Retrofitted Blow-in Wall Insulation - Expriences?

picklewizard on 19/04/2018 - 14:17

I've got a brick veneer home that has zero insulation in the walls.

I'm very environmentally conscious and don't like throwing money away, which I feel that I'm doing by having a poorly-insulated home, so I've been looking into the blow-in wall insulation. My understanding is they'll blow in from the top where they can (tiled roof, so easy access) and will drill holes in the bricks and blow it in from there for other locations, which I'm fine with.

Has anybody had this done, what were your costs, and what sort of results did you get from doing it? Keen to hear anybody's experiences or recommendations.

Thanks!

Home & Garden

Comments

  • thatonethere on 19/04/2018 - 17:55

    It is very hard to tell whether this is effective. I have often seen the blow in insulation just sitting as a forelorn lump at the bottom of the wall. The best method is batts as they have structure but that means you have to strip back the plasterboard.

    Maybe focus on any gaps in windows and doors first?

  • endotherm on 19/04/2018 - 23:01

    It's possible there is also a layer of foil in there as well, which will provide you about R1-R1.5 of insulation. That's all that is legally required (in the lower states at least). The thermal mass of bricks provides pretty good insulation by themselves. You don't lose as much through the walls as through the ceiling, which is where you want to concentrate your efforts. If you are going to the trouble of penetrating the walls (easier to punch holes through the plaster inside and fix them, than going through brick) you should consider expanding foam which they can pump in as a liquid and it fills your cavities with a polystyrene substance. Very good insulation properties, but problems accessing wiring/pipes etc later if they need repair. Blow-in isn't that great, especially when it settles and where there are gaps/pockets left when they try to fill it.

    • picklewizard on 20/04/2018 - 21:14

      Definitely nothing - I've had a good poke about in there. House is late 60s, so not unexpected.

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