wall insulation Archives - Thermal Imaging Inspections Auckland

Here’s just another reason why a thermal home inspection should be considered when buying a home in NZ:

This should make you scratch your head…

Recently I performed a thermal imaging inspection on a home built in 2005 in the Greenhithe/North Shore area, and what I found was very ‘unethical’ to say the least. If you weren’t aware, council requires ceiling insulation to be installed before issuing a Code of Compliance Certificate (CCC) on the home.

Well… the builder had removed the ceiling insulation pink batts out of the home AFTER the council issued the CCC! Yes, you read that correctly. The batts were installed when building the house, then completely removed before handing the keys to the new owner. I wonder how many homes that same set of batts has been through now??

Take your time when purchasing a home. Here’s what insulation looks like through an infrared camera…

We see what building inspectors dont see! — We see what building inspectors don't see!

Why Should Kiwi’s Make Sure their Walls are Insulated?

It’s simple really, un-insulated walls cost you money. Up to 45% of the heat produced in your home is lost through the walls, therefore insulation can;

–Reduce your heating bills
–Lower the ‘wear and tear’ on your boiler
–Positively impact Global Warming & Climate Change.
-Create a warmer and more comfortable home.
–Lessen the risk of ill health from damp and draughts.

Also insulating your property will increase it’s market value, as well as potentially reducing the amount of maintenance required for it’s upkeep.

How are your walls insulated?

Getting your walls insulated couldn’t be easier. If you own a relatively modern house, with cavity walls, then the insulation is normally injected through small holes from the outside, with the entire process taking just a few hours to cover the entire house.

If you own an older house, with solid walls, then the material can either be applied internally in the form of thermal boards attached to the inside walls of your house, or externally as a protective render.

The heat loss through an un-insulated solid wall is typically more than double that of an un-insulated cavity wall.

Cavity Wall or Solid Wall?

In general, the walls in your home can be categorised into 2 distinct types. Modern style homes, usually built post-war (1945), are constructed with Cavity walls. Older style homes are constructed with Solid Brick walls.

If you are unsure which type of wall you have, then try checking the thickness of an outside wall by any door or window. Cavity walls are at least 26.5cm (10.5 inches) thick. Alternatively, look at the brick pattern of your outside walls, as cavity walls usually differ from solid walls, see image.

Regardless of the types of wall your house is constructed with, there are plenty of different types of insulating material on the market for you to choose from. Use the links below to find out more;

Cavity wall insulation
Solid wall insulation

We detect missing insulation… fast! Thermal imaging can see air gaps and missing insulation without needing to climb into the manhole.