FAQ's
Cavity Wall FAQs
The external wall of a house is constructed of two masonry (brick or block) walls, with a cavity (gap) of at least 50mm between. Metal ties join the two walls together.
The cavity of wall is injected with an insulating material. We drill holes around 22-26mm diameter (these are ‘made good’ at the end) in the external wall. Each hole is then injected in turn, starting at the bottom with a water proof insulation material.
Cavity Wall Insulation normally takes less than a day to install, but the time does depend on the size of the house and other factors, such as access for example.
Before the installation, a surveyor will undertake an assessment of your property to confirm it’s suitable for insulation. This assessment is undertaken by one of our employed and qualified surveyors before every installation.
The drilling process does create some vibration – so it would be wise to remove ornaments, particularly on external walls, for your peace of mind and safety. The Technician will need access to all walls, so they will need to get inside attached garages, lean-to sheds, conservatories etc. The insulation will only be effective if all walls have insulated. If you have a wall on your boundary, you may like to inform your neighbours that our technicians may need to go onto their property.
The drilling process inevitably creates dust, which will be cleared away upon completion. It is wise to remove any vehicles from the drive and items close to the walls. This will also give the Technician better access for their equipment and tools.
EnviroBead has a defined pattern of holes, which verifies a complete fill. Most systems have an automatic cut out, which actuates when the adjacent wall area is full. There is a designed tolerance in the injection pattern so that the material will flow past the next injection hole.
No, as the insulation is contained within a masonry wall, it does not need to be ‘dense’. For insulation and other purposes, a light density gives better results. Before installation, the Technician will undertake a quality test to ensure the insulation will go into the wall at the right density. They will also note the amount of material used, this is a double check to ensure that sufficient insulation has been installed. Note: Drilling a hole in the outer wall and testing the cavity fill with a rod or pencil will not provide any meaningful information.
Ventilators supplying combustion air to fuel burning appliances must be safeguarded. Similarly, ventilators at ground level that ventilate below timber floors must be safeguarded too. The Technician will investigate them to check they are already sleeved. If they are not, the Technician will remove them, seal them and stop them from being blocked by the insulation. Other vents, which may be redundant, such as cavity vents or vents that are used to supply air to open fires in bedrooms may be closed off. The Technician will discuss these with you. Redundant airbricks may be filled.
The Technician will fill all the injection holes with mortar to match the existing as closely as possible. He will use a mix that closely matches the existing colour and texture. On pebbledash finishes, he will apply pebbles to the surface to try and match the existing finish. After weathering, the holes will beocome difficult to see.
The Board of Agreement say “…..For the life of the building” .
The EnviroBead system that our registered installers use are tested and assessed and will not allow water to cross the wall construction via the insulation. Water which penetrates the outer leaf of the wall will drain down the cavity face of the outer leaf.
Due to stone properties not having a regular cavity, it will require an installer to assess the individual property.
Service & Guarantee FAQs
The Technician must undertake checks before and after installation, including any heating appliances. It is essential that they have access inside the property.
All Technicians (team leaders) undergo training by the system supplier to ensure they are competent in Cavity Wall Insulation and all carry a system designer card. Please ask to see the system designer card and proof of identity, which can also be checked with us by telephoning our Head Office.
EnviroBead provide a 25 year guarantee with all cavity wall insulation works.
Yes – if your heating is not controlled by a thermostat. However, if you have a thermostat, it will cut out the heating at the same temperature, so you may not notice the difference in the room with the thermostat. You should find that the temperature in other parts of your house improves, for example, in rooms that are more exposed to the elements. With Cavity Wall Insulation, you should find that the house holds its temperature for longer; therefore the time between heating cycles may be longer. The result should be a more even temperature throughout the house and / or a reduced energy bill.
No, not to the Cavity Wall Insulation, but your normal building maintenance is still required.
If you are concerned after the installation, the please call the installer straight away. They will make arrangements for a supervisor to visit your property to investigate your concerns. If you still have concerns contact EnviroBead Head Office an a further investigation will be arranged.