Cavity wall insulation and rising damp

spannerzone

Hi, I live in a early 1900's end of terrace house with cavity walls and no visible damp proof course.

If I get cavity wall insulation is there any known likelyhood of it allowing rising damp to become an issue?

I wondered if the lack of DPM might mean the insulation could allow damp to rise up? - I've noticed that the house has probably had damp in the past as 1meter of plaster has been redone many years ago and I've always had it in mind that it might need damp treatement again sometime.

So could cavity insulation cause an issue and will having it be an issue if damp treatment is required later on?

thanks for any ideas or advise.

Wherryman

Are you sure it has cavity walls?
Early 1900's and no visible damp proof course suggest to me solid walls.

spannerzone

Yes it certainly has cavity walls (I've seen the cavity in the loft as well as when I refitted a loose airbrick) and the bricks are laid in the way of a cavity wall design.

I guess it's possible the DPM is there but I can't see any sign of one except on the 'lean to' bathroom that was added (now a utility room)

I am assuming the DPM would be slate or a rubberised/bitumine type layer that would be visible ?

Wherryman

Well the jury is still out on the pros and cons of cavity wall insulation in older properties and I guess it will be out for a long time yet.

Personally our wall cavity was filled with Rockwool some 30 years ago without any problems since, but we do have a dpc.

Corrosion of wall ties in older properties can be an issue and has been a topic of discussion on this forum, you may find this article from the Sunday Telegraph interesting.
http://www.askjeff.co.uk/cavity.html

spannerzone

Thanks for your replies, much appreciated.