrates to drain down into the earth rather than pool inside; as long as injected materials are water resistant, this should not lead to dampness issues in homes.
Vapour Barriers
Vapor barriers are not essential when installing cavity wall insulation; however, in certain climates or regions they may be recommended or required in order to prevent moisture migration through construction materials and structures. Please consult local building codes and professional organisations for details.
A vapor barrier stops warm air or water vapour from penetrating through an inner masonry skin to reach its dew point and cause condensation problems in buildings, thus reducing risk of damp and rot within walls and improving thermal performance of a building by keeping inner masonry skin cooler than it would be without such protection.
Air barriers serve to stop air from leaking into or out of a building due to differences in pressure between interior and exterior environments. Air barriers are particularly effective at keeping cold climate air leakage under control while vapor barriers perform better in hotter, more humid climates. To be most effective, both types of barriers should always be installed together with an airtight building envelope that has any gaps tightly sealed, such as plumbing stacks or electrical outlets.
Cost
Cavity wall insulation utilizes various insulation materials, but polystyrene beads remain an economical and quick option to fill wall cavities quickly and cheaply. Simply pumped into the cavity by your contractor, these beads expand as they fill it until being sealed shut with cement – quick, inexpensive, and long-term protection against drafts!
If you qualify for a government grant, having your home insulated could be one of the most cost-effective energy improvements you can make and may pay off in under one year.
Installing cavity wall insulation should be a straightforward process, yet for optimal results it is wise to hire an established installer. Preferably one that belongs to either the CIGA or NIA, as these professional associations have established membership standards and guarantees in place should anything go amiss during installation. In addition, your home should be in good repair before work commences as defects such as cracked brickwork, missing pointing and leaky guttering can reduce its effectiveness of insulation and could reduce effectiveness by an increased exposure rate to water vapour during insulation processes.