We have a major problem with our main living area in our house here in France. Its is a double height (some 8 metres +) and unfortunately when it was plasterboarded no insulation was put in behind. Is there any way we can save ourselves the cost and hassle of having to remove the vast areas of plasterboard by "blowing" an insulating material into the void. I am concerned about the weight of any insulating material and the fire risk with its contact with the electrical circuits behing the boarding. The house is typically french with solid stone walls - great for their coolness in summer but cold as hell in winter! Thanks By the way there doesnt seem to be any contracters (no cavity walls etc) who do this work here so it will probably mean bringing someone over from the UK or DIYing it!!!
GBP-Keith
6 Jul 2009, 6:52 PM
Why such high ceilings. Did someone have the wrong two rooms knocked into one?
Polystyrene would be the lightest but you are right to be concerned with contact with the cables as the two do not mix. Essentially the poly will cause the plasticiser to migrate from the PVC cables and the cable insulation sheath will/could fall off and leave bare wires with high fire risk.
Cellulose fibre might work but there will be weight. Find a local supplier and get their opinion.
Tommy (Guest)
8 Jul 2009, 9:59 PM
There us a new insulating paint additive being trialled in the UK that adds 0.2U value to the wall with only 2 coats. That's half the U value of modern Building Regs insulation recommendations, just by painting. I have used it, as part of a free trial experiment, and it is awesome. My oil supplier, who owns my oil tank, rang me to ask who I was buying my oil from as I used so much less last winter! I have a 5 bed stone house with no wall insulation and I use less than half the oil now. Unfortunately, I can't tell you where to apply for the free trial as GBP won't allow it (advertising) but they tell me that it is due to be launched next year if you can wait.
GBP-Keith (Guest)
9 Jul 2009, 6:33 PM
If you want to let people know about your products Tommy then call Jerry on 01208 895103 and he will arrange an affordable banner advert deal for you on the forum.
P.s. All building work carried out in France must include an unlimeted 10 year guarantee. No wonder you cant find a French contractor for this particular job, standards and education of the workers there are much higher then in the Anglican countries. Even if you manage to get a British worker to do the job he/she would be fully accountable under French building legislations. So either you will employ someone who does the job properly(external insulation) or you are very likely to pick a cowboy who doesn't care about quality. Note that a home insurance in France won't pay for demages caused by shoddy workmenship.
quizzicool
5 Aug 2009, 2:02 PM
Simplest and cheapest would be to strip the plasterboard again and do the job properly - vapour control barrier, insulation/studding and new plasterboard on top. You could possibly get someone to blow Excel Warmcel in there, its made from old newspaper, treated to be fire retardant - www.excelfibre.com they should be able to put you in touch with an installer
clandon
11 Oct 2009, 11:24 AM
Quizzicool, Yes we have this same problem, and will stud wall the main wall but huge windows each end of the rooms, taking 3/4's of the wall, if we stud etc.. the walls come out 4" and the window frames Georgian will look hideous any solution?
Tommy guest. What's this paint, that insulates, does it let the walls breathe, sound like this could be the answer? after all thats what we are told we must consider, and stone walls have a good insulating property, so how thick do they have to be to work?
NathalieM
14 Jan 2010, 11:14 PM
Tommy guest - very interested in this insulating paint ? is it lunched yet?
shiner
4 Mar 2010, 3:33 PM
I AM IN THE PROCESS OF BUYING A 1950 BUILT POURED CONCRETE HOUSE, NO HOME REPORT,THE PLACE IS DRY LINED(PLASTER BOARD) I HAVE PROBED WITH A SLIM SCREW DRIVER BETWEEN A JOINT IN THE THE LINING, THERE WAS NO RECISTANCE AND THE SCREW DRIVER TOUCHED THE CONCRETE WALL AT DEPTH OF APPROX 75MM MOVING THE SCREW DRIVER BACK AND FORTH APPROX 150MM I COULD FEEL AND HEAR THE SCREW DRIVER BLADE SCRAPING ON CONCRETE. ALTHOUGH I WAS ONLY ABLE TO TEST IN ONE AREA WOULD IT BE FAIR TO ASSUME THAT THIS SITUATION IS COMMON OVER THE TOTAL AREA.BY LAW THE VENDOR HAS TO PROVIDE AN ENERGY PERFORMANCE CERTIFICATE, THE PROVIDER OF THE CERTIFICATE MAKES NO PHSICAL INSPECTION ONLY ASSUMPTIONS FROM WHAT IS SEEN--A FARCE?
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