bronze Posted November 19, 2008 Share Posted November 19, 2008 Not so silly because I need the answer but it seems like a silly thing to ask. How do you know if you have cavity walls? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted November 19, 2008 Share Posted November 19, 2008 It should say on your survey that you had done when you bought the house. Other than that.......I don't know! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bronze Posted November 19, 2008 Author Share Posted November 19, 2008 ooh now to find the paperwork Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tessa the Duchess Posted November 19, 2008 Share Posted November 19, 2008 If your house was built before the 1930's you won't have cavity walls. With newer housing you can tell if you have cavity walls because they are much thicker than non cavity walls, but I have no idea of the measurement, not much use really Tessa Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Looney Posted November 19, 2008 Share Posted November 19, 2008 Bronze, I'm so pleased you asked about this as I don't know the answer but would like to! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jules Posted November 19, 2008 Share Posted November 19, 2008 Hello I was asking my buillder neighbour this the other day as I was told we don't have cavity walls and he said we do as you can tell from the way the bricks are laid. If the bricks are long ways with no end ones in between you have a cavity but if they are laid with the short end of the brick showing it is a solid wall. He had more technical terms for it but that was the idea! I hope this helps Julia Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bronze Posted November 20, 2008 Author Share Posted November 20, 2008 Glad its not just me then. I dont feel so silly. We have 'long bricks' so I will have to do some more investigation. I do understand the logic of this because of how you would build a thicker stonger wall would be to have bricks going across ways. My only worry would be that thebricks are just a shell and in fact its breeze blocks behind or something. Its a 1950s excouncil house so date doesnt help me. I will have to find that paperwork! ho hum Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
crazygal Posted November 20, 2008 Share Posted November 20, 2008 Funny you should ask that question because only last night we had a cold call from someone wanting to sell us cavity wall insulation. DH explained that we do not have cavity walls (our home was built around 1880)- and the caller persisted, saying did we know that we could get a grant??!! DH said that he got the impression the foreign chap reading from a script in some call centre had no idea what a cavity wall was Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Redwing Posted November 20, 2008 Share Posted November 20, 2008 My house was built in the 1930's mainly of red brick and it has cavity walls, Just looking at them (can't find a tape measure!) I would say that they must be just over a foot thick. I guess a house made of stone could have the same thickness walls but wouldn't have cavities however if a house is made of brick with this thickness it possibly would have a cavity. I don't know if you are asking because you are looking at cavity wall insulation but if you are I would totally recommend it, its very good! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tiggy Posted November 20, 2008 Share Posted November 20, 2008 mine was built in 1930s and has cavity walls - now filled with foam (I got the grant) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Dogmother Posted November 20, 2008 Share Posted November 20, 2008 I'm always getting cold callers and door-knockers about cavity wall insulation.... one look at my walls and they ought to know that a house of this age (1897) won't have cavity walls As Jules said, it's quite easy to tell by the way that the bricks are laid. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Aunty e Posted November 20, 2008 Share Posted November 20, 2008 I thought we had cavity walls and was quite excited by the prospect of getting insulation. Then I found out we didn't. Sulk. We are in a fifties ex-local authority maisonette. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tina C Posted November 20, 2008 Share Posted November 20, 2008 Ask a cavity wall insulation company for a quote they should know - they may even know without coming to visit once you give them your address. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Olly Posted November 21, 2008 Share Posted November 21, 2008 I'm so glad you asked this question, because I've always wondered how you know. My house is 1930s but the outside is rendered and the inside is plastered, so there's not a brick in sight! I'm guessing by the depth of the windowsills however, that it doesn't have cavity walls. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lesley Posted November 21, 2008 Share Posted November 21, 2008 I'm so glad you asked this question, because I've always wondered how you know. My house is 1930s but the outside is rendered and the inside is plastered, so there's not a brick in sight! I'm guessing by the depth of the windowsills however, that it doesn't have cavity walls. I was just going to say you'll have to go by the windowsill Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
