Cavity wall insulation helps to keep a home at a constant temperature without using excessive amounts of energy. This helps save money on energy bills as well as protecting the environment by reducing carbon usage.
However, your house should be in good condition before having cavity wall insulation installed as issues like leaky windows and gutters can cause problems with your walls. A surveyor will be able to advise you of any issues.
Cost
The cost of cavity wall insulation varies, depending on the type of material used and the area in which it is being installed. It can also be dependent on whether the walls are damp or not, and these issues need to be addressed before the work can begin. Luckily, there are several finance options available for this type of energy efficiency improvement.
Recouping the cost of cavity wall insulation typically takes about five years for an average detached house. This investment will save money on energy bills and will significantly reduce your carbon footprint, which is great news for the environment.
However, it is essential to get a quote from an installer who can carry out the job correctly. The best option is a registered company that’s a member of the National Insulation Association (NIA) or the Cavity Insulation Guarantee Agency (CIGA). These professionals have been vetted and are guaranteed to do high quality installation.
Benefits
Adding cavity wall insulation can cut the cost of heating your home. The insulation traps heat in the walls so your central heating doesn’t need to work as hard, saving you money and energy. The energy savings can pay for the installation costs in under four years.
Various types of insulation can be installed in cavity walls, including mineral wool blankets, polystyrene granules (commonly known as beads), and foam insulation such as Icynene or blown polyurethane. Each type has its own benefits and disadvantages. Foam insulation, for example, offers the best thermal cavity wall insulation but is tricky to install and some types have been known to degrade over time.
Before you have your cavities filled it is a good idea to get your installer to carry out a boroscope inspection on the walls of your house to check they are suitable for this type of insulation. This involves drilling a hole and using a camera to see if the cavity has been previously filled.
Installation
Many people choose to have cavity wall insulation installed in their home due to the cost-saving benefits that it brings. The Energy Saving Trust advises that the investment can pay for itself in just three years, especially if you heat your home using oil or electricity.
The installation process is relatively quick and causes minimal disruption to your home. A qualified installer will drill a series of holes in the exterior walls and then blow a dry fill thermal insulation material into the gap between your home’s inner and outer walls.
Depending on your construction, the installer will use either mineral wool (white wool) or blown polystyrene granules (also known as beads). Both are a great choice for reducing heat penetration and providing an optimum level of thermal performance. The installer will also carry out a flow rate test on the bonded bead and adhesive, which ensures that the correct amount of bead and glue is used. This is important as it helps prevent the insulating material from blocking the wall, which can lead to damp and mould.
Maintenance
If a property is poorly maintained or used outdated materials, cavity wall insulation can suffer from moisture infiltration. This can damage internal walls, leading to damp, rot and mould growth. Moisture also has a negative effect on indoor air quality.
Cavity wall insulation is typically made from mineral fibre wool, polystyrene granules (commonly known as beads) or a spray-applied cellulose. The installation process involves drilling access holes in the walls and blowing or injecting the insulation into the cavity.
Older properties that have existing cavity wall insulation may require a retro-fit to check that the material is still fit for purpose. An expert will visit the property to assess whether the existing material is still suitable and ensure any damp problems have been resolved. Once this has been done, the experts will fill the cavity with either a damp resistant product such as Stormdry XR or a traditional plaster. It is important to use a water-resistant product as it prevents the plaster from blistering and allowing the damp to transfer to wallpaper or paint.
