Timber And Wood In Timber

Question: Uk..cavity wall insulation-not timber framed- brick built house.....is it effective or does it create dampness?

(Posted by: Happy Feet on 2012-01-18 14:12:15)

Posted by: Costalot on 2012-01-18, 14:23:21

Using the correct insulation will not cause damp at all in fact it can help prevent damp from forming and it is very effective in saving energy and therefore money

Posted by: grandad on 2012-01-18, 14:25:04

Yes, it is very effective, and no, it does not create dampness . After insulating your hot water cylinder and your loft it is the most cost effective action you can take for fuel economy

Posted by: Alex on 2012-01-18, 14:31:13

I have cavity wall insulation, no dampness, just warmth, the rooms keep the heat long after the the heating is turned off,Only advice i would give make sure you get a fully qualified contractor, lots of cowboys try to do this work.

Posted by: The Tank on 2012-01-19, 00:40:31

If it's properly done then it does not transmit moisture between the cavity walls so you won't get damp. This process has been in use for decades and is well known and safe. You will have to watch out for overflow coming out of the tops of the cavities if they're not capped. This can block soffitt vents in your attic and cause damp up there. A good installation team should be aware of this. Your local council or energy supply company will organise a reputable firm to come and do it for you (typical cost to you about £250). It takes most of a day and the blowers in the van are nice and noisy so warn your neighbours beforehand. Cavity wall insulation doesn't "warm " the house by itself. You have to heat your house using normal heating. The insulation acts like a duvet in the cavity so the house actually retains its heat longer (rather than getting warm by some inherent virtue of the insulation). This means that your thermostats will not be switching "on " so much and so your heating system is not On as often, so you save fuel. Therefore, to get the best from having it you should not have external doors or window open any longer than necessary - or you'll let the heat out.

Posted by: boy boy on 2012-01-19, 00:57:34

Im a builder ..over 40 years in game ..im not convinced that it cant cause problems ..when i started building it was a 50mm cavity ..kept clean and clear ..then it was fill cavity with fibreglass bats .then it went 75 mm cavity .filled ..now its 100mm filled .lofts used to be 100mm then 150mm now 270mm ..under floors there was just concrete ..now there is 125mm polystyrene under concrete ..under heavy rain the water passes through the outer brick and into cavity where it used to run down the back of brick and cause no problems ..now it be absorbed by insulation and bridge the cavity ..not good ..so yes its great at retaining heat but allthough it may not make damp it does stop moisture from getting out ..leave windows open and doors open when not using room