Wiser Cavity Insulation removal

Cavity wall insulation on your property can sometimes become affected by moisture and result in damp issues on your property, and in some cases, it may need replacing if it was installed a long time ago.

Why Should You Remove Cavity Wall Insulation?

When installed correctly and with the suitable material, high-quality cavity insulation will ensure your property remains safe, energy-efficient and warm.

Unfortunately, poorly installed cavity wall insulation can result in penetrating dampness, damp problems condensation and mould if the following occurs:

• The cavity was not appropriately cleared before the insulation installation

• Your property is in an area of high exposure to rain and winds

• Your property has damage to the external walls such as cracks within the brickwork or render

• Cavity insulation has not been installed correctly

• The cavity is suffering from blockages as a result of poor workmanship or new building works

• The insulation is ageing and suffering from slumping

Cavity wall insulation that is faulty may soak up moisture which can then affect your home’s wall surface. Wet insulation can prove challenging and difficult to dry out and rectify the situation. This can result in damp walls in your property, which is likely to increase your property’s energy costs. Furthermore, your property is expected to be considerably colder and suffer from damp smells and mould growth.

All of the above mentioned issues can negatively affect the property and the resident. The property can have rusty wall ties, which can lessen the overall structural integrity of the property’s external walls. Regarding the resident, the quality of air within the property can become negatively impacted by dampness or mould.

The issues listed above may take several years to develop before you notice issues within your property. Damp may damage your walls long before the situations present themselves. Likely, your energy costs will also rise due to your heating being forced to work harder to maintain a suitable property temperature.

So then, how does cavity insulation work?

A most common technique to install cavity insulation in a property is by injected bonded beads. Companies that provide this service usually start this process by drilling holes externally in your walls around 22mm in diameter and are spaced around 1 metre apart. A unique material is then injected into the wall before sealing the holes with cement or render. 

The most common material used when installing insulation has been mineral wool or polystyrene beads. On occasions, spray foam can be used too.

This can improve the insulation of the wall, preventing warm air from leaving the property and can prevent cold air from entering.

Can Cavity Wall Insulation Cause Damp?

Damp issues are the most common reason consumers contact us asking for cavity wall insulation removal.

It tends to be a result of some critical factors:

• The property’s external brickwork is cracked and allows for penetrating damp 

• Breakdown of external render

• Defective roof coverings or gutters

• Substantial exposure to poor weather causes penetrating dampness through the external walls

• Condensation

• A combination of the above

The rain penetrating the outer wall can easily bridge the hole due to the insulation material between the cavities can transfer moisture to the internal walls and can easily result in dampness and visibility impacting your living space.

What should you look out for on the interior of your property?

• Built-up of mould or condensation on the inside of the wall

• Decorative surfaces becoming stained, wet or flaking paint or detached wallpaper

• A damp smell being prevalent on your property

• Common cold spots on exterior walls

These symptoms could point toward an inadequate installation or failing cavity wall insulation.

The process – Cavity Wall Insulation Removal

How the existing insulation material should be removed and extracted depends on the type of insulation material which has been installed. 

The process begins with removing brickwork at the bottom of the wall to create pockets.

Once some bricks are removed, next, holes may be drilled in the external fence in strategic positions, allowing space for the old insulation material to be removed using compressed air and a specialist cavity wall insulation removal machine that is an industrial vacuum used to suck up the old insulation.

The old insulation is then bagged up and removed off-site securely. Our team will use a tool called a borescope to thoroughly inspect the cavity and ensure that all signs of the old material have gone and the cavity is now clear. When the team are satisfied that extraction has been completed, then we will restore the missing brickwork. 

A clean of the work area surrounding the property will then be completed to make sure that debris is removed.

How much does cavity insulation removal cost?

Removing cavity wall insulation is typically a refined process. The cost of removal (unfortunately it is not free and no funding is current available) may vary depending on a few different factors, including the amount of insulation to be removed and its current condition. On average, Cavity wall insulation removal in Yorkshire starts from around £1,680 for a semi-detached property. This cost may rise to £2,520 for a detached property requiring cavity wall extraction to remove cavity wall insulation.

If you are concerned that your current cavity insulation is a problem on your property, then we can assist you in getting a better understanding of what cavity wall insulation is and why sometimes cavity wall insulation removal is the most effective way to solve a damp problem on your property.