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Cavity Walls
Prior to the early 1930s, walls were of a solid construction, with the result that most homes suffered from dampness. This was due to moisture from the outside penetrating the pores material, and travelling through the walls. To combat this problem, the cavity wall was introduced, and has become the standard construction method used in dwellings. This cavity between the two walls will be no less than 50mm across, and more likely to be about 75mm. The purpose of having a cavity is so that the outside wall is completely separated from the inside so by creating a break between the two preventing moisture from travelling from one to the other. |
Cavity Wall Insulation
Due to the fact that the greatest contributor to heat loss from within the home is through the walls, in new property, the cavity is put to another use, which is to insulate the walls by introduced insulating panels into the cavity as the walls are being built. Unfortunately, as the introduction of insulated walls is a relatively new practice, many of the homes with cavity walls built from the early thirties suffer from serious heat loss. For these properties to benefit from cavity wall insulation, a method of introducing the insulating material into the cavity has been developed, which causes little or no disruption within the home. This is done by drilling a series of holes in the outer leaf of the wall and blowing the insulation into the cavity, the holes are then sealed with a coloured mortar that matches the existing leaving little or no trace of the work. Wall insulation lasts the lifetime of the house, so that after installation it will continue to save on heating bills every year of the house life.
The result of cavity wall insulation (in addition to saving on heating cost) will create a more even temperature within the home, help prevent condensation on the walls, and reduce heat build-up during hot summer days. Consider too your contribution to the planet by the effect of reducing fuel usage in relation to green house gasses, which cause global warming and climate change |
| The first step is to ensure that the walls do have a cavity, which can be checked in a number of ways. The first is to measure the thickness at any door or window opening. Cavity walls are at least 300mm. Secondly, check the pattern of the brickwork. Cavity walls show only full bricks (Stretcher Bond), as in Fig 1 above, where a solid wall will show the end of a brick (Header) as well as the stretchers. But do not worry too much about this, as an approved contractor will check all this out on your behalf. |
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| Check with your local District Council for approved contractors, as the work must be done to a British Standard, and grants are usually available. |
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