by Perry525 »
Sat Dec 20, 2008 5:41 pm
Unfortunately, the existence of insulation doesn't always mean that the person fitting it, did it properly.
The key thing with insulation is, that it must be fitted correctly!
This means that it has to be an airtight fit.
Many walls are insulated with fibre glass, that sags over time leaving a space at the top - this is where the heat disappears.
Many walls have spaces inside them, where the wind can blow about - turning the walls into refrigerators.
The best insulation for walls and ceilings is one of the polystyrene type products, that is fitted carefully, or preferably sprayed in to get the required airtight fit.
Then the whole wall needs to be covered in another layer of at least one inch thick polystyrene covering the studding as this then becomes the heat bridge to the outside, then either wet plaster or cover with plasterboard and skim coat.
Have you checked the window frames? Badly fitted frames will cause a noticable heat loss, a small hole here and there will loose masses of heat on a windy day.
Did you buy an infrared temperature gauge?
If so, what temperatures did you get off the walls?
Keep in mind that a room in typically warmer near the ceiling and the height of the reading will vary the result.
Compare the readings with similar readings in the other rooms of the home.