Insulating solid walls

[mark willis]

Hi

I have an old house 1890, (not down to me) but it has been painted externally with non breathable paint and inside has very little plaster left on the walls, due to neglect and water ingress.

I would welcome any comments on my two thoughts:

1. I am planning to sandblast the external walls and lime render (as the sandblasting would remove the "face" of the bricks, its a very large house so I am not sure any other means of removing the paint would be viable.

2. Internally I was not sure, my initial though is to line with insulated board then plaster, either batterns and insulation or insulated plaster board dot and dabbed, in order to gain the U values required and of course final finish.

Any thoughts welcome.

thanks

 

[AMc]

How much penetrating vs. rising damp do you think you're dealing with?
If you've had a lot of water ingress then the non breathable paint may not need to be stripped?

If the exterior is as bad as you say and you're planning on rendering anyway have you considered external insulation?
Saves you room space and allows you to avoid the blasting cost. Of course you have to cope with possible changes to the roof and gutter lines - changes to the exterior openings vs. changes to the interior.

 

[88v8]

If the exterior brickwork is worth saving, try a company such as this.
http://www.blast-cleaning.co.uk/index.php?menuid=50&component=content&task=article&articleid=39&categoryid=9

Excellent general info here on cleaning.
http://www.marblemasteruk.com/historic_building_cleaning.htm

Ivor

 

[johnobirches]

I can recommend that you look at Eden Lime mortar's Lime Hemp insulation it can be applied in thick layers and they have some U figure test results for it.
It is breathable and a sample slab of it feels as light as a chemical foam.

Her is a link http://www.eden-lime-mortar.co.uk/html/eden_lime_insulation.html
Regards
John

 

[MdB]

I can recommend that you look at Eden Lime mortar's Lime Hemp insulation it can be applied in thick layers and they have some U figure test results for it.
It is breathable and a sample slab of it feels as light as a chemical foam.

Her is a link http://www.eden-lime-mortar.co.uk/html/eden_lime_insulation.html
Regards
John

Interesting but its thermal conductivity is about 5x higher than Celotex so you need approx x5 the thickness. You do of course gain the breathability though.

If you improve an unlisted property, then building control want you to insulate to a U value of 0.28W/m^2 K which would require something like 400mm of this insulated lime which is a little unrealistic.

 

[GRADE_II_MONEYPIT]

Sand blasting should be the last option (listed buildings are rarely allowed to blast). Get a local expert to take a look before moving forward and doing irreparable damage to the bricks.

 

[johnobirches]

f you improve an unlisted property, then building control want you to insulate to a U value of 0.28W/m^2 K which would require something like 400mm of this insulated lime which is a little unrealistic.

Someone on this forum [thanks] pointed me to the Building Regs approved Doc L1B which says - for traditionally constructed buildings {pre1919}

buildings of traditional construction with permeable fabric that both absorbs and readily allows the evaporation of moisture.
3.9 When undertaking work on or in connection with a building that falls within one of the classes listed above, the aim should be to improve energy efficiency as far as is reasonably practicable. The work should not prejudice the character of the host building or increase the risk of long-term deterioration of the building fabric or fittings.

Any extension walls would have to meet the new figures but the existing ones should be ok under this exemption surely? I was kind of relying on that fact.
Cheers
John

 

[MdB]

Any extension walls would have to meet the new figures but the existing ones should be ok under this exemption surely? I was kind of relying on that fact.
Cheers
John

I would have thought so but it isn't myself that decides. That is down to your local Building Control...