Walls

kennyb3

Just been speaking contractor I ve used before and thought was great.

Im looking at making our houses bit warmer now - he s looking at various issues and I trust him.

He came this morning and explained that the walls are battened out, 50mm of wool then stabbed on hollow blocks, so no cavity and no pumping possible. He explained the 50mm wool isn't much insulation at all really.

Instead he advised to tackle using high density insulation board mechanically fixed to inside walls.

House was built 1997, so was disappointed to find no cavity.

Any idea of a guide price on the above (to compare)?

Also I assume this is going to involve good bit of upheaval and redecorating?

I forgot to ask him if it is the whole room or just the external walls (semi d) or what?

Would we be better waiting and getting more money for external insulation? Issue being we ve a nice brick facade at front I want to keep. And also we might put on extension in few years, so possible wastage at back.

It's only back of the house that's cold - faces west and into wind, front is toasty. Okay to just insulate the back facing rooms or is there issues to consider?

MicktheMan

kennyb3 wrote: »

Would we be better waiting and getting more money for external insulation?

Imo, if heat loss by conduction is your main heat loss mechanism, then yes.

kennyb3 wrote: »

It's only back of the house that's cold - faces west and into wind, front is toasty. Okay to just insulate the back facing rooms or is there issues to consider?

You might want to consider having a heat loss survey done which will indicate where / what the main heat loss mechanisms are.

If air leakage is your problem, insulation won't help much!

kennyb3

Hi Mick, thanks for the input.

The contractor is going to look at airtightness issues for us and as I said knowing their work I trust them to get it right.

I will suggest survey to them.

I guess I just want to understand my options on the insulation side of things (will separately look at air tightness once I can get my head around this).

These are my issues:

- Cold back of house (semi D)
- Lovely red bricks to front ( so would only be keen to do 2 sides)
- Not keen on internal insulation as losing room space/massive disruption

So not sure what to do insulation wise?

Trying to focus on where we spend money - putting in new back door, new sliding door & seals etc which should help.

Thinking maybe put in small stove in living room which has double doors through to kitchen/diner and leave insulation as is. As can't really see a good option for us.

just do it

There is also the potential issue with mould build up behind internal insulation which won't show for a few years. Unfortunately insulation wasn't on the agenda when your house was built.

kennyb3

Yeah internal is out.

Probably put in a stove in living room, and save for external insulation later for 2 sides and do it with a (planned) extension in 5 years plus time.

Seems like my best solution