Bay window insulation

[qamar]

Hi everyone.

I am planning to insulate my bay window wall. I removed all the old plaster and am left with this. There are some bricks inbetween the upright wooden batons. I don't think they are used for any support. Is it ok to remove these bricks. The outside of the wall is a pebble dash render.

 

Thanks in advance.

Qamar

 

qamar

[Redbeard]

What is the render applied to? I cannot tell the likely depth of the structure. Could the bricks be the render carrier? If so, no! - you cannot remove the bricks!

[qamar]

thanks redbeard,

my gut feeling is that the the bricks are the render carrier but was not sure. I think i'll leave them as is. Thanks!

[Redbeard]

There is perhaps a chance that the render is on timber laths. Try careful inside-to-out measurement and you might be able to 'see' whether there appears to be a gap between bricks and render carrier. Then pull out one little part-brick very carefully in case you are wrong. Unless there is excellent adhesion or you bash too hard you may find the render remains even if it was on the brick.

 

Either way you can still insulate over what's there. Given the potential for interstitial condensation something 'conservative' (and breathable) like 40mm rigid wood-fibre with lime plaster over would be good. More may of course be 'better' but if you do go thicker get a (preferably WUFI) condensation risk assessment done.

[qamar]

Thank you Redbeard.

If i could not remove the bricks i was going to add extra batons on the existing one to create an air gap  and then use PIR Insulated plasterboard.

This was going to be skimmed over with regular plaster.

I have never heard of wood-fibre so thats something new. Do you think my original plan is ok or is the wood-fibre better.

 

Edited October 20 by qamar