advice for insulating single brick kitchen wall

pedigreeblu

moved into a new house recently the surveyors report informed me that the kitchen had been extended into a existing outbuilding (coal shed maybe) which is only of a single brick wall construction, and would not pass todays building regs, and is likely to be cold, maybe even damp in winter, options suggested to me are knocking it down and getting a proper extension built, rendering the outside walls, or thirdly and my first choice at the moment to line the inner walls with insulation boards. anyone any advice please

Boohbah

Assuming its a concrete floor, build a second wall in light weight blocks (Thermalight), either 4" or 6" depending on room available. Include a dpc.
Leave a 3"cavity, and fill with insulation.

Alternatively, build a 4" stud partition. keep the timber of the back wall though, and a dpc on the floor. Insulation and plasterboard.
If your careful fixing the plasterboard you can do away with plastering.

MisterT2

I am just having the insulation upgraded in my loft and was chatting about insulation to the surveyor. He told me that there are new regs which are going to be bought in within two years regarding proper loft and cavity insulation. I wasn't aware of this and I don't think it was sales patter as there was nothing at all in it for him. Anyway, its probably worth researching and doing properly. He seemed to favour the "wendy house" apprach (brick skin with interior stud and insulation) over the conventional thermalite. Personally I don't see as it makes a huge difference. Probably just something worth noting.

You might also want to check with the building regs officer as they might say you need drawings or foundation check if you are using blocks. Otherwise the next person might assume its a real wall and build another storey on it!!

tricky_3

The cheapest upgrade is to build an inner stud skin, essentially creating a modern timber framed structure. Personally i wouldnt consider putting any additional load i.e blockwork on the slab. Every Building Control Officer in the country will ask for the foundations to be exposed, and probably upgraded.

Your other option is an external insulation and render. This would consist of an insulation layer, mechanically fixed to the outside face and finished with a proprietory render. This is a specialist system (i.e expensive) and would only be considered if space inside was at a premium.

A third option has just come to mind. Gyproc Thermal Board super on either plaster dabs or battens. This is a plasterboard faced insulation fixed to the inside face ,approx 50mm thick. The least disruptive option.

Dispite your original advice, be aware, anything you do to upgrade is for your personal benefit only.......you are not obliged to upgrade an existing property to meet the current building regs, unless you are making very significant alterations. A house build last year would not meet the current regs, let alone one with a coal shed.

What ever course you take i would investigate whether the external walls have a damp proof course (very unlikely). An injected dpc would be a good idea to start with. Without this, any additional measures you take could be spoilt by damp.