Insulating externally accessed under stairs cupboard

[Damian30]

Hi,

Elderly parents live in an early 1970's property with an externally accessed under stairs cupboard - probably designed as a coal shed.

It is a single skin wall backing onto the hall and on each side an under stairs cupboard accessed internally. The hall is draughty which I think is tracking between the stair well into one of the other cupboards and then into the hallway.

Long term intention is to get it bricked up (small security risk also) and then open up the access from the inside but realistically this won't happen soon. I'm looking for a quick solution to draught proof / insulate and get through this Winter.

I was thinking just to 'no more nails' some 50mm PIR onto the brickwork and underside of the stairs, using a spray foam around the internal gas pipe (this is old Truwell steel pipe) to get a full seal. I'll tape up the joints. There is also a cavity around some parts of the door which isn't closed, so will ever try and cut a strip of PIR to get a tight fit or just use spray foam to get it closed.

I'm not sure whether I need to leave any air gap between the PIR and brickwork. Was assuming not but could always batten and fix the PIR to the battens to given a 25mm gap or so if needed.

Appreciate any comments on this quick fix. The building is showing it's age and needs a full re-pointing amongst other things but one small step at a time and would be good to reduce some draughts for this Winter.

Many thanks.

 

[WanderOverYonder]

If it’s just a temporary fix then why not just use expanding foam in all the gaps to seal them up for now. Cheaper than PIR for something with limited longevity.

 

[Damian30]

I guess temporary will turn into months and years but take the point!

 

[endecotp]

Rockwool is easier to make fit snuggly into gaps.

 

[Harry Bloomfield]

Elderly parents live in an early 1970's property with an externally accessed under stairs cupboard - probably designed as a coal shed.

I did something similar here, a few years ago, but our coal shed entrance was partially indoors, and originally included a rough utility, and a toilet room - three rooms, three doors. The toilet was moved into what had been a pantry, and the utility and toilet combined, so then just two doors, facing onto an outdoor passage, with a long narrow, pointless coal store. With an outside entrance via a completely open arch, needing separate keys to access the utility, coal store, toilet, and back door to the kitchen - ridiculous.

I squared of the arch, added a new door, turning the outdoor passage, into an internal area, much more secure. I cut a new doorway, through from the utility, to the middle of the coal store, then bricked up the original door. I then added shelving to each side of what had been the coal store, making it into a new pantry.

The new outer back door, combined with an inner back door, makes the whole area much more usable, and warmer in winter, including the kitchen.

Your most effective way, is to simply brick up the outer door, after removing the door frame, keying in the bricks. What is the dividing wall made from, the one, between the coal shed, and the other area, that you were proposing opening up to give access? If it's brick, it might form a supporting wall.