Cavity Wall Problems

If you need help and advise with regard to cavity wall problems, wall tie failure, surveys, building surveys, structural reports / engineers reports / specific defects report, structural surveys, home buyers reports or any other property matters please call 0800 298 5424 for a friendly chat.

Should I fill an old cavity wall with insulation?

We have been asked this question several times and unfortunately there is no simple answer. Let us first of all go through the benefits of cavity wall insulation.

Benefits of modern cavity wall insulation

If it is added retrospectively it will improve the thermal properties of the building, as most buildings have a large wall area it can have a good impact, though not as good as adding insulation within the roof but far better than adding double glazing (unless you have a larger area of windows than brickwork, which is unusual to say the least).

Is retrospective filling of cavity bad?

Where a cavity is filled retrospectively it can cause problems. This is because originally the cavity wall ties were not galvanised and therefore prone they rust, so any dampness in a cavity can cause this rusting. As explained, the outer layer of brick gets wet and dries with the natural cycle, it stays wetter in areas where the sun cannot get to it and where there is a lack of air movement. Unfortunately, the older original style of insulation is said to encourage the dampness across the cavity and into the inner brick or blockwork, meaning some dampness can get through the inside of the property.

Whilst we think that problems with dampness has been exaggerated out of all proportion by those that have a vested interest in the damp proofing industry it can nevertheless look unsightly and be a health problem in extreme circumstances (or so we are lead to believe by what we believe). The other problem with pumps or blown insulation is even where there wasn't a problem originally the insulation does tend to pack down over the years and this can then cause a problem. We are currently dealing with one property where this appears to be the problem and we are literally trying everything else first to establish if it could be anything else, as it is very difficult to remove the blown/pumped insulation.

Cavity wall problems are not always wall ties

Another problem with a cavity wall is that they are sometimes put up to a poor standard, meaning that internally the brick mortar is rejecting rather than being cleaned off. This can, in turn and in time, lead to dampness bridging the cavity. If of course it's also in touch with one of the old style wall ties that rust then you could well have dampness and a degrading wall tie.

Walls - Articles and Information

Structural Cracking

How, in our experience, Insurance Companies deal with Cracks in Properties

Cracks in my Wall

Wall Tie Problems

Repairing Cracks

Structural Reports

Please see our section on:

Information on Engineers Reports

Specific Defects Reports

Dampness Articles

If you truly do want an independent expert opinion from a chartered surveyor, and many of us are also chartered builders, with regard to cavity wall problems, wall tie failure, surveys, building surveys, structural reports / engineers reports / specific defects report, structural surveys, home buyers reports or any other property matters please contact 0800 298 5424 for a chartered surveyor to give you a call back.

If you have a commercial leasehold or freehold then you may wish to look at our Dilaps Website at www.DilapsHelp.com and for Disputes go to our Disputes Help site www.DisputesHelp.com .

We hope you found the article of use and if you have any experiences that you feel should be added to this article that would benefit others, or you feel that some of the information that we have put is wrong then please do not hesitate to contact us (we are only human).

The contents of the web site are for general information only and is not intended to be relied upon for specific or general decisions. Appropriate independent professional advice should be paid for before making such a decision.

All rights are reserved the contents of the web site is not to be reproduced or transmitted in any form in whole or part without the express written permission of 1stAssociated.co.uk.