Cavity Wall insulation - 3 walls or 4?

chaddywalker

To cut a long story short:-

1. We live in a 1930s detached house with cavity walls.
2. We can get the cavity walls insulated for free as they are deemed 'hard to treat'.
3. Our next door neighbour will not allow the installers to go on top of his garage that is next to our left hand wall (approx 6 inch gap between our wall and his garage). - Although he will allow scaffolding to be erected to prevent any weight being put on the garage roof.

So here is my dilemma:

Would it be pointless just getting 3 of the 4 walls insulated?

Or is it worth allowing the installers to insulate the aforementioned wall from inside the house - bearing in my mind that this could be very messy (has anyone had any experience of this?)

Scaffolding isn't really an option as it is likely to be expensive, and funded by myself.

Cheers

phill99

Seems pointless only getting 3 walls done.

It may be a bit messy to get it done from the inside, but that can always be tidied up which will be a lot cheaper than scaffold.

In my eyes, bit of a no brainier.

cyclonebri1

You need the lot doing, the builder needs to convince, ie, guarantee , the neighbour that there will be no damage.

The other point is, how do they plan to do the base of the wall that is 6" from the garage, from the inside?, because they won't get a continuous spread from 6 or 7ft up.

Furts

Hi chaddywalker

I had two bedrooms drilled from the inside without any problems. This meant three walls required the drill holes filling then making good the decoration. I did this.

The installers were brilliant and everything was done with meticulous care. This was the exception - normally the installers are on a price, time is money and animal behaviour is not uncommon.

As an aside I had previously had the roofspace drilled from the inside - this meant the installers were not trying to work off the single storey pitched roofs below.

Do carefully research the contractor who is going to undertake the work. Horror stories abound for this is an industry with an appalling reputation for customer care and conflict. I received a bad experience, though I suspect other installers are equally bad.

My installers were Domestic & General Insulation. The internal drilling was done by a depot manager who was brilliant . Their supervisor, when he became involved, was a smashing guy. Their CEO, their Managing Director, their Production Director, their admin staff, their builders and at least some of their installation crews are useless.

Do a forum search on mse forums and the web and you will see I am not the only person to have problems with a cavity wall insulation company.

chaddywalker

Thanks for the replies.

I did wonder how they were going to do the lower part of the wall too, but the discussions didn't really get that far due to the neighbour putting his foot down and the company downing tools before they'd even started.

They mentioned that an option would be to 'brush off' (create a barrier) that particular wall and just do the other 3, but I personally think that is only of any use on a semi-detached party wall where heat loss will be reduced anyway. (The company still get paid whether it's 3 or 4 walls)

So i'm thinking that installing from inside is the way to go, I just need to convince the missus that all the upheaval, tidying and redecorating is worth it....

chaddywalker

I had two bedrooms drilled from the inside without any problems. This meant three walls required the drill holes filling then making good the decoration. I did this.

Was the only mess some brick dust from the drilling? And then some filler and paint for the holes? I could handle this as 2 of the 4 internal walls will be covered by wardrobes anyway. I was more concerned about the dining room and lounge where patched holes in the plaster (and wallpaper!!) would be more obvious.

But if it means a warmer house and less money spent on heating then I guess it's worth it.

Cheers

cyclonebri1

Just to add a snippet of info;

I've had 2 1930 homes, in both the cavity ended at bedroom ceiling level, the gable end walls were/are solid 9" brick

Furts

chaddywalker wrote: »

I had two bedrooms drilled from the inside without any problems. This meant three walls required the drill holes filling then making good the decoration. I did this.

Was the only mess some brick dust from the drilling? And then some filler and paint for the holes? I could handle this as 2 of the 4 internal walls will be covered by wardrobes anyway. I was more concerned about the dining room and lounge where patched holes in the plaster (and wallpaper!!) would be more obvious.

But if it means a warmer house and less money spent on heating then I guess it's worth it.

Cheers

The holes should be neat and easy to fill over - perhaps a handful of approx16-20mm diameter.

The filling should be the job of the installers, but you might take more care and pride.

Brick dust is minimal - put down a dust sheet to collect it and also vacuum afterwards. Again this should be the installers job if this has been agreed as the method of insulation, but no harm in offering or doing it.

I do not know what your inner leaf/wall is built of. I suggest your installers do not have their drills set to maximum and just blast through. Damage may be caused, or some blocks dislodged. (This is not such a problem with a lot of face brickwork.)

Be aware the installers will be trailing injection hoses through your house and you could get dribbles of pva or beads. These hoses may not be clean and could scratch or damage doors, linings, furniture etc. So make sure everything is protected or safe.