Question: Is There A Problem With Cavity Wall Insulation?

Incorrectly installed cavity wall insulation causes water to seep into a property’s walls, causing structural problems and damp patches that may also manifest into mould. Most cavity wall insulation is perfectly safe – but it depends on the material used, and the quality of the workmanship.

Is it worth having cavity wall insulation?

Cavity insulation is really effective, reduces energy consumption, makes homes warmer, cosier and cheaper to run… most of the time. In short cavity wall insulation works well, but not all of the time.

What are the disadvantages of cavity wall insulation?

Disadvantages of cavity walls:

• Cavity walls were first built, in exposed coastal areas, in order to keep out wind-driven rain.
• There is also the possibility that the installation will leave unfilled air pockets –causing ‘cold spots’ on the inside walls which attract condensation.

When should you not have cavity wall insulation?

You should only consider cavity wall insulation if:

• Your home has unfilled cavity walls made of brick.
• The cavities are at least 2 inches wide.
• The brickwork or masonry is in good condition.
• Your external walls are accessible.
• Your home is less than 12 metres (about 4 storeys) high.
• Your internal walls are dry.

Does cavity wall insulation make a mess?

If installed incorrectly, or in unsuitable properties, cavity wall insulation (CWI) can lead to damp.

What houses should not have cavity wall insulation?

Properties that are Unsuitable for Cavity Wall Insulation

• Properties Exposed to Wind-driven rain.
• Timber Frame Properties.
• Steel Frame Properties.
• Properties With Damaged Brickwork and Mortar.
• Properties With Significant Amounts of Rubble and/or Mortar Left In The Cavity.
• Properties with Cavities Less than 50mm.

Can I get free cavity wall insulation?

Cavity Wall and Loft Insulation are generally free of charge to anyone in receipt of a qualifying income/disability benefit or tax credits. Grants of up to 25% can be claimed towards the cost of installing External Wall Insulation, regardless of income or benefits.

How long does cavity wall insulation last for?

Cavity wall insulation has been a successful solution for property insulation for so long. Now, with the latest systems, you can expect your cavity insulation to be guaranteed to last up to 25 years when installed under the assurance of CIGA (Cavity Insulation Guarantee Agency).

Can cavity wall insulation be replaced?

The good news is that cavity wall insulation can be removed with minimal fuss. If suitable/appropriate, new insulation can be injected into the cavity or a completely different type of wall insulation can by used leaving the cavity empty (e.g. external wall insulation).

Is there an alternative to cavity wall insulation?

It may seem a bit off topic, but loft insulation is, in fact, a great alternative for cavity wall insulation.

Does cavity wall insulation increase house value?

The wall insulation is installed by drilling small holes in your outer wall, blowing insulation into the cavity, and then filling the holes; this means it has no impact on the appearance of your property.

Can cavity wall insulation make your house colder?

Even when insulation is not affected by rain penetration from the outer wall because the outer wall bricks and mortar are in excellent condition, filling your cavity wall with insulation of any kind can result in damp if the insulation is installed where full and proper pre-checks and treatment where required are not

Does cavity wall insulation stop condensation?

Condensation can also occur as a result of having cavity wall insulation. Cavity walls are used to reduce the amount of heat escaping the property, however, if there are gaps in the walls this will mean the walls remain cold.

Does cavity wall insulation prevent rats?

Cavity wall insulation is usually a foam that is sprayed into the cavity through holes drilled in several places along the wall. This effectively removes the space the rats and mice use to crawl around the walls of the building. At the same time it has this effect, it also saves you money on heating!

Should cavity walls be filled?

If you’re not adding external insulation, then I would generally recommend that you never, ever, ever fill a cavity wall. It’s there for a reason. It’s keeping the building dry and it really should not be filled. So adding cavity wall insulation can potentially actually give you damp problems.