WIll Cavity wall insulation remedy my cold moldy walls? Information, help, tips and advice on cavity walls, ceilings and lofts etc....

[tony77]

Hi

One of of our external walls is in a narrow alley down the side of our house, which makes for a cold drafty area in the winter. The internal wall gets very cold during these months and i have noticed that mold has started to appear- a result of condensation as I understand it.

Would cavity wall insulation be the answer to warming up the internal walls? The house is more than 100 years old, and has had a history of damp problems- most remedied now. But do I risk inviting more damp into the house by filling the cavity? I've read that some people have had bad experiences with cavity wall insulation.

regards,

Tony.

[stoneyboy]

tony77,
If your house is more than 100 year old it is very unlikely that you have cavity walls.
end

[tony77]

HI, thanks for the reply- I should have pointed out that the house was refurbished a few years ago. The wall in question is hollow, as far as I'm aware there's definitely a cavity which could be filled, i just don't know whether that would solve the problem of it being very cold in the winter.

Any feedback much appreciated.

[stoneyboy]

tony77,
"the house was refurbished a few years ago" I do think anyone would form a cavity wall as part of a refurbishment unless it was an extension. Make sure you do have a proper cavity before proceeding.
end

[tony77]

Hi Stoney Boy. Sorry, I think I've shown my ignorance of walls. I'm guessing although there's an internal wall and an external one, it isn't what you would class as a cavity wall, although there's obviously a gap between the two.

Even the weather changing over the last few days has made the wall a good deal cooler when you touch it, so the question remains, does anyone have a suggestion for how I can stop this wall becoming the coldest part of the room?

[stoneyboy]

tony77,
You could insulate the wall using urethane backed plasterboard but you must make sure the existing cavity is ventilated or you will end up with condensation problems.
end

[bd3cc]

If the cause is indeed condensation, the water vapour which is condensing on this cold area must be produced internally,(kitchens and bathrooms are likely suspects). You could ensure that you extract as much water vapour as possible, otherwise, even if you warm this wall up the problem will only shift to the next coolest area, usually the corner of a room where there is not much airflow.