External wall insulation - Timber frame

Heedtheadvice

There is no contention between timber frame and cavity wall build. They are not mutually exclusive!!

I do not know if this applies to all Timber frame buildings (I am not qualified in buildings but have sone knowledge - dangerous eh?) but....

commonly  the timber frame is the internal walls and structural part of the property complete with an external skin (such as brick, block, and maybe a surface finish) tied accross a cavity via a membrane attached to the timber frame comprising plywood sheets to heavy timbers with thick insulation a further membrane and finish. The latter two are often sheets of plasterboard with 'waterproof' external finish. Plaster or paint used as the simplest decorative surface. There are other constructions.

The cavity and Air bricks, vents etc allow circulation of air into and out of the cavity and with the membranes keep the timbers/sheeting dry. The construction must conform to the building regs to ensure that dryness and prevent rot and nothing  should be done to negate its affectiveness.

anon_ymous

Heedtheadvice said:

There is no contention between timber frame and cavity wall build. They are not mutually exclusive!!

I do not know if this applies to all Timber frame buildings (I am not qualified in buildings but have sone knowledge - dangerous eh?) but....

commonly  the timber frame is the internal walls and structural part of the property complete with an external skin (such as brick, block, and maybe a surface finish) tied accross a cavity via a membrane attached to the timber frame comprising plywood sheets to heavy timbers with thick insulation a further membrane and finish. The latter two are often sheets of plasterboard with 'waterproof' external finish. Plaster or paint used as the simplest decorative surface. There are other constructions.

The cavity and Air bricks, vents etc allow circulation of air into and out of the cavity and with the membranes keep the timbers/sheeting dry. The construction must conform to the building regs to ensure that dryness and prevent rot and nothing  should be done to negate its affectiveness.

Thanks.. I somewhat get that. I did have Home Logic out and they seem to think that putting ProPerla EWI on my house is fine? But then again they are there to sell me a product. Would it be useful for me? (Assuming I also had IWI too)

I've also checked my loft and it's definitely a timber frame, like yours 

Reed_Richards

I don't think EWI would work because the cavity is very badly insulated from the air in the loft so would remain cold.  It might well also be as open to the roof as the air in the loft is (i.e. only covered by roofing felt and tiles) - but I don't know that for sure.    

Heedtheadvice

Please note some parts of of the UK do not have such a roof construction ( under modern building regs) as described above. In particular Scotland's construction is different requiring sarking over the structural elements ( truss etc.) and under the 'waterproofing' membrane.

Quite likely the OP has a building conforming to the English and Welsh regs but worthy of note  for elsewhere. Not sure about NI regs!!

anon_ymous

Reed_Richards said:

I don't think EWI would work because the cavity is very badly insulated from the air in the loft so would remain cold.  It might well also be as open to the roof as the air in the loft is (i.e. only covered by roofing felt and tiles) - but I don't know that for sure.    

Hmm. I've got 400mm of insulation in the loft which is the absolute max you should have before condensation builds up?

In that sense, could EWI not work? 

anon_ymous

Heedtheadvice said:

Please note some parts of of the UK do not have such a roof construction ( under modern building regs) as described above. In particular Scotland's construction is different requiring sarking over the structural elements ( truss etc.) and under the 'waterproofing' membrane.

Quite likely the OP has a building conforming to the English and Welsh regs but worthy of note  for elsewhere. Not sure about NI regs!!

Definitely in England. Also the front of my house already has some cladding, so I'd hazard a guess that EWI of another kind should also surely be fine too then. So that's something I guess 

https://www.mycladding.com/cut-heating-costs

Reed_Richards

waqasahmed said:

Reed_Richards said:

I don't think EWI would work because the cavity is very badly insulated from the air in the loft so would remain cold.  It might well also be as open to the roof as the air in the loft is (i.e. only covered by roofing felt and tiles) - but I don't know that for sure.    

Hmm. I've got 400mm of insulation in the loft which is the absolute max you should have before condensation builds up?

In that sense, could EWI not work? 

Is the insulation in you loft on the floor between and above the rafters or immediately below the roof?  If it is the former then that means that the timber frame you can see at the gable ends is outside the insulated fabric of your building.  If that part of the timber frame is not insulated then the cavity is outside the insulated fabric of your building so trying to put insulation on the exterior of the cold cavity will not work.  

anon_ymous

Reed_Richards said:

waqasahmed said:

Reed_Richards said:

I don't think EWI would work because the cavity is very badly insulated from the air in the loft so would remain cold.  It might well also be as open to the roof as the air in the loft is (i.e. only covered by roofing felt and tiles) - but I don't know that for sure.    

Hmm. I've got 400mm of insulation in the loft which is the absolute max you should have before condensation builds up?

In that sense, could EWI not work? 

Is the insulation in you loft on the floor between and above the rafters or immediately below the roof?  If it is the former then that means that the timber frame you can see at the gable ends is outside the insulated fabric of your building.  If that part of the timber frame is not insulated then the cavity is outside the insulated fabric of your building so trying to put insulation on the exterior of the cold cavity will not work.  

If by rafters, you mean those wooden beam things then it's not in between that. I'll grab some photos on Tuesday. I'm at my parent's house atm 

anon_ymous

Reed_Richards said:

waqasahmed said:

Reed_Richards said:

I don't think EWI would work because the cavity is very badly insulated from the air in the loft so would remain cold.  It might well also be as open to the roof as the air in the loft is (i.e. only covered by roofing felt and tiles) - but I don't know that for sure.    

Hmm. I've got 400mm of insulation in the loft which is the absolute max you should have before condensation builds up?

In that sense, could EWI not work? 

Is the insulation in you loft on the floor between and above the rafters or immediately below the roof?  If it is the former then that means that the timber frame you can see at the gable ends is outside the insulated fabric of your building.  If that part of the timber frame is not insulated then the cavity is outside the insulated fabric of your building so trying to put insulation on the exterior of the cold cavity will not work.  

Hey

Do these photos help? That has my loft, insulation in there, and also outside. If you known a bit more about whether it'd be worth it or not for me to put EWI in , that'd be great if you can 

Thanks 

https://imgur.com/a/WR3Ajcf

Reed_Richards

If I understand the pictures correctly you have a semi-detached or end-of-terrace house.  The house has had an extension made into the loft so the remaining loft area is at the front of the house (and also a front porch extension).  The exterior gable end wall of the loft is timber and the party wall separating you from next door is made of brick.  The loft has been completely boarded and you say there is 400 mm of insulation under those boards.  How did you verify this?

There is some sort of insulation beyond the boards under the eaves.  Is that some sort of solidified foam?  Do you know how it got there?  

I cannot see any air vents in the loft but there are some vents on the end of the house, two pairs of two that are at, or just above, the ceiling height of your first floor.  Where do these vents emerge on the inside of the house and what are they for?