Hi all,

I want to get my house walls insulated.

Half of the house has solid stone walls. The other half has cavity walls. I
just want the cavities insulated. I was hoping to get a grant for this.
However when a company came to look at the place, they discovered that the
cavities "have already been insulated" so I am not eligible for a grant.

In fact, the only insulation in the cavities is some almost useless 1"
thick polystyrene sheet, which is a waste of time, because it's not enough
to stop air movement within the cavity. It's not even 1/3 the thickness of
the cavity, and consists of small sheets inserted during the bricklaying
process. (Probably just enough to satisfy 1990 building regs).

When I asked the insulation company about paying for the work 100% out of
my own pocket, they said they still won't do the job because they can't be
sure what chemicals were used for the original insulation! They said there
could be some reaction between the chemicals they use and the old
insulation material.

So it looks like I can't win!

I would have thought that some company or other would be willing to come
along and pump expanding foam into my cavities, regardless of
any thin polystyrene sheet that's flapping around in there. This would fill
up the air gaps so that I'd get significant insulation.

Can anyone advise th best way for me to proceed to get this sorded out?

Many thanks,

Jim

Hi all,

I want to get my house walls insulated.

Half of the house has solid stone walls. The other half has cavity walls. I
just want the cavities insulated. I was hoping to get a grant for this.
However when a company came to look at the place, they discovered that the
cavities "have already been insulated" so I am not eligible for a grant.

In fact, the only insulation in the cavities is some almost useless 1"
thick polystyrene sheet, which is a waste of time, because it's not enough
to stop air movement within the cavity. It's not even 1/3 the thickness of
the cavity, and consists of small sheets inserted during the bricklaying
process. (Probably just enough to satisfy 1990 building regs).

When I asked the insulation company about paying for the work 100% out of
my own pocket, they said they still won't do the job because they can't be
sure what chemicals were used for the original insulation! They said there
could be some reaction between the chemicals they use and the old
insulation material.

So it looks like I can't win!

I would have thought that some company or other would be willing to come
along and pump expanding foam into my cavities, regardless of
any thin polystyrene sheet that's flapping around in there. This would fill
up the air gaps so that I'd get significant insulation.

Can anyone advise th best way for me to proceed to get this sorded out?

Many thanks,

Jim


I had my place done last year and the ground floor extension (built by
previous owners) was similar. Websters of Doncaster did mine with expanding
foam with a grant which they arranged.

http://www.webstersinsulation.com/

Mike

"Muddymike" wrote in
om:

Can anyone advise th best way for me to proceed to get this sorded
out?

Many thanks,

Jim


I had my place done last year and the ground floor extension (built by
previous owners) was similar. Websters of Doncaster did mine with
expanding foam with a grant which they arranged.

http://www.webstersinsulation.com/


That's reassuring - thanks. Bit too far afield, but if one company will do
it, there is probably another nearer home.

Jim

"Muddymike" wrote in
news:a6GdndI6SrsXVmjJnZ2dnUVZ8tSdnZ2d@brightview. com:

Can anyone advise th best way for me to proceed to get this sorded
out?

Many thanks,

Jim


I had my place done last year and the ground floor extension (built by
previous owners) was similar. Websters of Doncaster did mine with
expanding foam with a grant which they arranged.

http://www.webstersinsulation.com/


That's reassuring - thanks. Bit too far afield, but if one company will do
it, there is probably another nearer home.

Jim



I believe they cover the whole country.

Mike

On 3 Mar 2015 14:41:40 GMT, Jim x321x wrote:

When I asked the insulation company about paying for the work 100% out
of my own pocket, they said they still won't do the job because they
can't be sure what chemicals were used for the original insulation! They
said there could be some reaction between the chemicals they use and the
old insulation material.

Which is fair enough for foamed insulation (which I didn't think was
used anymore) but what about blown fibre?

--
Cheers
Dave.

"Dave Liquorice" wrote in
ll.co.uk:

said there could be some reaction between the chemicals they use and
the old insulation material.

Which is fair enough for foamed insulation (which I didn't think was
used anymore) but what about blown fibre?

Sure, I'm open to any suggestions. It seems like there are a few possible
options. How to decide which is best, I am not too sure.

Jim

On 04/03/15 15:00, AL_n wrote:
"Dave Liquorice" wrote in
ll.co.uk:

said there could be some reaction between the chemicals they use and
the old insulation material.

Which is fair enough for foamed insulation (which I didn't think was
used anymore) but what about blown fibre?

Sure, I'm open to any suggestions. It seems like there are a few possible
options. How to decide which is best, I am not too sure.

Jim


My cavities have blown fiber and it's pretty inert. I think it went in
maybe 20 years ago and apart from some settling it's still there (I've
been through the wall in a few places so I know).

It's a dry type - no glue and it was just blown in through a load of
injection points.

On 03/03/15 14:41, Jim x321x wrote:
Hi all,

I want to get my house walls insulated.

Half of the house has solid stone walls. The other half has cavity walls. I
just want the cavities insulated. I was hoping to get a grant for this.
However when a company came to look at the place, they discovered that the
cavities "have already been insulated" so I am not eligible for a grant.

In fact, the only insulation in the cavities is some almost useless 1"
thick polystyrene sheet, which is a waste of time, because it's not enough
to stop air movement within the cavity. It's not even 1/3 the thickness of
the cavity, and consists of small sheets inserted during the bricklaying
process. (Probably just enough to satisfy 1990 building regs).

When I asked the insulation company about paying for the work 100% out of
my own pocket, they said they still won't do the job because they can't be
sure what chemicals were used for the original insulation! They said there
could be some reaction between the chemicals they use and the old
insulation material.

So it looks like I can't win!

No reason you could not add blown fibre to that instead of polystyrene
beads.

Tim Watts wrote in news:249hsb-7av.ln1
@squidward.dionic.net:

So it looks like I can't win!

No reason you could not add blown fibre to that instead of polystyrene
beads.


That's interesting; you seem to be assuming that they would have been
thinking of using blown beads. I, for some reason, was thinking they'd be
using pumped foam. I wonder which is the best option: beads, fibre or foam.

And which is easy, best, and cheapest if I end up having to DIY it at my
own expense. (That would be a last resort, even though this is a DIY
newsgroup) ;-)

Jim

On 04/03/15 15:03, Jim x321x wrote:
Tim Watts wrote in news:249hsb-7av.ln1
@squidward.dionic.net:

So it looks like I can't win!

No reason you could not add blown fibre to that instead of polystyrene
beads.


That's interesting; you seem to be assuming that they would have been
thinking of using blown beads. I, for some reason, was thinking they'd be
using pumped foam. I wonder which is the best option: beads, fibre or foam.

Foam is probably teh best as it gets everywhere and is stable (will not
settle). there were big problems in the 70's with it gassing off and
making people ill - I believe that is not a problem now???

Beads - fall out everywhere if you make a hole, unless they are the glue
coated type. Can destroy any PVC cables that may be run in the cavity -
but so could the OP's original insulation in this case.

Blown fiber - seems OK. Can settle. Might not get everywhere if the
cavity has a lot of obstructions.

On Wednesday, March 4, 2015 at 3:15:32 PM UTC, Tim Watts wrote:
On 04/03/15 15:03, Jim x321x wrote:
Tim Watts wrote in news:249hsb-7av.ln1
@squidward.dionic.net:

So it looks like I can't win!

No reason you could not add blown fibre to that instead of polystyrene
beads.


That's interesting; you seem to be assuming that they would have been
thinking of using blown beads. I, for some reason, was thinking they'd be
using pumped foam. I wonder which is the best option: beads, fibre or foam.

Foam is probably teh best as it gets everywhere and is stable (will not
settle). there were big problems in the 70's with it gassing off and
making people ill - I believe that is not a problem now???

Beads - fall out everywhere if you make a hole, unless they are the glue
coated type. Can destroy any PVC cables that may be run in the cavity -
but so could the OP's original insulation in this case.

Blown fiber - seems OK. Can settle. Might not get everywhere if the
cavity has a lot of obstructions.

Beads have a bit less performance because of all the gaps. For general use they've fallen somewhat ouf of favour due to this plus the tendency to come out, but they're a good option for diy jobs for a couple of reasons. The equipment costs next to nothing, the beads are cheap, and it can always be removed if need be.


NT

On Tuesday, March 3, 2015 at 2:41:44 PM UTC, Jim x321x wrote:
Hi all,

I want to get my house walls insulated.

Half of the house has solid stone walls. The other half has cavity walls. I
just want the cavities insulated. I was hoping to get a grant for this.
However when a company came to look at the place, they discovered that the
cavities "have already been insulated" so I am not eligible for a grant.

In fact, the only insulation in the cavities is some almost useless 1"
thick polystyrene sheet, which is a waste of time, because it's not enough
to stop air movement within the cavity. It's not even 1/3 the thickness of
the cavity, and consists of small sheets inserted during the bricklaying
process. (Probably just enough to satisfy 1990 building regs).

When I asked the insulation company about paying for the work 100% out of
my own pocket, they said they still won't do the job because they can't be
sure what chemicals were used for the original insulation! They said there
could be some reaction between the chemicals they use and the old
insulation material.

So it looks like I can't win!

I would have thought that some company or other would be willing to come
along and pump expanding foam into my cavities, regardless of
any thin polystyrene sheet that's flapping around in there. This would fill
up the air gaps so that I'd get significant insulation.

Can anyone advise th best way for me to proceed to get this sorded out?

Many thanks,

Jim

If you don't qualify for a grant, you can diy. Polystyrene bead is easy & cheap.


NT

wrote in
:

If you don't qualify for a grant, you can diy. Polystyrene bead is
easy & cheap.

That's an interesting idea - thanks. I assume you mean beads with no
adhesive added. That sounded appealling at frist, but googling suggests
that this method can cause some problems like reaction with cables (which I
know I do have at places in my cavities, and settling, and the stuff puring
out when any wall-cutting is required. Other issues like damp and
condensation are also reported. I'm inlined to leave a hjob like this to a
pro company whio really knows what they are doing, and hopefully get a
grant.

Jim

On Wednesday, March 4, 2015 at 2:57:40 PM UTC, Jim x321x wrote:
wrote in
:

If you don't qualify for a grant, you can diy. Polystyrene bead is
easy & cheap.

That's an interesting idea - thanks. I assume you mean beads with no
adhesive added.

Yes.

That sounded appealling at frist, but googling suggests
that this method can cause some problems like reaction with cables (which I
know I do have at places in my cavities,

So I hear. You might need to run a few new cables if you use it.

and settling, and the stuff puring
out when any wall-cutting is required.

Inject something into the wall around where youre going to cut first. Or just stuff something in the hole when the bit comes out.

Other issues like damp and
condensation are also reported.

Those are a small risk with any form of retrofit CWI. Unglued bead has the advantage that it can be cured if it ever happens.

I'm inlined to leave a hjob like this to a
pro company whio really knows what they are doing, and hopefully get a
grant.

Bead CWI is very simple & easy. You dont even need to hire equipment. I like it for grey area walls, as if trouble occurs it can be vacuumed out, enabling use in walls with a degree of risk of problem.


NT

On 04/03/15 15:20, wrote:
On Wednesday, March 4, 2015 at 2:57:40 PM UTC, Jim x321x wrote:
wrote in
:

If you don't qualify for a grant, you can diy. Polystyrene bead is
easy & cheap.

That's an interesting idea - thanks. I assume you mean beads with no
adhesive added.

Yes.

That sounded appealling at frist, but googling suggests
that this method can cause some problems like reaction with cables (which I
know I do have at places in my cavities,

So I hear. You might need to run a few new cables if you use it.


The OP already has polystyrene in his cavities...

Tim Watts wrote in news:elkjsb-val.ln1
@squidward.dionic.net:

So I hear. You might need to run a few new cables if you use it.


The OP already has polystyrene in his cavities...

Polystyrene sheets, about 1.25" thick is what is in the cavities already.
I'm tempted to spray a acetone in there to get rid of it. Is that something
that the profoessionals do? Anyone know?

Jim