Which blown in Insulation is best? 50mm cavity

[martyc]

Hi My 1950's house was never insulated.
Recently insulated the attic with 250mm rockwool and it has made a huge difference.
I now want to get the walls done.
I have looked around and all that people seem to be offering are these beads that you can get blown in(silver beads)
I have been looking through this forum and people mention getting rockwool blown in...just wondering which is better as obviously you dont get a second chance with this!!
Cheers,
Martin.

 

[JohnD]

I have heard people say that the polystryrene beads run out if you make a hole in the wall.

Mine has fibreglass fluff which is treated with silicone to make it water-repellent and seems OK to me. When I've made holes (e.g. for extractors) it doesn't fall out and I poke a bit of loft insulation in the hole to make a good seal round the duct. At the time I was told I had to have that as my house is over 10m tall. While it was being installed it found some gaps in the brickwork in the loft where there was no plaster, and formed little heaps, but I don't mind that. It seems to knit together in the wall.

Over here you can usually get it installed by the gas or electricity supplier who give a good guarantee and usually a subsidised price.

 

[martyc]

Cheers John..its just that here i dont see anyone advertising anything else(and usually we are a bit behind when it comes to these things)
I have been assured though that the beads are pumped in with an adhesive on them and after 4 hours they set so shouldnt drop out if drilling etc.
The cheapest quote i got for a 1000 sq ft 3 bed semi is 800 euro (some as high as 3K!)
I see some guys here saying they got it done for £150 only!..my attic cost twice that!
Marty.

 

[Nige F]

You can get silver beads pumped in for £150.....but they`ll be ball bearings The adhesive coated balls were used over here to good effect ....now it`s rockwool, but only cuz it`s cheaper for the installer

 

[martyc]

So anyone know which offers the better U value?,...and if money was no object which one to go for (as im being ripped off already!)
Do the beads cause condensation problems etc etc
Cheers,
Marty

 

[iangh]

do you have Wickes over there?, i got my largish 4 bedroom house walls done with Rockwool for around £400.
Seem to be thorough to, I watched them carefully.
Rockwool is totally inert and a better bet than any thing made from plastic/chemicals, IMHO

 

[martyc]

Hey...never heard of Wickes so guess we dont have them...will shop around and see who does the rockwool and see if i can get a U value for 50mm cavity, and compare it with the beads..id imagine the rockwool would allow the building breath better.
Chers,
MArtin.

 

[JohnD]

Ask your electricity and gas suppliers and local authority if they have a scheme, you never know...

 

[crazycanuck]

in canada we have a blow in product made with fungicide in it.the reno stores have it in the insulation area and also have the machine to blow it in yourself ask around

crazycanuck