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Home » Home Improvement Articles » Cavity Wall Insulation How It Works And How You Can Get It Installed For Less

Cavity Wall Insulation – How It Works And How You Can Get It Installed For Less

One of the best ways to save on your heating bills and make your home warmer in winter is to install 'cavity wall insulation'. Plus if you choose the right installer you can get the job done professionally for a very low price, with a 25 year guarantee. In fact some people can get it done completely free. The following article explains all about cavity wall insulation and how to get it installed for less.

In most UK houses built after the 1920s, the external walls are made of 2 layers with a small air gap or cavity in between them. If your home has unfilled cavity walls, a considerable slice of your energy bills will be spent heating the air outside. In fact it is estimated that around 35% of the heat from your home is lost through the walls.

Filling the gap between the 2 walls of a house with an insulating material massively decreases the amount of heat (and money) that is escaping through your walls. This could save you between £130 and £160 a year on your fuel bills for an average house, according to the UK's Energy Saving Trust, and pay back the cost of installation in under 2 years. It will also prevent around 1 tonne of CO2 emissions each year, so makes a significant contribution to fighting Climate Change. Plus having your cavity walls insulated will make your home more comfortable by evening out the temperature in your home, help reduce condensation, and also keep your home cooler in hot summer weather.

This is a job that is definitely best done by a professional, as it can be quite technically demanding and requires specialist equipment. However, despite paying a contractor, it can be done for little money. This is because the large UK gas and electricity companies heavily subsidise the cost of insulation through certain contractors, in order to reach their carbon reduction targets set by the government. Typically they pick up 30 to 70% of the bill, no matter what your income. The contractor will also take care of all the paperwork, so that you automatically get these subsidies. In addition, if you receive certain state benefits, the government will pick up the rest of the cost so you can get your home installed completely free. When you get a quote from a contractor, they will be able to tell you whether you qualify for these grants.

How is cavity wall insulation installed? The cavity wall is injected with insulating material by drilling small holes in the external wall through the mortar joints. The holes are generally around 2cm wide and are made good after the injection by the installer. The material injected is normally 'mineral wool' (fibres made from rock or glass), polystyrene beads or white foam. All materials have a similar insulation performance. The insulation normally takes about 2 hours to install, but the time does depend on the size of the house and other factors such as access.

How do you know if your house has cavity walls? Most houses built after the 1920's have been built with cavity walls. An easy way to check is to look at the brickwork in your outside walls. If all the bricks are laid the same way, with just their sides showing (rather than their ends), then you have cavity walls. But you don't need to make sure of this yourself. All good insulation contractors will offer you a free no-obligation insulation survey, when they can check for your and let you know what is possible.

All reputable cavity wall insulating contractors in the UK are members of the Cavity Wall Insulation Agency (CIGA) guarantee scheme. This scheme gives you a 25 year guarantee on your cavity wall insulation, so that you can be completely confident in the quality of the work. Plus you will be able to pass this guarantee on to any future purchaser of your house, which will help contribute to your house's value.

If you are interested in installing cavity wall insulation, you should contact a reputable contractor to request a free no-obligation survey. You can do this through the site mentioned at the bottom of this article (go to the page about insulation), or else several contractors advertise on the Internet (if you type in 'cavity wall insulation' into Google)

And here is another random article you might be interested in...

Integrity and Prosperity

The word "integrity" is passed around a lot. Many people use it without proper reflection upon what it encompasses. It is bantered about as a much more casual word might be. Why is that? Could it be that it's far easier to use the word that it is to live by it? A life guided by integrity is certainly not a rare occurrence, but one that when observed, yields a sense of completeness, harmony and prosperity that transcends more than just the monetary.

Webster's dictionary defines integrity as "firm adherence to a code of especially moral or artistic values" and describes a person of integrity as incorruptible. I prefer a much more simplified and applicable definition that can touch each of us wherever we are: Integrity is what you do and how you behave when there is no one watching. Of course, I believe that there is always a righteous God watching. However, there are certainly those persons that are not as concerned about that fact as they might well be, but that is a topic for another day.

How does integrity relate to prosperity? After all, they are not mutually exclusive. It's really quite simple... we reap what we sow. Man was given a conscience to act as a moral compass, a barometer, constantly receiving feedback from our thoughts and actions and then responding back to us with guidance. If we sow with integrity, we will also reap in abundance. Our reputation will grow and we will discover that we are the type of person that others will seek out to have business transactions with. This will grow exponentially and our prosperity is assured. The prosperity I speak of here is also one of peace, harmony, satisfaction, fulfillment as well as the monetary reward.

Some time ago, I came across a paper entitled "Ten Affirmations of Integrity" on which there was no mention of the author. These affirmations are simple, yet so very profound. Read them now and again each morning as you wake and again each evening as you prepare for sleep. Internalize them and you will certainly prosper.

1. When I make a promise, I will keep that promise.

How many times do people say something or make a promise that they have absolutely no intention of ever keeping? Do you ever catch yourself saying something to someone just to "shut them up," simply telling them what they want to hear?

2. When I set a goal, I will work to achieve it.

Would you believe that most of us do not have any written goals? Most people have dreams or wants that they simply keep in their heads. These thought are fleeting and often tend to morph into new ideas or wants on a frequent basis like the winds. Learn to write down your goals and identify the steps necessary to achieve them. Review them daily and track your progress. It only takes a few minutes to do, but most of us will not bother.

3. I will treat others as I would treat myself.

The golden rule...where have we heard that before! This one is a gold mine ready to be enjoyed. Simply treat others with dignity and respect. You will certainly stand out in the crowd.

4. I will conduct my life with excellence.

Commit to living your life as if you were always being scrutinized. The word "shortcut" is not even in your vocabulary. See things completely through by creating mental pictures of your goal. Do your very best always. Finish what you start. Never quit and never give up. Always look to uplift others with a kind word or action.

5. I will be personally accountable.

Realize that you are responsible for you. There is no blame or credit to be blanketed on others. Stand on your personal word. Mean what you say and do what you mean to. Take pride in doing the small things that make a big difference. Don't ever be afraid to admit you might be wrong. When wrong, make it right. Take a stand.

6. I will face my mistakes and grow from them.

Everyone makes mistakes. The key point is that we should always strive to eliminate the possibility of making the same mistake twice. We do that by examining our mistake, determining the reason for it and where we went off course. Gather as much insight as possible from the situation and make note of what you would do differently when the same opportunity comes your way again. Admit your mistakes. Learn from them.

7. I will relate to others with honesty.

Be honest with yourself and your dealings with others. Don't ever justify a lie by calling it a "stretch of the truth" or a "white lie" that won't hurt anyone. You will soon find yourself telling another lie to conceal the first one and so on. It is always best to tell the truth. Most people will respect you for it, even if you were wrong. Strength of character is forged from honesty and respect.

8. I will show respect for authority.

Everyone is subject to someone or something. We teach our children to respect their parents, grandparents, teachers, leaders, crossing guard and other adults in their lives. In the same way, we as adults need to respect the authority of others, especially while on their turf. Remember that the next time you are in the library or the movie theater when someone far younger than you asks you to please be quiet or turn off your cell phone.

9. I will honor my debts.

We live in a disposable culture. This has stretched well beyond mere "things" to include institutions such as marriage and family. How many commercials currently parade across our televisions promising debt relief or financial freedom? Shakespeare said "neither a borrower nor a lender be" and he was right. There is no running out on accumulated debt while maintaining honor. If necessary, sit down with a financial expert and design a plan to gradually work your way out of debt. A winner will always honor his debts, sleeping peacefully in the process.

10. I will love people and use things.

People are not pawns to be manipulated for personal gain, but that is exactly how some of us treat others if it will benefit us in some way. People of integrity will always seek to build up others, edifying them and encouraging them to victory. People lacking integrity selfishly seek their own agenda without concern for anyone else. This is not how we were designed by our Creator to interact with each other. We are interdependent beings, not isolated islands.

Integrity is a trait most admired by winners. It is such a quality in man that it is eagerly sought out by employers, diplomats, teachers, negotiators, pastors and many others. Given a choice of several similarly talented individuals from which there will be a single job awarded, the person of integrity will most likely stand out and be awarded that employment. In a leadership arena, such as an emergency situation, where someone must surely take charge, the person of integrity will rise to the occasion and will quickly garner the respect of those around her, allowing for her leadership to take over. Her integrity will ensure her leadership because those around her will sense her discerning abilities.

Integrity, of course, will not absolutely guarantee prosperity, but I submit that people of integrity sleep better, work more efficiently and attract a more qualified and capable "inner circle" of friends and associates from whom they gather advice, recommendations and counsel. This "cabinet" of leaders and qualified experts will almost always ensure their success at most any endeavor they undertake. Integrity is a critical yardstick by which we will be judged by our peers, our critics and our God. It is an ideal where we cannot afford to fall short.

Copyright 2006 Daniel Sitter