I have the option to get cavity wall insulation done for free in my home, but i'm not sure if its a good idea or not. I've heard people say it can cause issues with damp, its hard to get out if there's a problem etc.
What would people suggest?
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What sort of insulation? Blown-in fiberglass?– MatthewJan 16, 2013 at 19:41
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I'm not sure, i'm assuming so– beakersoftJan 16, 2013 at 19:45
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What's behind the cavity, is there ventilation for the roof in there, do/will you have a vapor barrier?– BMitch ♦Jan 16, 2013 at 19:49
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i'm not sure, i'm assuming they will do a survey first before actually doing any work. I'm just a bit concerned they wont bother to do a proper survey as they need as many jobs as they can get for the grant money– beakersoftJan 16, 2013 at 22:15
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It's not easy to install a proper vapor barrier after the fact, and proper insulation is very important. But moisture in walls is a real concern. People cringe when I bring this up, but a few good coats of latex paint will form a vapor barrier of sorts. Not as good as a proper one, but may put your mind at ease in borderline cases. I know at one point a major paint manufacturer got their heavy bodied primer tested and it was better than the minimum 1 perm. I wish I had a picture of the giant water bubble that formed under the paint film in my wall after my roof sprung a leak.– bcworkzJan 17, 2013 at 6:09
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2 Answers
Walls have cavities for good reason! Wind blown rain can hit a wall with the force of a bullet. The rain is forced through the wall it move up down and sideways and, it you have an open cavity it runs down the inside of the outside wall = leaving the inner wall dry.
If you fill the cavity, the filling gets wet and, it turn makes the inner wall wet. Water is 4,000 times better at conducting heat than dry air! This means a wet wall looses you expensive heat at a very high rate.
Having written all that, may I mention that a cavity wall that is ventilated (as some old walls are) is the equivalent of a single brick wall and is in itself cold.
A cavity should only be filled if.... you can be sure the outer wall is watertight...and that you can guarantee that the wall will remain watertight for the life of the building!
A better way is, to fix sheets of closed cell insulation like polystyrene to the room side of the inner wall. If the inner wall is already plastered, you can fix the polystyrene to the wall with drywall adhesive and fix more drywall over the polystyrene as a working surface.
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2Exterior walls should not have open, uninsulated cavities. If the wall cavity is getting really wet when it rains, you need to fix the leaks. Water that gets into the cavity is already going to reach the inner wall and cause problems. If the siding is in decent condition blown-in insulation will help more than it will hurt, especially with a properly-installed vapor barrier. That said, there's a reason vapor barriers are only installed on one side--moisture that gets in needs an escape route. Apr 24, 2013 at 18:34
You should always be careful with contractors who seem to be out to make a quick buck. And you should certainly raise your questions with them when you meet them, and make sure you get an answer you are comfortable with. If you are dealing with a government- or utility-subsidized energy efficiency program, you may still have a choice of contractors. And the subsidy program may itself provide some inspection services which can help to keep the contractors in line.
We considered and performed similar energy efficiency upgrades in our home, a 120-year-old wood frame house near Boston. We received bids from two companies, both using the statewide utility subsidy program. The bids included blown cellulose cavity insulation and air sealing. The bids were similarly priced. We ended up going with the company that seemed easier to deal with and more competent in assembling the bid. They in turn used a subcontractor to do the work, and they did good work (probably because they knew to expect a strict inspection afterwards).
The blown cellulose was installed in wall cavities and attic floor. No vapor barrier was added, as this would require tearing out the walls.
The insulation made a noticeable difference in comfort and heating costs the next winter. I agree with you there is some risk of additional damage if moisture gets into the walls; there isn't a nice empty cavity behind the wall to help any leaked water evaporate. This likely means you have to keep a closer eye on your roof and walls, check your attic yearly, and ensure you don't have even a small leak. However, blown-in cellulose insulation is widely used and recommended, so the risk is (probably) small.
answered Jan 17, 2013 at 3:38
