Cavity wall insulation means the process of sealing the gaps between two layers of brick walls. The insulation forms a barrier in order to block flowing of the heat outside. Wall insulation is vital for those properties that were built during the period between 1920 and 1989, as building regulations of that time rule separating one layer of walls from another by keeping gaps in between for air passage. However, nowadays cavity walls pose a threat to climate condition of our planet by giving rise to excessive release of carbon dioxide gases. That’s why, insulating walls with an appropriate type of insulation material is necessary to prevent generating CO2 and increasing fuel bills for heating homes by using heating systems.
Types of Cavity Wall Insulation Materials
Insulation materials tend to vary in broad ranges from synthetic insulation materials to eco-friendly, greener materials. The right insulation materials should be selected as per the requirement. The best way to decide suitable materials to insulate cavity walls is by conducting a home inspection. Professional inspectors or insulation installers are the best people to rely on than yourself to inspect your house and determine the requirement of the insulation materials.
Three main materials are chosen for cavity wall insulation and they are –
- Mineral Wool
- Polystyrene Beads
- Urea Formaldehyde Foam
These cavity wall insulation products are selected for the ability to render stable insulation effects to the building for the life of it. These insulation materials have high heat resistance capacity, low heat conductivity and they are non-combustible. Moreover, these products have proven to resist water flow or penetration to it thus making these ideal to prevent condensation or moisture build-up through the walls. Low moisture build up ensures long life of the insulation in the walls and lessening fuel bills more and more with time. Estimations taken on the effectiveness in reducing energy bills have revealed it is an amount of £90 per year in which fuel bills tend to lessen.
If you believe in using everything natural and eco-friendly, choose green insulation materials instead of synthetic materials. Sheep’s wool, flax, hemp, cellulose or recycled newspapers, cork board or straw materials are green cavity wall insulation materials that do not biodegrade and cause irritants on skin during installing insulation. Nonetheless, these materials are prone to forming pests or fungus and require them to be replaced with time. According to insulation experts’ observations, fibreglass insulation including batt and roll insulation and blown-in cellulose insulation are the most effective for insulating cavity walls.