Best way to insulate a internal void

mark66

mark66

mark66

Soldato
Joined
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Location
Bucks
Hi,

My study is a converted garage on a 1930s house. The conversion was done prior to us moving in and generally seems to be sound. In the corner of the room is our consumer unit, which has been boxed in and which is accessable through a small door.

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The unit is therefore situated at the top of a floor to ceiling boxed in void. The back of this void is a single skin brick external wall which is very cold. We have always felt a cold draft when opening the door to view the unit and the internal wall below the door is always cold to touch. I know that this void is hollow below the unit, aside from a few cables running down into the floor.

Instead of tearing it apart and effectively rebuilding and insulating as I go, I wondered about filling it with some polysterne beads - similar to what they use for cavity insulation. This to me seems a quick and hopefully easy fix to the issue. I'll just create a small opening below the door and then pour in a load of beads!

Anyone see issue with this? Would it be effective? I have looked on eBay and the likes for EPS beads are available and seem to be the same as bean bag beads.

Thoughts appreciated!
 
No easy solution apart from ripping it out and insulating properly. Or get some Wallrock thermal wallpaper on the outside.
 
Maybe just stuff some loft insulation or something in it.

Just a random idea so I'll likely get told I'm dumb lol.
 
Thanks all for the feedback..

SPG said:
No easy solution apart from ripping it out and insulating properly. Or get some Wallrock thermal wallpaper on the outside.
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I would really like to avoid ripping it apart if at all possible and will try to fill before I take this option. The cupboard is well built, decorated and I am not sure I would do a very good job of replicating it again!

Troop said:
How about something like this as its good at insulating and fireproof.

http://www.gr8fires.co.uk/vermiculi...hLwLyXhx8jZLT7V4CvDh0eDVw2VmwAdljOxoCzZrw_wcB
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Yeah that does look pretty good, just wonder how well it would fall into place if I were to make a smallish opening near the top. I can imagine it would need to be pushed down and into place.

Maccapacca said:
If you know what's behind you could make a few small holes and fill it full of expanding foam.
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As cheesyboy says, that would be a nightmare if any further works needs to be done or if something goes wrong. There is already some around the consumer unit back board, which sort of seals the space presented when opening the door, but its the void below which is making the room cold.

Firestar_3x said:
Buy some Celotex and attach it to the back of the door? Whilst it won't fix the cold cupboard it will help in the room.
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We already have a sheet of polysterene which lives behind the door, but a shaped piece of Celotex may well be a good call for the door.

cheesyboy said:
Proper insulation beads sounds a good idea - worth getting something fire retardant. As you say, just cut an opening and pour in. Something like this:
http://www.insulationexpress.co.uk/Product.asp?gclid=CPC6nfXj0tACFcEy0woda8QDMA

Not sure about expanding foam idea - the stuff would be a nightmare if your fill goes a bit wrong.
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I am leaning towards the beads as they can easily be removed if it doesn't work and I can do the job with the smallest disruption. The beads would also presumably fill right down to the bottom corners of the void without me needing to push down into place.

The link you have provided isn't working for me? I've looked on their website under insulation and can't see any bead type stuff, can you check for me?

Cheers
 
Haha not sure about priests, but I do have 3 pesky kids who could sometimes do with being shut away!! Perhaps the wife wouldn't approve if they got frozen and electrocuted at the same time :eek:
 
just be a little careful about insulating around the electrical wires - depending what they are it can cause all sorts of problems.

Have a look at the various threads on here about loft insulation over wiring - lighting main *should* be ok, but ring main or anything to do with the shower/water heaters would be a big no-no
 
Is it really a single brick wall or is it a solid double brick wall? Either way I suspect it breaches building regs!

If it is a solid wall I would be lots to fill the void as you will almost certainly create a wick to move the inevitable moisture in the wall to your plasterboard! Do it properly or continue to ignore either way ensure the door is properly draft proofed!
 
Siliconslave said:
just be a little careful about insulating around the electrical wires - depending what they are it can cause all sorts of problems.

Have a look at the various threads on here about loft insulation over wiring - lighting main *should* be ok, but ring main or anything to do with the shower/water heaters would be a big no-no
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Hmm ok I didn't realise this could be an issue, one reason for checking. I know for sure the new feed for the induction hob runs down to the floor, which will be a major cable.

a1ex2001 said:
Is it really a single brick wall or is it a solid double brick wall? Either way I suspect it breaches building regs!

If it is a solid wall I would be lots to fill the void as you will almost certainly create a wick to move the inevitable moisture in the wall to your plasterboard! Do it properly or continue to ignore either way ensure the door is properly draft proofed!
Click to expand...
Sorry, it is not a single brick wall, it is certainly double thickness and the brick work is part of the extension. Not sure why it is so cold, the other external walls are certainly not as cold. As for creating a wick, again something I was not aware of until now. Would the beads still create a wick?
 
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