Foam Cavity Wall Insulation Problems

When retrofit cavity wall insulation is installed into a property that is located or built in a way that means it should not have the cavities filled or if the work is undertaken incorrectly the first and most obvious sign of a problem is almost always internal dampness.

Foam cavity wall insulation problems.

In some cases the damp and mould resulting from cwi can cause health problems or exacerbate existing conditions particularly respiratory conditions. If your cavity is full of insulation and no moisture water or water vapour is getting into the cavity then you re probably going to be fine. Damp walls as one of the most well known problems with cavity wall insulation damp is an issue that no homeowner wants to see. Yes you can use expanding foam insulation in cavity walls.

Spray foam insulation is a better insulator than mineral wool loft insulation as you need less of it to get the same insulating effect. Find out if your home s likely to be affected. However if moisture is getting into the cavity the insulation can hold that moisture against the metal wall ties and speeding up the rusting process. Remove the foam to reinsulate.

Spray foam isn t thick enough. Spray foam installers missed some of the air leakage sites. Remove enough siding to jimmy the foam out probably 2 3 pieces per story per wall cavity. Some spray foam insulation sets rigid and can also be used to help reinforce roofs that are suffering from nail fatigue when the nails used to hold slates in place rust or support cavity walls where the wall ties are failing causing cracks and bulges in walls.

Incorrectly installed cavity wall insulation causes water to seep into a property s walls causing structural problems and damp patches that may also manifest into mould. If left unaddressed long term it can lead to all manner of problems include mould and mildew. A cavity wall is a double layered masonry wall on the exterior of a home. I ve seen a number of houses with problems even though they re insulated with spray foam.

Better yet remove it. So here s the part that sucks for me what has to be done to fix the problem. In order of prevalence here are the problems i ve seen with explanations following the list. Reinsulate with dense packed cellulose still my personal.

Expanding foam insulation has increased in popularity as the manufacturers have praised its uses and abilities and its applications have reached to include cavity walls. What is a cavity wall. So how is cavity wall tie failure linked to problems with cavity wall insulation.