Cavity Wall Insulation - how do you know its filling cavity?

NIMAN

Cavity Wall insulation is one energy saving measure I have considered having done in my home on the near future, but I have a worry/question.

I was just looking at my house one day, with all its little sections and areas, like little low areas around the porch, the area away up high at the eaves above bedroom windows, the bit above the living room bay window etc, and I got to wondering how the installers ensure that every area is pumped with filler?

Surely it would require dozens upon dozens of holes to try to get all gaps filled around the entire house? And even then, what proof have you that there aren't large sections of cavity unfilled?

BryanF

NIMAN wrote: »

I was just looking at my house one day, with all its little sections and areas, like little low areas around the porch, the area away up high at the eaves above bedroom windows, the bit above the living room bay window etc, and I got to wondering how the installers ensure that every area is pumped with filler?

presuming there is in in fact a cavity through-out than the apart from trusting your installer the best way to ensure continuity is to carry out a thermal imaging assessment (best done when external temp is around zero, so early morning before summer sets in) your probably looking at circa 150-200 but ring around for a few quotes. AND inform the installers that you'll be getting this done:) as it helps to ensure a good jobs done (even if you don't follow up with the thermal imaging)

Surely it would require dozens upon dozens of holes to try to get all gaps filled around the entire house?

see the IAb cert for any of the installers products and you'll see the spacings, also see here http://www.seai.ie/Grants/Better_energy_homes/contractor/

And even then, what proof have you that there aren't large sections of cavity unfilled?

thermal imaging assessment

NIMAN

But how many people will ever get thermal imaging done? Very very few I'd guess, which means that there might be a vast majority of jobs done with large sections unfilled.

TPM

NIMAN wrote: »

But how many people will ever get thermal imaging done? Very very few I'd guess, which means that there might be a vast majority of jobs done with large sections unfilled.

A lot of it comes down to the person doing the work, a reputable firm will have a good idea how much it will take to fill the cavity and know how to make sure to get as much filled as they can. on the other hand a cowboy will try to get away with using as little insulation as possible.

As bryan said, thermal imaging will show up how well it is filled, and tell them you are getting it done and holding back final payment untill this is done.

muffler

Niman if you are intending to carry out a bit of decorating then you could always bore a few small holes in the inner leaf and have a look to see whats there. The holes can be filled again easily.

Other than that there is no way of knowing unless you get the thermal imaging done as stated above.

just do it

NIMAN wrote: »

But how many people will ever get thermal imaging done? Very very few I'd guess, which means that there might be a vast majority of jobs done with large sections unfilled.

The only job that matters to you is your house. Bryan is spot on with he's assessment - thermal imaging will tell you if there are gaps. A good installer will be interested and will be quite comfortable with it. He'll find out if he is doing a good job and should be happy to make good any gaps.

Whilst there are cowboys, there are good lads out there as well.

Supertech

Slightly off topic -sorry mods - but I've always wondered why thermal imaging is not offered as an integral part of a cavity fill installation, or why it's not mandatory as part of the certification of the job by the insulation contractor. Given that SEAI demand certification for everything else it would seem to be logical that this would be a condition, especially for grants etc.

fclauson

Supertech wrote: »

Slightly off topic -sorry mods - but I've always wondered why thermal imaging is not offered as an integral part of a cavity fill installation, or why it's not mandatory as part of the certification of the job by the insulation contractor. Given that SEAI demand certification for everything else it would seem to be logical that this would be a condition, especially for grants etc.

simple - the price of the device to do it

Poor Uncle Tom

just do it wrote: »

The only job that matters to you is your house. Bryan is spot on with he's assessment - thermal imaging will tell you if there are gaps. A good installer will be interested and will be quite comfortable with it. He'll find out if he is doing a good job and should be happy to make good any gaps.

Whilst there are cowboys, there are good lads out there as well.

This is all good, the only worrying part is how you find out about any gaps unless you carry out a full thermal imaging survey of the building elevations.

The installer could be the best in the business and could have carried out hundreds of jobs, but there are no guarantees that there are no gaps unless there is a thermal imaging survey of the building carried out.

MicktheMan

Supertech wrote: »

Slightly off topic -sorry mods - but I've always wondered why thermal imaging is not offered as an integral part of a cavity fill installation, or why it's not mandatory as part of the certification of the job by the insulation contractor. Given that SEAI demand certification for everything else it would seem to be logical that this would be a condition, especially for grants etc.

fclauson wrote: »

simple - the price of the device to do it

Not just the price of the equipment (and training) which, trust me, is not cheap but you must also consider the seasons as you need a decent delta T between inside and outside to be as sure as you can be that the job is done right.
If thermal imaging was made mandatory then grant aided work would only be able to be carried out during the winter months and then only on dry cold days.

just do it

just do it wrote: »

The only job that matters to you is your house. Bryan is spot on with he's assessment - thermal imaging will tell you if there are gaps. A good installer will be interested and will be quite comfortable with it. He'll find out if he is doing a good job and should be happy to make good any gaps.

Whilst there are cowboys, there are good lads out there as well.

Poor Uncle Tom wrote: »

This is all good, the only worrying part is how you find out about any gaps unless you carry out a full thermal imaging survey of the building elevations.

The installer could be the best in the business and could have carried out hundreds of jobs, but there are no guarantees that there are no gaps unless there is a thermal imaging survey of the building carried out.

So we're in agreement then PUT;)

Poor Uncle Tom

just do it wrote: »

So we're in agreement then PUT;)

Yip! great minds, fools and all that...........:p