cavity wall insulation on 1903 property?

[flanajb]

I keep getting cold callers knocking on the door offering me free cavity wall insulation. We had a chap knock today and I thought "ok, let's get it done". But having done a little research on the inter web, I seem to have come across more horror stories than positive outcomes. I am conscious that more people post about bad things than good things when all was ok.

Just keen to hear from any forum members who may have also taken advantage of the free grant.

Thanks

 

[Baldhead]

We get the same cold callers on the phone and at the door, I told one chap who came to the door that I didn't want it as my house wasn't designed to have cavity wall insulation, I want my house to 'breath', I pretended I was ex building trade, I was amazed that he actually agreed with me!

Baldhead

 

[defsdoor]

How wide are the cavities ? On our house they are no more than an inch - which to fill requires "a lot" of holes drilled in the wall as the foam won't flow so well. As our walls are rendered, finding the cement to drill into (the easier option as our house is 100% engineering bricks) would be a nightmare.

Therefore I'm more interested in solar panels - get something back from those instead.

 

[flanajb]

The cavities are 75mm+, and the house is read brick.

 

[jpw123]

This is just my opinion. My daughter asked me about cavity wall insulation & i put her off it. Walls are meant to breathe i told her.
She as bare floorboards downstairs with gaps grandson could put a credit card down Huge bay windows & patio doors to rear, hardly any wall left. I've seen houses with black mould in every room after having cavity walls done, possibly due to bad installation or maybe walls damp in first place, but if they cant breathe how are they supposed to dry out. In a cavity wall construction, any door , window etc should have a cavity tray above it . the purpose of to deflect any ingress of water through external brick/block back out through weep holes rather than coming in above window or door.
I repeat, not to offend any installers , this is just my opinion.

Yes, i am a retired builder.

 

[flanajb]

I am now thinking that I will cancel the second home visit. We have very slight damp in our sitting room on one wall and the whole house is breezy. Not really cold though. Suspended timber floors, with large gaps between the boards.

Under the floor boards is soil, there is no membrane or concrete floor so I do wonder where that moisture will go if we stop the walls from breathing

 

[Bod]

Tell the callers to see the landlord.
Worked every time for me, in the only house in the street, without double glazing.

Bod

 

[worn thumbs]

I just ask them how big a job it is to build in the cavities as the house was built before their introduction.The salesmen soon go away.

 

[RobinBHM]

I had CWI installed, with a grant, although not free. Took ages to organize as surveyor wrongly specified job and fitters kept saying 'cant do'

Got it done eventually. Not had any problems, but not noticed much if any difference.

Most insulation companies, will install blown mineral fibre as its quick. Insulation in cavity is likely to have gaps and may settle over time. Areas with gaps apparently could be cold spots with risk of condensation.

If you live in a sheltered area it may be slightly worth it. It you live in a zone 4 area, I wouldnt even think about it. High wind levels will certainly drive water into the cavity and having it full of insulation wont help!

The problem with grants for loft and cavity insulation, is the installation will be done at warp speed, In my case about 2 hours!

 

[heimlaga]

I work in the building trade and I would not use neither foam nor any kind of mineral or glass fibres in the cavity of a brick wall in the British climate....... Not that I have ever been in Britain but I have gathered that the climate is very moist and windy and pretty warm down there. That combination is the ultimate recipy for water penetration and mould.
I would inverstigate if the cavity could be filled with Leca gravel or foam glass gravel or some other mineral based breathing insulation.

I would never ever buy anything from a cold caller.
I just keep telling them that if they need to use cold calling as a means to sell their product then the product itself must be either flawed or overprized. I good product for a good prize should sell itself through happy customers so the producer of a good product does not need to waste money on cold calling.

 

[Phil Pascoe]

RICS (iirc) apparently advise that it's not advisable to fit cavity insulation in areas of extreme weather - which probably counts most of the country out, actually.

 

[novocaine]

previous owner had it installed, I'm now living with the consequences of cold spots, damp in places they didn't do (like the front bay window and beneath the windows down stairs) and around door frames.
it is next to impossible to remove. no way would I have done it.