Using our specialised equipment, White Rock Property Care can extract defective Cavity Wall Insulation from domestic and commercial properties causing little disturbance to the fabric of the building or its occupants.
Why use White Rock?
White Rock Property Care surveyors hold the industry recognised CSRT qualification (Certificated Surveyor In Remedial Treatment), so when we undertake any survey on your property you can be assured we will undertake a professional site survey, delivering peace of mind through a detailed investigation and correct diagnosis.
There are several tangible benefits of using White Rock Property Care to carry out your Cavity Wall Extraction. The initial survey on the property will be undertaken by a qualified surveyor (CSRT). Given the furore concerning the subpar installation of Cavity Wall Insulation throughout the Country, it is important that we are fully transparent and up to date with our Company accreditations and qualifications. Unlike many of the original CWI installers, we survey your property as a whole, considering any possible internal defects to your property such as salt contaminated plaster or worse, fungal decay/insect attack to built in timbers as a result of damp due to defective insulation.
Following the extraction of your defective insulation, if repairs or improvements are found necessary, White Rock Property Care are able to provide you with a fully bespoke specification and break down of costs for any works that may be required. We are able to complete highly specialised repairs and treatments, effectively, efficiently and safely, using skilled experienced site operatives.
Why is it necessary?
Cavity Wall Insulation installed incorrectly can lead to expensive problems such as damp penetration. Construction on properties with cavity walls began around the 1920’s, and by two decades later it became standard industry practice. But Cavity Wall Insulation can lead to an array of problems. Penetrating Damp can lead to crumbling salt contaminated plaster and later to more serious structural and timber decay such as dry or wet rot and insect attack to structural timbers.
Increasingly rain-lashed winters have resulted in an increase in the reporting of damp issues in properties at 1st floor level and above. A likely cause of damp penetration at these levels is the bridging of the cavity by the Cavity Wall Insulation. Moisture penetrates into the cavities more noticeably on weather prevailing walls, and as the insulation material becomes saturated it will inevitably result with dampness showing on the internal walls.
Not all properties are suitable for Cavity wall insulation and extraction may be necessary for a number of reasons, including:
• The property is exposed to wind driven rain, which can penetrate the outer leaf of brickwork causing rain water to enter the cavity
• Porous brickwork or mortar
• Defective external render
• Defective Wall ties
• Flooding / Burst pipework can cause cavity insulation to become wet
• Dirty cavities from debris falling down the cavity during its construction or dust settlement over a period of time
• Defective insulation material (such as Urea-Formaldehyde) can break down and release toxic gasses
• Early foam insulation was not covered by the same stringent BBA certification licences as modern materials
• Incorrectly installed insulation, through incorrectly located drill pattern or through not carrying out a fill test to determine the correct fill rate, leading to voids within the cavity These can then cause cold spots within the cavity, leading to condensation and damp problems
• Poor installation practices such as neglecting to take account of cavity wall and sub-floor vents, designed to help the building breathe and stay dry
The Cavity Wall Extraction Process:
The redundant/defective Cavity Wall Insulation is removed using specialised tools and an industrial vacuum machine; the nozzle will be positioned using the existing drilling pattern if possible.
The removal of material commences at the base of the property, working its way up the drilling pattern checking that the entire cavity wall is free from insulation material. All waste material is bagged during the extraction process and all waste materials are removed from site. It’s our policy to always clean up on completion ensuring we leave your property exactly as we found it.
The Cavity Wall Insulation Extraction process can take two/three days to complete for an average three-bedroom semi-detached property. Following the extraction of the redundant/defective insulation the cavity void is inspected using a borescope to ensure the cavity insulation is completely removed.
Materials that can be extracted
Below is a list of materials that can be extracted from cavity walls:
Loose and/or bonded expanded polystyrene
Urea Formaldehyde Insulation
Rockwool Mineral Fibre
Whitewool Glass Mineral Fibre
Industry Standards
Our cavity wall extraction teams are all directly employed and trained to the highest standards, and adhere to strict BBA guidelines.
