How Weather Affects Our Homes And Cavity Wall Insulation

We travel the length and breadth of the UK to remove cavity insulation that is making people’s homes damp.

Sometimes the dampness is caused by a localised flood, perhaps a blocked drain nearby allowed rainwater in or an unattended overflow pipe has leaked for long enough to soak through the brickwork..

But most common of all is simply the great British weather.

From Brighton to Blackpool, it is the weather that plays the biggest part in property deterioration. And it isn’t just rain that does the damage. Add wind into the mix and you have driving rain that will find it’s way through any unseen cracks in brickwork, render or pointing.

Cold weather can make things worse when water already sitting in the brickwork freezes, expands and increases the size of cracks allowing yet more rain in.

The great thing though about cavity walls is that it is very difficult for water to travel from the outside of the brickwork to the inside. Even Wall Ties (the metal that holds the two layers of brick together) are cleverly designed to minimise the chances of rain travelling across and therefore affecting the house internally.

The trouble is, once insulation is fitted, it acts as a bridge for rain, soaking it up and then, as it can’t dry, transferring it to the inside. Damp spots, condensation and cold rooms are all signs that there is defective insulation.

When we remove the insulation we advise that new filling isn’t put back in at least until the cavity is completely dry and any cracks have been repaired. We are also investigating a new product, StormDry that can be applied to the outside and creates a breathable shield against further rain ingress.

If you suspect you have a problem, don’t leave it – get a free survey from Cavitech-UK today.

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How Weather Affects Our Homes And Cavity Wall Insulation