Is cavity wall insulation safe?

sarahlouise210

I would like to get cavity wall insulation ...we live in a house built in 1929..pretty cold..needs repointing.

My DH is against the idea as he feels a house needs to "breathe" ..is he being neurotic?? He thinks the house will get damp if the cavities are filled.

We would be able to have this done free due to disability ..I think it is an opportunity not to be missed.

What are your thoughts?? Have you had the insulation done ..is it worth it and have you had any problems from it?

Thanks!!

kevinyork

Had this done on my Mums 1950s house last year (for free as on disability).

Noticed an immediate difference. House was so much warmer and quieter (she lives quite close to a busy road).

Im not an expert so dont know about damp issues but Im pretty sure they wouldnt do this is if caused further problems as they could be liable. After all new houses have excellent insulation in the cavities. Houses should have airbricks etc and indeed when then did my Mums insulation they replaced all the airbricks (as apparently they can become blocked during installation of the filling).

They also re-lagged the hot water tank and put new insulation in the loft all for free.

Only downside some people may not like are the holes that are drilled which are then made good....this may not be to your liking aesthetically.

I would highly recommend.

sarahlouise210

We live on the busiest road in our town!! I do not really care about the holes...I am assuming they are not massive. I have used the arguament with my husband that they would not do it if there was likely to be problems...
but... :wall: :wall: ........I had not even thought about the impact on noise..that may sway his decision as it really is very noisy here. Thanks for the advice !

alanobrien

sarahlouise210 wrote:

I would like to get cavity wall insulation ...we live in a house built in 1929..pretty cold..needs repointing.

My DH is against the idea as he feels a house needs to "breathe" ..is he being neurotic?? He thinks the house will get damp if the cavities are filled.

We would be able to have this done free due to disability ..I think it is an opportunity not to be missed.

What are your thoughts?? Have you had the insulation done ..is it worth it and have you had any problems from it?

Thanks!!

Yes he is being Neurotic but i can see where he is coming from. The material they use is in effect water proof so there should be no "bridging" of water from the outside wall to the inside wall.

Damp tends to be caused by a breached damp course, dodgy pointing and the like. One other plus point for cavity insulation is your heating bills will reduce. If i were you i would go for it.

Gaz_2-2

It is safe as long as your damp proof course is intact and doing its job. If installed you will feel the benefits

Peter-Pan_5

yes,go for it it will make your house warmer,local authorities in Scotland do it as standard in their council houses,go for the loft insulation as well if it applies to your home you should get that free as well.!!

djohn2002uk

sarahlouise210 wrote:

I would like to get cavity wall insulation ...we live in a house built in 1929..pretty cold..needs repointing.

I hope you have made sure that you have Cavity Walls because very few houses built in the 30s and before had them.

silvercar

Our house was built in 1936, solid walls rather than cavities. Cavity walls became popular late 1930s. You can get insulating rendering or thicken walls from the inside but you are unlikely to have cavity walls.

Mr_Warren_2

I fail to understand the logic behind it all......The cavity is supposed to create a draft of fresh air between the walls to dry any moisture present. If we block the cavity with "cotton wool", how is inner condensation going to dry out?????? Or an I missing something?

fannyadams

if you read Jeff Howell in the Sunday Telegraph this week, he has a massive rant about this very subject.
http://www.askjeff.co.uk/content.php?id=4

read it and make your own mind up.

FA

adonis

We had cavity wall insulation installed a few months back, the house is warmer and it is not draughty any more.
Any condensation is cured by opening windows when needed.