Anyone heard of Secotherm?

ado

I've just had a flyer put through my door from a company claiming that it can prevent heat loss from my house using Secotherm and talks about reducing bills by up to 29%. I had a look on line and found that quite a few companies are advertising it but when you look at the youtube video https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=31X9UcLzcyg it shows a product which is sprayed onto bricks in seconds and dries out within 20 minutes, but apparently in that time it soaks into the bricks and will repel water and therefore reduce heat loss. Personally I can't see how it would work to reduce heat loss or indeed how it would soak in to the brick work so quickly or deeply. The flyer I have seems to imply that Secotherm will provide insulation to my walls.

I am looking at this in a very cynical way but I was wondering if anyone out there has a positive experience with it. For what its work I live in a Victorian house which could benefit from solid wall insulation which is what sparked my interest in this but I follow the adage that if some looks to good to be true then it probably is. All the other products I have looked at for SWI add a thick outer coating to the walls to provide the insulation.

Owain_Moneysaver

This appears to be a waterproof coating and would be totally inappropriate for a Victorian house.

Victorian houses were built to breathe naturally and spraying them with waterproof coating would trap moisture in the fabric of the building, preventing it evaporating naturally.

Such a coating might be appropriate for a modern cement-built house in an exposed location with driven rain.

If you don't want external wall insulation (and that can have similar problems with breathability, although you can get breathable insulation) then you can insulate and dry-line with plasterboard internally.

Le_Kirk

Did you check the forum rules when you signed up? You are not supposed to be promoting your own company.

TheCyclingProgrammer

I can't find out anything about this stuff other than on websites for companies flogging the stuff. I think you're right to be sceptical and would be interested to know how much they charge for it!

Furts

Mark_Seal_and_Save_UK wrote: »

Hi,
Owain Moneysaver is incorrect.
Secotherm is a masonry cream that acts as a water repellent. It allows the brickwork to breath. It does NOT trap moisture in the building.
A wet brick loses heat significantly more than a dry brick. (this has been proven by tests done at portsmouth University and several other independent test facilities).
This product has been used on Listed buildings and is ideal for solid wall Victorian properties.
Please visit this website for more information.
sealandsaveuk.com
Cheers.

To balance this potential Spam with a professional eye...I am aware of a respected consultant who believes the concept of a "masonry cream" works. She and I debated this a few months ago. My stance was she had been partially taken in by the marketing hype. After debate the bottom line was the cream may indeed be water resistant, but it cannot prevent moisture going into brickwork. In addition, the concept of applying it to Victorian brickwork defies common sense in numerous instances.

For most people this product is modern day snake oil and this means, by definition, Mark Seal and Save UK is a snake oil salesman. Does this accolade make you proud Mark?

Myusernamehasgone

TheCyclingProgrammer wrote: »

I can't find out anything about this stuff other than on websites for companies flogging the stuff. I think you're right to be sceptical and would be interested to know how much they charge for it!

My dad has been quoted £3500

Grabs39

Insulating goop? Is that stocked next to left-handed screwdrivers and tartan paint?

On a more serious note as others say your walls need to "breath". If your walls don't you may get damp.

Smiley_Dan

The whole "walls need to breathe" trope is at best a ridiculous choice of words and at worst a gross simplification. If you want to understand more, speak to a building physicist who understands these things.

phil24_7

'Breathe' is an accepted terminology that in simple terms means the wall allows moisture to pass through it. Inwards in the winter (as the inside should be warmer) and outwards in the summer.

All older housing stock (anything with lime plaster or other permeable render/plaster inside or out when new) is designed to breathe.

I would also question the insulating affects of the cream!

phil24_7

Myusernamehasgone wrote: »

My dad has been quoted £3500

If he's got money he's throwing away I'll send you my address.

You would be better off getting a trusted builder/damp specialist to sort whatever problem he has. If the walls are damp, treat that. If he wants it insulated, insulate properly. No magic cream is going to do these things.

prosaver

Le_Kirk wrote: »

Did you check the forum rules when you signed up? You are not supposed to be promoting your own company.

just say there crap which they are ..




Anyway
its only unibond, you can do it yourself with a brush.........TAXI!
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Adhesive primer and sealer for plastering, rendering and interior woodworking applications.

• Dilutes up to 60 Litres
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ps B and Q do there own make for a tenner:p