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Insulation

Should I insulate the thinner (and colder!) areas of wall under windows in a sandstone house?

Anonymous user 15/03/2024 - 2.54 PM

Evening All, I have recently moved to a house with solid sandstone walls (c. 1860) that are about two foot thick in most of the house but only 6-12" in the section below the windows, not entirely sure why but all the rooms have a little 'mini-bay' below the glazing which is extremely cold, even in comparison to the cool walls throughout. I am wondering whether I should consider insulating these areas and then boarding over/boxing in? Would that be worthwhile or, unless I was solid wall insulating the entire house, would that be a 'deckchairs on the Titanic' situation? If worthwhile, is there a particular method/type of insulation I should be looking to get spec'd? Currently solid sandstone is clad with what I presume is a single layer of painted tonge and groove boards with nothing in between at all. Any ideas most welcome! All the best, Sandy

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3 Answers

B Goodlad Property Services

Rating: 5 out of 5

Crewkerne

If the window bays are set back into the wall, One option would be to create a small studwork "reveal" around the window bays and to insulate the newly created cavity with a Kingspan type insulation, I think you boxing in suggestion kinda sums it up. Hope this helps

Answered22 February 2020

THE RETROFIT HUB LTD

Rating: 5 out of 5

Manchester

Don't whatever you do insulate solid stone walls with any type of plastic foam board! Solid sandstone walls are at risk of problems with damp and moisture if covered with plastic. You'll never know what's going on behind them if you cover them up. There are solutions for this type of wall, but I would suggest getting someone who has knowledge of this type of insulation before deciding on what to do. Woodfibre, mineral wool, sheeps wool, and hemp are all great alternatives for solid stone walls. And they will all help regulate the moisture levels in the walls and will allow the wall to "breathe".

Answered25 February 2020

Handimen (Home & Garden)

Rating: 4.8 out of 5

Tunbridge Wells

Hi The previous answer is a possibility if bay position suitable, Alternatively & less disruptive would be the fitting/hanging a thermal insulation paper (Wallrock kv600) to cold walls of your choosing. This is often a good alternative to dry lining! Hope this helps Warm regards Tony

Answered25 February 2020