Conflicting advice on cavity wall insulation

[malcolm.burtt]

Hi all

I've been looking at upgrading the insulation on my 1970's link detached house. The house is tile clad with a 2 or 3 metre bare area at ground level.

I've already had the loft insulation upgraded to the current maximum recommended levels and decided to get quotes for adding cavity wall insulation too while grants for that were still available. I've had two companies in to quote for the work and had different advice from each on the viability of the work.

The first company said that doing the work wasn't possible because the tile cladding would prevent them from drilling all the way up the wall and simply pumping in from the bottom would leave an unfilled void at some point up the wall leading to possible damp problems in the future. They also said that my tile cladding already afforded some element of insulation (which makes sense) and that cavity wall insulation wasn't needed because of this.

The second company said that they could do the work although the insulation would not fill all the way to the top of the wall. When challenged on the damp issue highlighted by the previous company they said that they didn't think there would be a problem. They quoted =A3300 to do the job.

Given the opposing views expressed by the two surveyors that came to quote I'm now not sure what to do. Can anyone offer any advice.

Regards

Malcolm

[Andy Cap]

The top third of the front of my house is tile hung, along with very narrow mortar joints, which I didn't want disturbed and so I had the front of the house done from the inside. Of course internal decore becomes an issue, almost insurmountable, I guess, if you're talking about the whole house. As an measure though, it made a major difference to keeping the house warm.

Andy

[Mary Fisher]

What a sensible idea!

Yebbut it gives an excuse for a complete redoration. Keeps him off the streets :-)

Oh it does, there's no doubt about that.

Mary

[Owain]

How hard would it be to lift the tile cladding off and then replace it?

Owain

[Malcolm Burtt]

Not especially "hard" exactly, just expensive as I'd need to clad the house in scaffolding to achieve that.