Repairs & finishes
Internal wall insulation
Insulation of solid walls with careful attention to moisture risk and detailing.
What the issue is
Internal wall insulation improves comfort and reduces cold surfaces, but it changes how a wall behaves. Moisture risk, junction detailing and ventilation must be considered together.
Common symptoms
- Cold walls and surface condensation
- Mould in corners and behind furniture
- High heating costs
- Cold bridging at reveals
Likely contributing factors
- Solid wall construction with no insulation
- Cold bridging at junctions
- Insufficient ventilation
- Existing penetrating damp
Conditions that may be mistaken for it
- Rising damp
- Penetrating damp through the wall
- Plumbing leaks
How the issue should be investigated
- Establish wall construction and condition
- Check for existing damp and its cause
- Record surface temperatures and humidity
- Assess ventilation provision
Potential treatment or repair options
- Insulated board or breathable insulation systems
- Careful detailing at reveals, junctions and floors
- Ventilation improvements alongside
- Making good and decoration
When treatment may not be appropriate
- Where the wall has unresolved penetrating damp
- Where ventilation cannot be improved to suit
Factors affecting the cost
- Wall area and system specification
- Removal and refitting of fixtures
- Detailing at reveals and junctions
- Decoration
What to expect during an inspection
A survey of wall construction, existing dampness and ventilation, with a discussion of suitable systems.
Final recommendations always depend on the property, the inspection findings and the confirmed cause. Elevated readings alone do not confirm rising damp, not every mould problem requires extensive treatment, and damp-affected plaster does not always need replacing.
Frequently asked questions
Next step
Not sure which inspection you need? Start with a few questions.
Tell us what you are seeing and we will set out what is likely, what is uncertain and which inspection would answer the question. Speak to us on 0333 335 6152 if you would rather talk it through.