External wall insulation - Timber frame

Is this something that's feasible from a mortgage pov?

Apparently I shouldn't get cavity wall insulation on a timber frame because mortgage providers say that's a big no, given companies historically used the stuff that isn't breathable and they're still quite wary

I was then wondering if perhaps I could do something for the outside walls instead? Without incurring the risk of not having mortgage accepted or reducing the amount of suppliers that will mortgage a property, which will inevitably be a bad deal for me if there's less competition.  Is it fine to insulate external walls? 
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Comments

  • Reed_Richards
    Reed_Richards Posts: 5,246 Forumite
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    Timber frame properties only have a small cavity (50 mm) and a lot of insulation between the cavity and the inside of the house (100 mm).  Even if you did insulate the cavity it would be the difference between 100 mm of insulation and 150 mm of insulation, not very great.

    Timber frame walls are relatively well insulated compared to other types of construction but if you wanted more insulation it would probably be cheaper to add it on the inside rather than on the outside.  
    Reed
  • waqasahmed
    waqasahmed Posts: 1,994 Forumite
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    Timber frame properties only have a small cavity (50 mm) and a lot of insulation between the cavity and the inside of the house (100 mm).  Even if you did insulate the cavity it would be the difference between 100 mm of insulation and 150 mm of insulation, not very great.

    Timber frame walls are relatively well insulated compared to other types of construction but if you wanted more insulation it would probably be cheaper to add it on the inside rather than on the outside.  
    Sure. I get that it'd be cheaper to do it in the inside BUT I'm already basically at capacity there kinda, and mortgage providers aren't fond of insulation in timber frame houses

    So I was wondering if perhaps it'd be good to have EWI given I can't have cavity wall insulation 
  • I don't think that a mortgage provider would have any problems with adding internal wall insulation.

    Trying to add insulation in the very small cavity that a timber frame house has is a bad idea, which is why mortgage providers don't like it.

    Houses lose heat through the walls but also the floor, roof windows and exchange of air with the outside.  The walls in a timber frame house are quite well-insulated already so I'm not convinced they should be your top priority for adding extra insulation.
    Reed
  • waqasahmed
    waqasahmed Posts: 1,994 Forumite
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    I don't think that a mortgage provider would have any problems with adding internal wall insulation.

    Trying to add insulation in the very small cavity that a timber frame house has is a bad idea, which is why mortgage providers don't like it.

    Houses lose heat through the walls but also the floor, roof windows and exchange of air with the outside.  The walls in a timber frame house are quite well-insulated already so I'm not convinced they should be your top priority for adding extra insulation.
    It's mostly because other than that I'm already at capacity 
  • waqasahmed
    waqasahmed Posts: 1,994 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 1,000 Posts Name Dropper Combo Breaker
    I don't think that a mortgage provider would have any problems with adding internal wall insulation.

    Trying to add insulation in the very small cavity that a timber frame house has is a bad idea, which is why mortgage providers don't like it.

    Houses lose heat through the walls but also the floor, roof windows and exchange of air with the outside.  The walls in a timber frame house are quite well-insulated already so I'm not convinced they should be your top priority for adding extra insulation.
    Also, mortgages absolutely have been declined on timber frame houses when cavity wall insulation has merely been assumed too

    https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/6096941/halifax-mortgage-declined-due-to-apparent-cavity-wall-insulation-on-timber-frame-property
  • waqasahmed
    waqasahmed Posts: 1,994 Forumite
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    edited 23 August 2022 at 10:47AM
    Thanks but the kind of insulation you get between them is typically cavity wall?

    That's the biggy that the banks don't like? It appears that aluminum however is fine.  Not sure what company would do that in greater Manchester tbh 
  • Martyn1981
    Martyn1981 Posts: 15,283 Forumite
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    Hiya, perhaps I'm getting confused, but you keep mentioning CWI, and so does the thread link. The OP is talking about EWI, and whilst I admit I've only been Googling, all of the results seem to say it's fine, and suitable.

    So I think it comes back to the question, of whether there are any mortgage issues for timber framed buildings with EWI, and I admit, not a clue, so I guess the advice of a mortgage broker may be needed to see if this throws up issues or not.
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  • Martyn1981 said:

    Hiya, perhaps I'm getting confused, but you keep mentioning CWI, and so does the thread link. The OP is talking about EWI, and whilst I admit I've only been Googling, all of the results seem to say it's fine, and suitable.

    So I think it comes back to the question, of whether there are any mortgage issues for timber framed buildings with EWI, and I admit, not a clue, so I guess the advice of a mortgage broker may be needed to see if this throws up issues or not.
    No confusion, the OP mentioned CWI and I wanted to convince them it's a bad idea.  Also IWI is likely to be cheaper to install that EWI.  I simply don't know the answer to the question about EWI; consulting a mortgage broker seems like a good idea.
    Reed
  • waqasahmed
    waqasahmed Posts: 1,994 Forumite
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    Martyn1981 said:

    Hiya, perhaps I'm getting confused, but you keep mentioning CWI, and so does the thread link. The OP is talking about EWI, and whilst I admit I've only been Googling, all of the results seem to say it's fine, and suitable.

    So I think it comes back to the question, of whether there are any mortgage issues for timber framed buildings with EWI, and I admit, not a clue, so I guess the advice of a mortgage broker may be needed to see if this throws up issues or not.
    No confusion, the OP mentioned CWI and I wanted to convince them it's a bad idea.  Also IWI is likely to be cheaper to install that EWI.  I simply don't know the answer to the question about EWI; consulting a mortgage broker seems like a good idea.
    Hi

    I wasn't considering CWI? 
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