Internal Wall Insulation: What are the Pros and Cons?

Published on December 07, 2021.

Internal wall insulation can improve your home's thermal efficiency and reduce your heating bills, however, if it's not specified carefully, it can cause issues too.

First things first, internal wall insulation is generally only a route to consider for certain homes. Solid wall homes made from solid stone or brick, usually built before the 20th century tend to be the main candidates for this type of insulation. 

For houses after this time, there's often a cavity wall as part of the home's construction, offering the opportunity to use cavity wall insulation to improve the thermal efficiency of the fabric of your home. 

Your options when it comes to insulation for solid-wall homes extends to both external and internal wall insulation. While the latter tends to be cheaper, it also eats into valuable floor space, making it worth careful consideration. 

But it's effect on your home's space isn't the only thing to consider. Internal wall insulation changes the fabric of your home, and can, if not employed properly, cause issues such as damp and condensation. 

What is Internal Wall Insulation?

Internal wall insulation involves the application of insulation to the interior face of external walls in order to improve the thermal performance of the property.

There are four main methods of installation — the most common (but not always the most effective) is building a new stud wall, to which insulation can be added.

Internal wall insulation can, however, be disruptive and require the removal and re-fixing of items such as switches, radiators and kitchen units, so you need to be sure it is the best insulation solution for your home.

Creating an airtight layer is vital, so awkward areas, such as reveals and floor voids, require particular care.

Original Article: https://www.homebuilding.co.uk/advice/internal-wall-insulation-guide