Due to the unpredictable nature of Irish weather, adequately insulated homes are usually at the forefront of every homeowner's mind.
When we think of insulation, our minds turn to attic installation like boards and, more recently, foam insulation. While these are undoubtedly great strategies to maintain heat within a property, the idea of insulating your walls is sometimes neglected. This is a mistake, as 20% to 30% of heat from a property can be lost through the walls. With this in mind, we want to bring you through the various types of available wall insulation.
Different Types of Wall Insulation
Let's start with the basics: what is wall insulation. Wall insulation is an insuating agent placed over walls are into walls. There are various types of wall insulation suitable for different types of walls. Wall insulation can be broken down into three unique types. Internal wall insulation, cavity wall insulation and of course, external wall installation. To give you a sense of which insulation solution is right for you, let's look at each one of these insulation types.
Internal Wall Insulation
Sometimes referred to as dry lining, internal wall insulation involves attaching extra installation to the inside of a wall. The board placed on the inside of the wall is made up of three elements, it contains the actual installation, a vapour board, and plasterboard. Internal wall insulation is suitable for timber frame walls, solid walls or even cavity walls.
Some of the benefits of insulating interior walls include a reduction of heat transferring between rooms. Crucially these walls can also stop heat from escaping through the exterior walls. Like all insulation solutions, the primary benefit of interior wall installation is that it helps reduce your overall energy bills, making your home a little bit more climate-friendly.
A secondary benefit of interior wall insulation is the sound barrier it naturally creates. This means sound doesn't travel as well between rooms making this a great addition to a home with light sleepers.
Finally, another attractive benefit of internal insulation is its affordable cost. Cheaper than some of the other options available, internal wall insulation benefits those looking for a budget-friendly solution. However, the major downside will be losing space within your home as the insulation boards go over your walls. Internal wall insulation installation will also require removing skirting boards, door frames and any appliances in the way. Therefore you should expect a certain degree of disruption to your home life.
Cavity Wall Insulation
Cavity wall insulation is an increasingly popular choice, especially for some older properties with cavities between the brickwork.
Not sure if your walls are cavity walls? There are a couple of proven methods to find out.
If your home was built after the 1980s, your home likely already has insulation within the wall cavity.
If you can see exposed brickwork, you can see that the bricks are all laid lengthwise in a regular repeating pattern, this is a clue that your walls may indeed contain a cavity.
If no brickwork is exposed, try measuring the width of the wall. If the width of the wall is more than 260 mm, there's a chance there is a cavity between the brickwork.
Finally, the best way to find out if you have a cavity wall is to hire a registered installer who will drill a small hole in the wall. Using a borescope, they can tell if you have cavity walls. They can also advise if cavity wall insulation is suitable for your property.
External wall insulation
Often called wrapping, external wall insulation is one of the best methods to insulate your home. In brief, installers use specialist insulation boards to wrap your home in installation. The installation is then treated to ensure it can withstand the unpredictable Irish weather. In most cases mesh will also be embedded into the insulation to improve the overall resistance and strength of the walls.
Although more expensive than internal wall insulation, external wall insulation is much more effective, and you don't sacrifice any interior space. External wall insulation will help to raise the energy rating of your home. A higher energy rating can help increase the overall resale value.
Grants for Wall Insulation
To offset the cost of insulating your home insulation upgrade, there are various energy grants available. The SEAI provides a range of grants to homeowners whose properties were built before 2011.
For cavity wall insulation and an apartment, a grant of €700 can be applied for. This Grant raises to €800 for Mid Terrace homes. Semi-detached homes can apply for a grant of €1200. Finally, detached homes can apply for a €1700 SEAI grant.
Depending on the house type, grants for internal insulation can be anywhere from €1500 to €4500.
Grants from €3000 for apartments to €8000 for a detached house are available for external wall insulation.
Is External Wall Insulation right for your home?
Are you wondering if external wall installation is the right option for your property? We recommend getting in contact with our experts. Will be able to make recommendations on the proper insulation for your needs and can advise on how to apply for an SEAI Grant.