Gav_P Posted September 11, 2020 Share Posted September 11, 2020 .... what’s in my wall cavity, as in, what insulation? I have a small 1980’s block built 2 story extension, with the upstairs room ceiling under eaves, which gets quite cold (both upstairs and downstairs). I was wondering what the easiest way is to find out what insulation (if any) has been used in the cavity. I’m thinking I could upgrade with full fill beads. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Conor Posted September 12, 2020 Share Posted September 12, 2020 Do you have any wall vents? E.g kitchen extractor? Pull the cowl off and you should be able to see in to the cavity. Ditto if you have a electric or gas meter box. My money is on poorly installed 100mm of mineral wool. You don't be able to do anything about it. If you are in luck, the cavity will be empty and you'll be able to pump with beads. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gav_P Posted September 12, 2020 Author Share Posted September 12, 2020 1 hour ago, Conor said: Do you have any wall vents? E.g kitchen extractor? Pull the cowl off and you should be able to see in to the cavity. Ditto if you have a electric or gas meter box. Unfortunately not... no openings other than windows. 1 hour ago, Conor said: My money is on poorly installed 100mm of mineral wool. You don't be able to do anything about it Bugger, that’s was what I was afraid of but wasn’t sure if there was any possible fix. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Declan52 Posted September 12, 2020 Share Posted September 12, 2020 A ladder long enough to reach the roof and lift the first tile and slide your phone in and take a pic. Don't drop your phone in the cavity!!! There might be something closing the cavity at the top that might need removed. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PeterW Posted September 12, 2020 Share Posted September 12, 2020 1 hour ago, Gav_P said: Unfortunately not... no openings other than windows. Bugger, that’s was what I was afraid of but wasn’t sure if there was any possible fix. There is but it’s not cheap and invasive. I’ve had quotes to have fibre removed and beads installed. They take bricks out on corners and use steel rods and a long vacuum cleaner nozzle to suck the old insulation from the cavity. Then blown beads installed. Got a couple of contacts for it. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ferdinand Posted September 12, 2020 Share Posted September 12, 2020 Remember that connect-to-phone cameras on wires are actually quite reasonably priced. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gav_P Posted September 12, 2020 Author Share Posted September 12, 2020 I’ve just order myself an endoscope to connect to my phone and then I’ll be up the ladder to have a peak. Not sure that I fancy going down the route of removing structure to get at it all.... I don’t like the idea of the cost either ? If it turns out to be some kind of mineral wool, I wonder if there is a diy way of removing it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ferdinand Posted September 12, 2020 Share Posted September 12, 2020 (edited) You can use the Elephant Technique. Drill a hole at either end. Connect your elephant at one end, then make it sneeze. Sorted. (You can do it the other way by squeezing its trunk with a clothes peg to prevent an intake of breath then connect it very quickly so that the insulation is sucked out. In this case you need to be fast runner as the elephant will be quite grumpy.) Edited September 12, 2020 by Ferdinand 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gav_P Posted January 2, 2021 Author Share Posted January 2, 2021 Has anyone done cavity wall insulation removal? It seems to be a process using high pressure airline and an industrial side vacuum. I am thinking about giving it a go to replace the crap 80s stuff with new full fill beads. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
epsilonGreedy Posted January 2, 2021 Share Posted January 2, 2021 1 hour ago, Gav_P said: Has anyone done cavity wall insulation removal? It seems to be a process using high pressure airline and an industrial side vacuum. I am thinking about giving it a go to replace the crap 80s stuff with new full fill beads. When getting a cavity wall insulation quote for my 2001 built house the assessor drilled a 10mm hole in the mortar bed at the corner of a brick. By looking for debris on the drill bit as it was removed he checked what was in the cavity. The cavity was empty as I thought. Why not top up the current wall insulation with an extra internal layer of PIR lined plasterboard? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gav_P Posted January 2, 2021 Author Share Posted January 2, 2021 46 minutes ago, epsilonGreedy said: Why not top up the current wall insulation with an extra internal layer of PIR lined plasterboard? I could also do this, although I’d rather not as that means completely redoing the rooms internally. The reason for removing the insulation is because it’s got wet and slumped in the cavity. So wet insulation at the bottom and nothing at the top. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
epsilonGreedy Posted January 2, 2021 Share Posted January 2, 2021 38 minutes ago, Gav_P said: I could also do this, although I’d rather not as that means completely redoing the rooms internally. The reason for removing the insulation is because it’s got wet and slumped in the cavity. So wet insulation at the bottom and nothing at the top. Ok that is a very different situation. So you want to know what insulation type has slumped to the bottom of the cavity that you suspect is wet due to other symptoms. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PeterW Posted January 2, 2021 Share Posted January 2, 2021 How big is the cavity ..? Is it 100mm or less ..? Depending on where you are in the UK, JJ Crump in Sheffield do this and they are very competitive on pricing. They do a couple of different bead types too. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gav_P Posted January 2, 2021 Author Share Posted January 2, 2021 3 hours ago, PeterW said: How big is the cavity ..? Is it 100mm or less ..? Depending on where you are in the UK, JJ Crump in Sheffield do this and they are very competitive on pricing. They do a couple of different bead types too. It’s less than 100 I would assume as the wall is 290 including plaster and render. Unfortunately I’m in Bristol area so don’t think Crump would be a viable option. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PeterW Posted January 2, 2021 Share Posted January 2, 2021 15 minutes ago, Gav_P said: It’s less than 100 I would assume as the wall is 290 including plaster and render. Unfortunately I’m in Bristol area so don’t think Crump would be a viable option. Got an office in Newton Abbot and do cover the south west so may be worth a try 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pocster Posted January 2, 2021 Share Posted January 2, 2021 I’d change that title ... 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
joe90 Posted January 2, 2021 Share Posted January 2, 2021 1 minute ago, pocster said: I’d change that title ... Trust you to notice that.........you pervert? 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Declan52 Posted January 2, 2021 Share Posted January 2, 2021 22 minutes ago, pocster said: I’d change that title ... Everything from a hp bottle to fruit according to a mate who works in A&E. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gav_P Posted January 2, 2021 Author Share Posted January 2, 2021 1 hour ago, pocster said: I’d change that title ... Unless it was an intentional hook? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pocster Posted January 2, 2021 Share Posted January 2, 2021 2 minutes ago, Gav_P said: Unless it was an intentional hook? Then you are a baiters utopia Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ferdinand Posted January 3, 2021 Share Posted January 3, 2021 (Puts on highbrow helmet) Ask a dentist... 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
vfrdave Posted January 8, 2021 Share Posted January 8, 2021 On 02/01/2021 at 19:43, Declan52 said: Everything from a hp bottle to fruit according to a mate who works in A&E. A broken light bulb was the best I heard from a friend that is a radiographer. 1 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tom Posted January 8, 2021 Share Posted January 8, 2021 On 02/01/2021 at 19:43, Declan52 said: Everything from a hp bottle to fruit according to a mate who works in A&E. A chap came in with an apple up his arse when I worked in A&E. Wonder if it counted as one of his 5 a day? 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pocster Posted January 8, 2021 Share Posted January 8, 2021 1 hour ago, Tom said: A chap came in with an apple up his arse when I worked in A&E. Wonder if it counted as one of his 5 a day? Mac or iPhone ? 1 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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