Wall insulation help and ideas please

[twiggy2]

My head is spinning with what can and cannot be done.
I know lots of folk on here have converted houses and had work done over the years so I am hoping for some ideas please
We live in a stone walled house with internal plasterboard walls.
Is it possible to insulated without remove the plasterboard?
Blowing an insulation in or something similar?

 

[YourValentine]

I don't think it's that simple unfortunately. From over heard conversations at work, you have to think about breathability to avoid damp (condensation/sweat) build up.

It all depends what's between the plasterboard and the stone.

 

[AmyMay]

Our house is stone (circa 1800’s). We would never look to insulate the walls because of its construction type. Although to be fair there’s absolutely no need to. We have good windows, no draughts and it’s toasty warm.

 

[Esmae]

There is a thing called thermaboard. Like plasterboard but with one side insulated and you could just fit it over what you have already got. We have it in one end of our house that was always chilly. It made the most enormous difference. Our house is old and stone also.

 

[twiggy2]

I don't think it's that simple unfortunately. From over heard conversations at work, you have to think about breathability to avoid damp (condensation/sweat) build up.

It all depends what's between the plasterboard and the stone.

Its a real pain but of what I am reading says that and then I see something that sys something different.

Our house is stone (circa 1800’s). We would never look to insulate the walls because of its construction type. Although to be fair there’s absolutely no need to. We have good windows, no draughts and it’s toasty warm.

This place is cold and draughty enough that if you hold a lit match just above ground level it blows out so something needs to be done.

There is a thing called thermaboard. Like plasterboard but with one side insulated and you could just fit it over what you have already got. We have it in one end of our house that was always chilly. It made the most enormous difference. Our house is old and stone also.

How is it to decorate over, can you just paint over it?

 

[sunnyone]

Don't forget to plan in moving radiators and electric sockets. Thankfully my OH is able to do all the work himself. He doesn't like French plasterboard on top of insulation panels so has used a thin ply. Definitely a great improvement.

 

[blitznbobs]

You can get insulated plasterboard which you could put on the inside

 

[Goldenstar]

You can calculations done that show the likely hood of causing condensation if you use a themaboard Type product we have had to put a vapour barrier on our outside walls (this on the inside of course )ours are brick with 50 mm cavity your won't have a cavity and that makes it extremely important that you don’t trap moisture these walls need to breathe.
This is a extremely complex subject get it wrong and your house could become a haven for mould , and you need advice from an expert .

 

[Northern Hare]

Its a real pain but of what I am reading says that and then I see something that sys something different.

This place is cold and draughty enough that if you hold a lit match just above ground level it blows out so something needs to be done.

How is it to decorate over, can you just paint over it?

Just a thought but do you have carpet or hard flooring? If the latter, is there a gap between the skirting and the flooring to let the draughts in? If so, you could try using clear silicone sealant to seal it?

 

[Goldenstar]

Very often it’s the floor pan that is making the house lose heat down wards we managed to correct this at the house we are doing up using some clever very slim insulation products .
This meant a nightmare job removing all the screes in the old part of the house and removing all the old plaster from the walls using a nail gun .

 

[Esmae]

Its a real pain but of what I am reading says that and then I see something that sys something different.

This place is cold and draughty enough that if you hold a lit match just above ground level it blows out so something needs to be done.

How is it to decorate over, can you just paint over it?

We had it plastered over. Just skimmed and painted as usual. We did it some years ago now and it's just fine. I'd do it again, it was a relatively simple fix.

 

[twiggy2]

Just a thought but do you have carpet or hard flooring? If the latter, is there a gap between the skirting and the flooring to let the draughts in? If so, you could try using clear silicone sealant to seal it?

The house has carpets but there is still a gap, we are told the plan is to use silicone but I am not sure how the carpet will then go back under the skirting

 

[lamlyn2012]

Use thermal plaster boards. These are plaster boards with a thermal layer which goes to the wall side. They are fixed on batons so there is air space between the original wall and the thermal side of the board. They need plaster skimming and then decorating as normal. We have them on some of our walls, they work very well.

 

[PurBee]

The house has carpets but there is still a gap, we are told the plan is to use silicone but I am not sure how the carpet will then go back under the skirting

Carpets should go up to skirting, there usually isnt room for it to go underneath it.
The skirting should be sealing any gaps between floor and wall, but in older places warped floors and walls create gaps, allow tiny cool air streams to flow-in.

It sounds like possibly you‘re getting draughts in at floor level, rather than walls being an issue. Thick stone walls are usually a good breathable heat mass regulating an even temperature.
We have a catflap that now doesnt close tight, and in winter, if its a tiny bit open we soon have cold feet and feel a chill in the room. Its amazing how a small draught at floor level will cool a heated room.
It’s worth sealing all skirting board to wall and floor gaps, (you’ll need to cut back carpet to seal the bottom gap of the skirting fully )- and check window gaps too, before considering wall insulation, which you may not need if the lower skirting board gaps are sealed.