How do I tell if I have cavity wall insulation?

Ostreger

Hi
I have an 1960s detached house, which has a heat sink of a hall / stairwell in winter. Upstairs gets very cold too. I assume it has cavity walls, but how do I find out if it has cavity wall insulation?

This may be a naive question, but I'd like to check it out before I get potential cowboys in to fill a wall that's already filled.....
Cheers

Richard C · Posted: Thu Oct 12, 2006 7:31 am Post Subject:

If it’s 60’s it won’t have been done when new. The easiest way to tell is to look carefully at the outside walls for small, tell tale round (about 25-30mm) blotches of slightly different coloured mortar where the holes have been drilled in the walls to insert the insulation pump.

They will usually be all around the property, some around half way up & some more near the top of the walls, probably around 3-5m apart. Sometimes they are done from inside but usually only where access is difficult from the outside.

Have you upgraded the loft insulation? DG also makes a huge diffrence! It’s worth remembering that most local councils have grant schemes which drastically reduces the cost of both cavity & loft insulation; usually free if you’re over 60! Be wary as prices vary wildly & (like practically everything now) there are now BC restrictions on what can be used as a filling material so you need to use a company registered to carry out this type of work.

JohnD · Posted: Thu Oct 12, 2006 8:24 am Post Subject:

You can also have a look in the loft. Where the walls are not plastered there are usually gaps in the mortar, and the insulation material will bulge (plastic foam) or blow (glass wool) through them. In my house I found a couple of sackfulls in one corner of a loft.

It is also likely to get round pipes thaty have passed through holes drilled in the wall if they are not tightly sealed.r

You might even find that your cavities are open at the top in which case you can peer down them.

Ostreger · Posted: Thu Oct 12, 2006 9:52 pm Post Subject:

Thanks!
follwoing this advice, it looks like I don't have cavity wall insulation....

I have another long post about loft insulation elsewhere on this site.
I think that I'll sort out the cavity wall insulation as next spring's project - sounds like sorting out the loft will have a more immediate impact

Cheers
Sarah

masona · Posted: Sat Oct 14, 2006 11:16 am Post Subject:

Another options is to carefully remove the air brick vent and stick a mirror & shine a torch to see up the cavity.

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ricochet · Posted: Sun Dec 24, 2006 11:54 pm Post Subject:

We bought a 1970's stepped terrace house ( 3 stiorey- built on a hill ).

I contacted Scottish Power about insulation ( apparently all the energy co's offer subsidised insulation provision )
they arranged a survey visit foc .

And in due course their contractor insulated the loft for £99 and filled the cavity walls for £125 , sounded a bargain to me !.

blobthebuilder · Posted: Thu Mar 01, 2007 12:15 pm Post Subject: Loft and cavity wall insulation

It's possible to install loft and cavity wall insulation as a DIY project of course, but be aware of the hazards too. Some insulation materials are skin and moist surface irritants so when being installed, protective clothing including goggles and face mask should be worn.

At the moment, i.e. 2007 and onwards, the utility companies are under an obligation to reduce their carbon emmissions or face fines, and cavity wall and loft insulation is one of the more effective ways of achieving that, so they're providing discounts to do it. Therefore, it may be more cost effective to get your loft and cavities professionally installed, less hassle for you personally too. If you receive certain qualifying benefits, you can even get it free.

(link removed - M R )

teleman91 · Posted: Wed Oct 22, 2008 9:36 am Post Subject: alternatives to cavity wall

Can anyone tell me are there any alternatives to cavity wall insulation. My house was built approx 1910 and i dont have cavities in the external walls. The kitchen was added around 1977 and has since had cavity wall insulation, and the difference in room temperature is immense between the kitchen and the rest of the property.

Symptoms · Posted: Wed Oct 22, 2008 3:38 pm Post Subject:

Ostreger - as others have hinted, contact your energy supplier they have schemes that run from free to heavily subsidised. Why bother doing it yourself when they've all the tackle to do the job properly, quickly, etc., etc. Get it done NOW.

memor maplin · Posted: Wed Oct 22, 2008 5:47 pm Post Subject:

Be careful that its done properly . There are some horror stories that it has caused dampness.
I suspect that the cavity has not been filled properly and certain parts were not filled causing cold spots resulting in condensation.

For solid walls its easier to insulate internally the downside is it takes up living space.