There are types of insulation such as blown fibres, wools and urea formaldehyde foam that can lead to damp or performance problems either because they absorb moisture or have reached the end of their usefulness or because they were installed incorrectly.
Most houses built in the UK since 1930 have been built with a cavity wall: a wall formed from two thicknesses of masonry with an air space between them, which are held together with wall ties.
The air space ensures that any water which may enter the cavity either via wind driven rain or condensation simply drains down to the footings below the damp proof course, without crossing to the inner wall.
Cavity insulation fills this gap to create a thermal barrier. However should the insulation injected into the wall have been incorrectly installed or the wrong product then damp issue may occur. Cavity Extraction removes the insulation or blockages and obstructions found in some cavities that create cold spots and damp problems.
With the old failed insulation removed and should the home be suitable, new EPS Bonded Bead can be installed that negates issues of previous insulation types.
These photos are samples of slumped or missing blown fibres and wool or degraded urea formaldehyde foam insulation.
Keeping a home built with cavity walls free from damp depends on the air space remaining almost entirely free from blockages. Obstructions between the two walls can form a bridge and allow moisture to penetrate through to the interior of the house. This moisture penetration can lead to damp and mould problems, if left untreated.
A void in insulation can lead to cold spots which will potentially lead to condensation and mould also.
Why will this happen:
Cavity wall insulation should not be installed in steel-framed properties, as it can conceal the condition of the steelwork and increase the risk of moisture being retained around the frame, potentially leading to corrosion.
Its presence can also cause serious problems when selling or remortgaging the property. Many mortgage lenders will not lend on a steel-framed home where cavity wall insulation is present and may require full removal before considering the property suitable for lending.
Professional extraction allows the cavity and steel frame to be inspected and helps restore the property’s mortgageability.
