Just less than half of the properties in the UK have solid walls which means that nearly 50% of homes are losing a significant amount of heat and energy through the walls alone. One third to be precise. With the cost of energy rising all the time and increased awareness of environmental issues associated with running a home, it is only natural to want seek out ways to prevent energy loss especially with something as simple as the walls of your home. In this blog you will find concise advice about choosing appropriate solid walled wall insulation for your home, and serious issues to avoid problems in the future.
Before we begin, understand that any problems with damp must be addressed before you can proceed with insulating your walls. You cannot hide, cover or isolate damp with insulation and it is likely to cause serious, more-expensive problems in the future.
What does internal wall insulation mean and what are the options?
When you apply internal wall insulation to the walls in your home, you will add insulating material to the lining of the insides of your external walls. You have two options when insulating your solid walls internally – you can either choose rigid insulation boards or stud wall.
- Insulation boards: Insulation boards are made of coarse wood or cane fibre that is fitted to the inside of your walls using ribbons of plaster or adhesive. The boards can be cut to fit the space for which they are intended. They are not solid so they do need fixings that can go through them and into the wall behind.
- Stud wall insulation: A metal or wooden studwork frame is attached to the wall and packed in with mineral wool fibre. It is then plastered, ready to be redecorated. Stud wall insulation is thicker than the insulation boards and is strong enough to hold heavy fittings such as radiators, sinks or kitchen units.
- Aerogels:
Which internal wall insulation product is right for me?
You may now be wondering which one is right for your home. Consider some of these factors before you choose.
Internal Insulation Thickness:
It goes without saying that the thicker the insulation the more effective your energy saving will be however this has consequences. The thicker the insulation the more expensive the project and the more space lost on the interior of your home. You should expect the insulation thickness to be anywhere up to 100 mm thick that can be quite a substantial amount on any room.
Damp
It has already been addressed that damp is a huge problem and you should not try to insulate over damp. Make sure you tackle any existing damp problems before you begin. It can be very difficult to insulate every single part of your home and there is a risk that condensation will collect, usually around areas where an internal wall meets an external wall. It is always a good idea to hire a professional to insulate your home for you to avoid these issues developing into the future. You can also speak to your contractor about insulation that has moisture handling properties.
There are two different types of moisture handling insulations:
• Hygroscopic – they release the water vapour.
• Hydrophobic – water vapour droplets will form on the insulation.
Hygroscopic materials are better in already moist environments as they allow the building to manage the movement of the moisture. Hydrophobic materials are better in buildings where there isn’t much moisture. You need to decide what is best for your home.
Other amenities in your home
Another way you can lose energy in your home is via pipes that come in through your walls from the outside. You should try to insulate your pipes, wires and plumbing as much as possible and you may decide it is actually best to bring these facilities on the inside of the insulation. There can be many risks to leaving pipes outside in the cold, such as burst pipes. This would be the time to make the change.
Is the investment worth it?
As with many green energy adjustments you make to your home, this project will cost money. The question is whether this initial investment will pay itself back and the answer is a certain yes. You will be helping to reduce your carbon footprint as well as making sure you and your family are warm and snug all winter long.
