Types of properties we see include:

  • Houses With Cavity Walls can usually be insulated. 
  • Houses with mixed solid and Cavity walls can usually be done.
  • Concrete Walls with cavities can usually be done Albeit a little harder to work with.
  • Modern houses that do not have filled cavities due to the Building Reg's exemption for using thicker thermalite blocks.

        Non standard or non conventional houses may require alternative insulation  methods, as such these are not included in the low price grants offer

  • Houses where there are solid walls for part of the house and cavities for later build may be done but under a different lower rate scheme and subject to survey
  • Metal frame houses (not standard but can be done)
  • Solid Walls ( usually pre-war) Don't have cavities can be externally or internally insulated but not covered by the simple grants so more expensive.
  • Timber Frame Buildings, not covered by the simple grant
  • Concrete Walls without Cavities (such as No fines )
  • houses with narrow cavities ( not normally suitable for conventional cavity filling)
  • Pre insulated Houses ( over last 20 Years )

 

 

How can I tell if my house has a cavity?

A good first indication is if the bricks run length wise known as stretchers and usually only have 1/2 bricks or as they are known headers at the end of the run of brickwork.

 

If there are lots of headers within the bond it often means they are being used to tie in the wall from the old standard 9inch brickwork.

 

Sometimes ( just to make things a bit more confusing) the bond of the brickwork uses headers within the pattern known as "snap headers" for a different decorative design and may still have a cavity within the build of the wall.  In order not to get to confused or too technical its always best to have a survey by an experienced surveyor.

 

Another simple way to determine if you have a standard cavity ie 50mm or greater is open your back door and measure between the inside and outside wall.  if it is a old standard 9 inch wall it will be the 9 inches plus the thickness of the plaster which would be about another 1/2 inch or in total 9 1/2 inches or about 240mm.  If however it is greater than 290mm or 11 1/2 inches you probably have a cavity in your brickwork.

 

If this cavity is then filled with insulation you improve on the amount of heat lost from your house saving you money year after year, it's just like wrapping a teacosy or quilt around your house keeping more valuable heat in and keeping you cooler in summer!

Types of Lofts

Lofts vary considerably many people have an insulated loft and therefore think there house is insulated however if it has not been updated over the years there is a strong possibility that it would not meet the new standards that are rewcommended by the Government.

The new recommended standard is at least 270mm or approx 10 3/4 inches this will make a considerable difference to the heat loss for your home.

 

Every now and again we still see homes that have no insulation at all although these are reducing as people became more aware of the need to insulate not just to save them money and reduce the amount of CO2 they release into the atmosphere. but also to help save the planet for future generations.

 

If your your lofts insulation is not higher than the timber joists within your loft you can safely assume it needs to be topped up.