"Tony Bryer" wrote in message
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On Wed, 17 Oct 2007 15:04:49 +0100 Doctor Drivel wrote :
For the average UK home the whole idea if building two walls is an
expensive luxury. Building two wall were one can do. A highly
insulated single wall is the best way.

A cavity wall lets you use durable and aesthetically pleasing facing
bricks economically and much cheaper (but no less fit for purpose)
blockwork for the inner skin. If you insulate the cavity you
increase the thermal mass (and thus comfort) within the house.

They tend to use 4" lightweight insulating blocks, maybe some 2" insulation
bats inside, a 2" cavity and an outer 4" brick leaf. This makes a very
"thick" wall about 12" thick.

If you want thermal mass: cheaper dense concrete blocks can be used no more
than 4" thick, a layer of 6" or 7" of insulation and then thin brick slips
(very thin bricks of say 1" thick) to get the brick affect. The wall will be
no thicker, yet the thermal qualities are "vastly" superior. The inner
blocks can be plastered right over and the plaster will not crack when
drying. The plaster also makes the wall air-tight.