Cavity wall insulation materials

A gap between two layers of a wall is known as cavity and responsible for 35% of heat loss. Heating systems need to run longer to keep household warm due to excess heat loss. Hence, cavities are filled with insulation material to resist heat loss and keep household warm and healthy. The use of energy reduces and eventually it reduces utility bills. With the achievement of energy efficiency, it also reduces the carbon footprint of a household. It offers added advantage to the property and eventually increases the value of it as well.

Three types of insulation materials are used in the United Kingdom to fill cavity, mineral wool or rock wool, polystyrene beads and formaldehyde foam or polyurethane foam. Each kind of insulation material is injected into a wall through drilled few hole from the outer wall structure. Mineral or rock wool is the most popular and widely used type of material used for insulation of domestic properties.

Mineral or rock wool resists absorption of water and rain drove moisture and protects inner leaf of the property. It is widely used where brick to brick or brick to wall construction is found. Minimum 50mm of cavity width is required if using a material of mineral wool for insulation. Other material expanded polystyrene beads are used for the properties with narrow cavities and for a stone built property as well. It mixed with an adhesive material which bonds then together and avoids spilling off into the wall. Another material formaldehyde or polyurethane foam is used basically for the properties with recessed or narrow mortar joints that would be possible to get damaged by larger drilled holes. It require only drilled hole of 8mm size and mostly used for properties with modern narrow cavity walls or random stone wall structure.

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References

1. Anter Singh. [https:// http://workworkltd.com/need-to-know-about-cero-funding/ "Cavity wall installer"], WorkWork Ltd, London, 19 March 2016.