Insulation for cavity block house

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cbruen1

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Hi all - my house is built with cavity blocks (as opposed to a cavity wall) and is a bit of a nightmare to heat in the winter. I put new double glazed windows in and re-insulated the attic with fibre-glass, but this doesn't seem to have made a huge difference. I'm wondering if it's possible to use pumped insulation (beads, foam, etc) with a cavity block wall? I've read a lot of threads on this and another site, but I can't get a definitive answer. Some people say it's possible, others say the blocks would have to be perfectly aligned with no blockages from lumps of mortar, etc.
If it's not possible to use pumped insulation, can anyone recommend another way of insulating a cavity block house? I know there is the external plastering/paroc block type systems but these seem to be pretty expensive. Any thoughts / ideas greatly appreciated.

Ciaran.
 
Yes you can use insulation but very few companies do it, there is a company in Tullamore who's name escapes me but they did my house a while back and were excellent. Well worth doing. BAsically they use a lot more holes then a normal insulation company to pump the foam in
 
you've three options:
  1. insulate the wall internally, a poor option for the very reasons you've already mentioned
  2. insulate on the exterior, effective but costly
  3. dryline with insulated plasterboard, maybe costly depending on the layout of your home and any permanent fixtures to external walls like wardrobes etc
I guess a fourth option would be to knock it down and start again ;)
 
Been there myself with 9" hollow blocks so I know 1st hand your predicament.

kiwijbob has outlined the options correctly.

1) filling with foam is not recommended by the SEI (I spoke to one of their advisors) also, the approach is not on the IAB list or any standards list in Ireland, AFAIK

2) and 3) are as stated.

the option we went for was drylining and it worked out very well for us.
 
kiwibob is right but dont dismiss the fourth option - it could be more cost effective to knock and rebuild. otherwise it will be a constant headache with a bad energy rating.
 
Ah the joys of living in a mass produced cheap house.

I have worked on these houses in Dublin and couldn't believe the standards of the builds. How the planners let the developers build with these hollow blocks is unbelieveable. This method of building was left back in the stoneage. But, it's cheap and quick.

Have you ever noticed that this type of house always goes onto the market in the summer months?

Personally I would knock it down and use the hollow blocks to build a garden wall, or dog kennel!
 
Maybe not as stone age as you would think.
I saw a section of houses in a new estate being built with 9" cavity's last. year.
stopped once or twice to see progress and yes def cavity blocks.

couldn't believe it.

Then again -how many people in mass produced houses actually ask when buying if it is 4" double, 9" cavity or timber built.

K
 
karltimber said:
Then again -how many people in mass produced houses actually ask when buying if it is 4" double, 9" cavity or timber built.
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Contracts are so weak, building control non-existant and with the way the market was over the last decade, its difficult for buyers to get satisfaction on this and other aspects of the build.
 
hi , i recently had my house insulated from the inside , i got a tradesman who was highly recommended, he drylined the whole house , i am delighted with the outcome, his name is john 0872546845
 
MAJJ said:
1) filling with foam is not recommended by the SEI (I spoke to one of their advisors) also, the approach is not on the IAB list or any standards list in Ireland, AFAIK

2) and 3) are as stated.

the option we went for was drylining and it worked out very well for us.
Click to expand...
Hi Majj - ya starting to veer towards the drylining option, think it might be the only game in town at this stage. Did you do the work yourself, or pay someone? How much had you done and what did it cost in the end?

anthony2007 said:
hi , i recently had my house insulated from the inside , i got a tradesman who was highly recommended, he drylined the whole house , i am delighted with the outcome, his name is john 0872546845
Click to expand...
Hi Anthony same question - how much area/size wise did you have drylined and how much did it cost? Would like to get a ball park idea of costs.

colin79ie said:
Ah the joys of living in a mass produced cheap house.
Click to expand...

I wish it was cheap...sod all change out of 400k :(
 
MAJJ said:
1) filling with foam is not recommended by the SEI (I spoke to one of their advisors) also, the approach is not on the IAB list or any standards list in Ireland, AFAIK
Click to expand...

[broken link removed]

I'm looking for soemone to fill my cavitys before the autumn, anyone know a limerick installer.
 
owenm - not sure why you quoted me and then posted that link? My comment wrt - filling 9" hollow blocks i.e where the cavity is in each brick and there is no wall cavity because there is only 1 wall.


cbruen1 - can't give you a price because it was rolled into so many other things and a friend did all the work.

With dry lining - the things to consider are what has to move i.e. sockets, radiators,fixings etc. Small point but one thing we never thought of was our blinds needed be trimmed too.

We went with 50mm (38mm insulated + 12mm plasterboard) insulated plasterboards which were glued and fixed using mushroom fixings. Then you need a plasterer to skimthe lot. So your cost might be based on the boards, x bags of plaster, labour for possible plumbing/electrical work and the largest piece will skimming/plastering the boards.
 
I recently built a new extension on the back of my house. It was built with cavity walls (a 4" block, 3" cavity and another 4" block). In the cavity there is the Kingspan insulation all around. In the ceiling there is also the kingspan insulation as well as wool insulation. I was thinking about dry lining the walls on the inside with what MAJJ did (50mm - 38mm insulated + 12mm plasterboard).
Do you think that this is over the top considering the kingspan insulation is in the cavities and ceiling already?
Would it be much of an extra benefit insulation wise?
Not really worried about the cost of it if it made a big difference in keeping heat inside during the winter.

Thanks
 
cbruen1 said:
Hi all - my house is built with cavity blocks (as opposed to a cavity wall) and is a bit of a nightmare to heat in the winter. I put new double glazed windows in and re-insulated the attic with fibre-glass, but this doesn't seem to have made a huge difference. I'm wondering if it's possible to use pumped insulation (beads, foam, etc) with a cavity block wall? I've read a lot of threads on this and another site, but I can't get a definitive answer. Some people say it's possible, others say the blocks would have to be perfectly aligned with no blockages from lumps of mortar, etc.
If it's not possible to use pumped insulation, can anyone recommend another way of insulating a cavity block house? I know there is the external plastering/paroc block type systems but these seem to be pretty expensive. Any thoughts / ideas greatly appreciated.

Ciaran.
Click to expand...
Hi, I am in same position (mid 70's 9" cavity block house) with no wall insulation. Very cold house! Did you get your house insulated? If so, what option did you go for? Expensive? I am still no wiser after all my efforts to establish the best method to insulate. Thanks, Tom.
 
Hi, has anyone investigated in detail the external option, i know the merits / possible problems have bee discussed in detail a while ago on this site. however, i would be keen to hear if anyone has seriously considered or even got their house externally insulated.
I have been looking at it but only come across couple of companies who supply materials but dont install themselves.
 
Jo90 said:
Hi, has anyone investigated in detail the external option, i know the merits / possible problems have bee discussed in detail a while ago on this site. however, i would be keen to hear if anyone has seriously considered or even got their house externally insulated.
I have been looking at it but only come across couple of companies who supply materials but dont install themselves.
Click to expand...

Is this discussion over on boards any use? Be careful who you get to do this job as it would appear to be a fairly specialised one. Check the company out thoroughly.
 
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