Cavity wall insulation, I say yes dh says no

[WhenSheWasBadSheWasHopeful]

Looking for advice from someone who knows more about insulation than me that'll be 99% of the population

We have an old house that is fucking freezing. When you put your hand on a internal wall it feels ok but an external wall is freezing. Our brick work isn't great so we are getting the sides and back rendered (front is ok).

Once we have had the rendering done I want to put in cavity wall insulation but dh is worried about damp and says no.

Anyone have any advice?

What Jeffrey Howell describes is exactly what has happened to my parents. He could be writing about my parents' predicament. He also replied to me in person. The Mark Group have never replied to my parents even with recorded delivery letters. Refer to review centre/ mark group. We aren't all wrong. The only qualifications required to install are a three day City and Guilds course. The 'survey' was written by someone who is semi-literate. He also alerted me to CIGA's lack of independence. He is absolutely correct. They are totally controlled by the installation industry. I believe this will be on the scale of endowment misselling as people's properties deteriorate.

Absolutely correct. Well done British Gas. The first company wasn't the Mark Group by any chance?

What do you have on the floors if not carpet?
I just ask because if it is sanded floorboards then this will be making your house really cold.
We live in an old draughty farmhouse with really thick stone walls- our family room is generally at 8 degrees in the morning in the winter without the heating on. We have a woodburner and loads of insulation in the loft and a wood floor with insulation underneath it. on top of the supended floor. It heats up very quickly. The rooms with sanded floorboards we have either carpeted and put heavy wool underlay or laid wooden flooring with insulation - it's made a massive difference.

Absolutely correct CWI has caused £10000 worth of damage to my parents'house.

CIGA is not independent it is run by the installation industry.

Have you signed up to MN just to post about cavity wall insulation, Fourby4?

Well it is not to sell cavity wall insulation if she has.

No, quite the reverse! jeff?

I'm trying to unpick this - is it yay or nay to cavity wall?

A builder friend of mine said no. The cavity is there to stop driving rain getting through. If you are in a house regularly subject to driving rain I would not want to risk it.

I say yes. It improves comfort a lot, and cuts your fuel bills. The walls will be warmer.

If you have a faulty wall that lets in water, or a spilling gutter, get it fixed. I am in an exposed coastal location and mine is fine. The fibre is water-repellent.

Use a reputable installer, not some itinerant door to door salesman. They will inspect for suitability and if they get it wrong, can be forced to suck it out.

I'd be concerned about cavity insulation combined with new render- if you are rendering using cement, it can trap in damp and the cavity insulation may exacerbate this.

Interestingly the company who would have insulated ours used PVA coated polystyrene beads where British Gas, who wouldn't, use the water-repellent fibre.

I'm a bit miffed that our house is not suitable as we are in an exposed coastal location too and it gets noticeably colder in one part of the house when it is windy. I was looking forward to being warm!

Four I can't remember who the other company were. I'll check with DH and report back

Pigletj thank you - we discounted it before but I think we will look again.