Cavity wall insulation is a relatively cheap way to increase the thermal efficiency and comfort of your home. If your home was built since the 1930s, it’s probably got cavity walls. If it has, it’s very likely they’ve already been filled. It is pumped in to the cavity through small holes made in the brickwork, where it expands and settles.
In theory, cavity wall insulation should last as long as your house. While this is true in many cases, there are a few situations in which this catch-all does not apply.
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Cavity wall insulation can be rushed
There’s a chance your cavity wall insulation may not have been installed correctly in the first place, which can harm its longevity as well as its efficiency. Since the 1970s, there was a big drive in energy efficiency and various grants have been made available by the government to insulate cavity walls for free. The race to collect as much as possible before the grants dried up means that some installers rushed jobs, affecting their quality/durability. Over time, the materials sometimes move or degrade within the cavity, affecting the thermal effectiveness and potentially causing issues with damp.
Lifespan of cavity wall insulation materials
There are a few different materials used for cavity wall insulation: mineral wool, expanded foam and polystyrene beads.
[amazon_link asins=’B01MTCFQZU’ template=’ProductAd’ store=’the0c3-21′ marketplace=’UK’ link_id=’2816239e-113f-45bc-85b3-0064475c3d04′]It’s rare to have issues with mineral wool insulation boards. Now installed as standard in new builds, it would be very difficult to adjust or add to these.
Although rare, it’s not unheard of for these EPS beads to escape the cavity, e.g. through air bricks and vents. In some cases, it may be possible to top the beads up, but you’d have to have lost a lot of them to notice the difference.
Expanded foam insulation can shrink over time, and may become less effective over the course of several years.
Installing Cavity Wall Insulation
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when i purchased my house a couple of years ago i have noticed it gets very cold and have had a couple of damp issues, outside there are red studs were the stuff was injected a builder said i can fill small spaces around the studs were water can seep in, can i do this and would it help thank you
I would like to speak to someone regarding cavity wall insulation. We did have it installed 20+ years ago but now we think it might need topping up or replacing.
Cavity wall top up required
Our house was built in the 70’s and we believe the cavity wall insulation that was done is failing. We’d like to know if it can be checked and topped up. Thanks
We have polystyrene bead wall insulation, but some of it has been lost over time when windows have been replaced. Can it be topped up, if so could you advise a local installer to me in the Nottingham area?
Thanks
I would like to know more about topping up cavity wall insulation.
We have been advised that changing windows and door can reduce the effectiveness of blown cavity wall insulation because you have essentially broken the seal. Is this the case?
Hi,
our house had cavity wall insulation applied at least 40 years ago (we have been here 32 years) but we don’t know exactly when. I believe it is urea formaldehyde but am not sure. I understand that over that time it might have lost its effectiveness.
Can you advise please?
If your house smells of wee then you defo have urea insulation. 😂😂😂
Can you recommend a cavity wall insulation installers in the Weymouth and Portland area of Dorset. Thanks
My house is always cold it had cavity wall insulation done about 40 years ago but have been told it can not be done again
My friend has a detached 3 bedroom house which is quite cold, she has been told the cavity wall insulation has broken down and requires removing and new insulation installed her loft also requires more insulation. Can she apply for a grant to help with this. The house was built in the 70’s.
I would like to discuss whether my cavity wall installation can be topped up. It has cavity wall injected insulation but the property still always seems cold
I would like a professional to check for my cavity wall .
I have been told in the past it seems it has not been done properly
Can you advise me on the cavity wall insulation in the Manchester area
I had cavity wall foam insulation done 30 years ago. I suspect it is no longer good and needs replacing/topping up, especially as building work was done.
I would like to speak to someone regarding cavity wall insulation. We did have it installed 20+ years ago. Norfolk area.
Same as Me ,changed front door last month rfe expanding foam has failed
Can you advice me of cavity wall insulation installers in the Worcester Area.
Thanks