Insulating your brick walls ideally creates an airtight layer between the outside environment and the space inside of your home.
Houses that were constructed before the 20th century had the option of having either external or internal wall insulation because the walls of the house were made from solid stone or brick.
Many who either do not currently have brick wall insulations or feel that it is not time to upgrade their brick wall insulation are asking the question. Do I need to Insulate my brick walls?
What are the Benefits of Insulating a Brick Wall?
- Insulating brick walls can cut you heating costs and energy bills
- Insulation can create a more comfortable and temperature-controlled environment
- By reducing the heat escaping your home, you can create a more energy efficient living space
- Internal insulation can work out cheaper than external insulation
- Can be installed room by room
Fixing Insulated Plasterboard to a Brick Wall
Brick wall is a vertical element of construction made of bricks and mortar and is used to form the external walls of buildings. Fixing insulated plasterboard to brick wall can be accomplished using two methods. These methods include the dot and dab method as well as the timber frame technique.
How to cut insulated plasterboard
Measure the boards to size and mark before cutting. Insulated plasterboard can be cut by scoring one side of the board with a sharp knife, snapping over a hard edged, and then scoring the other side of the board. Alternatively, cut the boards using a fine-toothed saw.
Dot and Dab Applications
When it comes to insulating brick walls internally with the dot and dab method, the process involves 3 key materials to be used: primer, insulated plasterboard, and plasterboard adhesive. Prior to installing the insulation boards, you will need to find out what materials and tools your property requires in order to move forward.
Prior to insulating, ensure all skirting, wallpaper, picture rails, and any screws have been removed. Furthermore, ensure all render has been removed from the brick wall. In addition, make sure the brick walls are completely dry. Using a de-humidifier to remove moisture within the air can be effective.
Mix adhesive in smaller batches. If mixing in bigger batches and the adhesive is not the correct consistency you will lose money spent on the adhesive. You will also be short of a bucket should the adhesive set quickly. This will also take up your time.
The quality of the job done relies heavily on the adhesive you choose to use. Depending on the manufacturer you got around 90 min to play with before glue goes off.
Mark the wall with the positions of the boards. Drawing guidelines on the wall and floors will leave guidelines.
If the skirting board will be placed after the process, ensure there is a solid line of the plaster where this will be fixed.
How to install insulated plasterboard
Firstly, use primer on the walls and if required apply a bonding agent to the back of the boards. If the bricks appear dusty be sure to apply a diluted primer coat. It is essential to ensure no dust is remaining on the brickwork before you start.
Mix the adhesive by following the instructions on the pack. All tools and accessories must be dust free prior to mixing. Dust and dirt may contaminate the adhesive mix. It is essential that the adhesive mixture is the correct consistency not to thin nor too firm.
Before applying the adhesives, cut the boards to size. Be sure to cut the boards with switches and door frames in mind.
Secondly, apply the adhesive. Apply the dabs between 10mm and 20mm thick. Allow space for a 5cm gap between the back of the board and the floor. This prevents damp getting in from the floor into the underside of the plasterboard.
Apply the adhesive around the perimeters of the wall and ceiling and around any openings such as doors and windows. In addition, apply the adhesive in vertical rows around the room. Adhesive should be roughly 25cm long and 50mm wide, however this can differ depending on the size of the board. Each board requires three vertical rows of adhesive per board.
Adjust insulated plasterboard.
To attach the boards, simply press it onto the surface of the wall once the adhesive has been applied and hold in place until it is secure and attached to the wall. Keep fixing the boards into place until they align with the markings on the floor. Then, Check with spirit level.
Use 2-4 screws per sheet to help secure the board.
What are Insulated plasterboards?
Insulated plasterboard consists of a high-quality Polyisocyanurate (PIR) board which is bonded to a piece of 12.5mm tapered edge plasterboard to form a single sheet. Insulated plasterboards can be used for walls and ceiling applications. This 2-in-1 product will save time and money when insulating you home or work environment. These boards are an easier option than purchasing the insulation board and plasterboard separately.
The insulated plasterboard has an impressive thermal conductivity of 0.022W/mK. This means less heat will escape from the property, saving money on energy bills. The boards are 2400mm by 1200mm and available in a variety of thicknesses to meet your property needs.
How do you Insulate a Brick Wall?
Other than the dotting and dabbing, there are other methods that can successfully insulate a brick wall. If you don’t have cavities in your wall, you shouldn’t adhesively bond insulated plasterboards because of the risk of moisture penetration from outside.
Timber and Steel Frame Applications
The walls can be measured and marked and fitted with timber battens vertically around the room along with strips of damp proof membrane. The insulation boards can then be fixed onto the battens. This is also known as a stud wall.
A metal frame can also be applied to the walls and provides a frame for the insulation to be fitted into. This method is more popular when installing insulation slabs and rolls as opposed to boards. The rolls and slabs are flexible and can tuck into the metal frame.
Timber Joist Applications
Another method includes installing timber joists directly onto the brick wall. The preferred insulation material, boards, rolls, or slabs can then fit in between each joist. Plasterboards can then be applied over the top of the insulation and fixed onto the joists.
