Be Insulated Cavity walls

tia86

hi
I had Be InsulatedInsulated visit this week offering free cavity wall insulation. I agreed to it, but am now wondering how reputable they are. They said it would be done using thermabead. Anyone had any experience with this company or the benefits of having cavity walls done?
Thanks

Furts

I have Thermabead - the grey bead type in my walls and it appears to work. However there are a number of potential pitfalls to consider:

First, many forum users comment on a condensation problem associated with cavity wall insulation. This has not occured in my case, but my intuition is that this can be a problem. Basically the cavity is being pumped full of plastic beads. This will tend to hinder the previous ability of the cavity to breath/ vent moisture vapour from the home. Most cavities are left open, or partially open, at the top regardless of what good practice or builders might claim. Hence they act as a chimney/vent for moisture vapour - provided they are not blocked full!

Second, the industry is plagued by cowboy companies, and by cowboy operators. The operators are often self employed, paid peanuts and expected to crash out an excessive number of jobs in a day. The companies know this but do not care - the reason being they are making profits from this situation. This can be rectified, to an extent, by obtaining the BBA Certificate, reading the Installation Details and watching the installers like a hawk. Insist that they follow the recommendations. If they do not you have a faulty installation.

Third for any installation to be effective it should be thoroughly inspected and approved before installation. This never, ever, happens. So it is a gamble whether problems subsequently arise.

tia86

Thanks, so I need to ensure they do not fill completely to the top?

Furts

No, it is vital that the operatives fill the walls up to the top of your eaves. I would also request the gable ends are filled to the top, that is if you have any. Do not expect the operatives to be happy at this request, but it is your home so you are calling the shots.

onomatopoeia99

I had the bead insulation put into my walls just over a year ago. No condensation problems and it's definitely warmer than it was (warms up faster when the heating comes on and cools down slower).

As it's a bungalow and an odd shape, the size of the external walls was too big to get it completely free, but for £95 or whatever it ended up costing me, I'm entirely happy.