Many people don’t really know about cavity wall insulation, the benefits of cavity wall insulation, and grants for cavity wall insulation. As a result, they miss the essential benefits of home insulation and free grants.
If you are also one of them, you should consider the following blog post. This blog post has a detailed discussion about cavity wall insulation, its benefits, grants for cavity wall insulation, and how to get these grants.
Cavity Wall Insulation: How It Works and Its History
The cavity wall consists of two layers with empty space in between them. The trapped air in the two layers of walls acts as insulation. In this way, it will reduce heat loss and buildings become energy efficient.
Firstly it was introduced in the Greco-roman buildings in the early 19th century. However, it was reinvented in the United Kingdom to provide the houses with insulation in a better manner.
Benefits of Cavity Wall Insulation
The cavity wall insulation can benefit homeowners through different ways, such as the following:
1. Enhance Energy Efficiency
The cavity wall creates two extra layers of insulation.
- Solid materials
- Trapped air layer
As air is one of the best insulators, it will not allow the heat energy produced by the buildings’ heating systems to escape. Due to this, the chances of heat loss from the interior of buildings are reduced to a great extent.
The reduction of heat loss results in a decrease in energy bills. On average, cavity wall insulation saves 90 pounds per year in apartments. In large homes, it saves about 300 pounds per year.
2. Reduce the Carbon Footprint
Carbon footprints are the result of extra combustion of fuel. Heating systems increase carbon emissions by working more than average. However, when cavity wall insulations cover homes, this reduces the loss of heat.
This decreases the combustion in the heating systems which results in a reduction of carbon footprint.
3. Increase the Property Resale Value
The cavity wall insulation increases the Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) Rating. At the same time, it adds an extra layer of protection to the building walls that enhances their durability. Buyers will always prefer homes with greater EPC ratings and enhanced durability.
4. Make Buildings Comfortable
The cavity wall insulation makes the homes comfortable for the people living in them. It acts as an insulating barrier between the interior and exterior of the building. It maintains comfort in both summer and winter by blocking heat transfer.
5. Prevent Mould Formation
The moisture from the rain or atmosphere can result in mould formation on the walls of the home. This will decrease the durability of the building and result in health complications for the residents.
However, through cavity wall insulation, moisture can’t reach the building’s walls and doesn’t form mold.
Best Materials for Cavity Wall Insulation
First of all, you should have a clear idea about your building requirements in terms of insulation. At the same time, you should research the characteristics of different materials. This will help you to select suitable cavity wall insulation material.
Here are the most commonly used materials for cavity wall insulation:
Polyurethane Foam
Polyurethane foams have two forms of installation. For newly built buildings, the installers prefer foam boards. However, for old building insulation, they use foam spray.
The foams of polyurethane can fill any type of cracks or holes in walls. In this way, it can make the building as insulating as possible.
Fiberglass Batts
The manufacturers compress fine glass granules to make the large and soft panels which are called fiberglass batts.
These batts are moisture and fire-resistant. However, their installation requires high expertise as any damage to fiberglass batts can result in health risks.
Polystyrene Beads
There are polystyrene beads or granules in the form of small balls. These balls fill the cavity between the walls. People prefer them due to their lightweight, customizable features, durability and water resistance.
Mineral Wool
The stone and slag wool are mixed to make mineral wool. Its fibrous structure traps the air inside it that acts as an insulator. Moreover, this material makes the building soundproof by absorbing extra noises.
Perlite
Perlite is a natural material that fills the cavities, cracks, and holes in the walls. It is not a good insulator but has several benefits, such as being lightweight, durable, inexpensive, and resistant to moisture, vermin, fire, and decay.
Cost of Installing Cavity Wall Insulation
The installation of a cavity wall insulator can cost between 1000 to 46000 pounds. It varies due to the type of wall, insulation material, property size, and wall area. When you start installing insulation, you may face several expenses, such as the following:
- A survey or inspection is required if you want a professional installation. It will take 150 to 300 pounds to hire a professional surveyor for this purpose.
- If there are any issues or cracks in the walls, they need to be repaired before installation. The cost of these repairs depends upon the size and extent of damages.
- Most houses have outdated cavity walls which are removed before installation of new cavity walls. The cost of outdated cavity wall removal lies between 1600 to 2600 pounds.
Considering the above-mentioned costs, you can make a budget for cavity wall installation.
Cavity Wall Insulation Grants: Schemes & Eligibility
There are several low-income homeowners who can’t afford the installation of cavity wall insulation. They should check grants related to cavity wall insulation in their area. Some most common schemes that provide cavity wall insulation grants are the following:
- Energy Company Obligation (ECO)
- Great British Insulation Scheme
- Local Authority Grants
The ECO scheme provides grants for the installation of cavity wall insulation at zero cost. They just check eligibility, if people fulfil their criteria, they will install the complete cavity wall insulation without any financial demand.
Qualifying Criteria for ECO4 Cavity Wall Insulation Grants
ECO4 scheme provides grants for cavity wall insulation only to those homeowners who fulfil their eligibility criteria. There are very simple factors in their criteria, such as the following:
- The first criterion is the ownership of property. Only owners or tenants with an allowance can apply for this scheme.
- The homes should have an updated Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) and have an EPC rating lower than D.
- Each property in the UK is given a Council Tax band from A to H and A to I. Properties in England should have A to D and the properties in Scotland and Whales should have A to E.
- Anyone from the family of the homeowner should be receiving government benefits, such as Universal Credit, Working Tax Credit, Child Tax Credit, Income-based Jobseeker Allowance, etc.
Process of Cavity Wall Insulation Installation Through Grants
The team of the ECO4 scheme confirms your eligibility and contacts you. Then, they will follow the steps given below:
1. Survey of Site
Check the building walls to know if there are any cracks or brickwork damage in them. If they find any of them, they will ask you to repair them.
Moreover, they will assess the conditions of your property to know which insulation material is suitable for your property.
2. Holes Drilling in the Walls
The installers drill holes of 22 mm at regular intervals. They make a strategy of making holes which results in minimal structural damage.
3. Insulation Material Injection
The installers use a high-pressure hose to inject the insulation materials in the cavity. The filling method depends upon the type of material.
4. Holes Refilling
The installers use mortar to refill the holes and make the wall seamless.
5. Final Inspection
Installers inspect all the parts of cavity wall insulation. They make sure that there is no damage or unfilled hole in the cavity wall. At the same time, they will guide the homeowner about its maintenance.
Final Thoughts
After installation, you should make a maintenance routine for cavity wall insulation. You can ask the installers for maintenance guidance. Maintenance routine includes proper inspection, cleaning, and repairing.
Frequently Asked Questions
You can easily improve the cavity wall insulation by drilling holes in the exterior wall and fill the insulating materials in a cavity. After this, you should refill the holes properly. For further improvement, you should take the help of experts.
The cavity wall insulation not only improves the comfort of your home but also saves a lot of your money. They reduce the loss of heat escaping from the interior of the building. In this way, heating systems can warm up the home with very little energy consumption which will directly reduce energy bills.
Different cavity wall insulations prove fruitful in different conditions. However, most people consider polyurethane foam as the best cavity wall insulation.
The most common problems in the cavity wall insulation are the following:
- Damp penetration
- Insufficient insulation performance
- Mould formation
- Building damage
