What Is A Cavity Wall?
What Is A Cavity Wall?
A cavity wall is a type of wall structure that has a hollow space in between two ‘skins’, usually composed of masonries such as brick or cinder block.
This hollow space acts as an insulating barrier, preventing the outside elements from encroaching into your home and protecting it from heat loss or condensation build-up.
It also serves to help absorb rainwater and humidity, while allowing moisture to slowly evaporate instead of saturating the walls themselves.
Through this process, cavity walls can help maintain the overall structural integrity of your building long-term, with minimal need for maintenance.
What Is The Purpose Of A Cavity Wall?
The purpose of cavity walls is to provide better thermal insulation than solid walls, as the space between two leaves filled with air reduces heat transmission into the building from outside.
Cavity walls also help reduce moisture penetration and can lead to better energy efficiency within a building, thus reducing heating costs.
In addition, they provide an extra layer of protection against noise pollution, allowing sound to be muffled more effectively.
What Is The Difference Between A Cavity Wall And A Solid Wall?
A cavity wall is a type of external wall that has an outer leaf and inner leaf of masonry blocks with a gap or cavity in between, usually filled with insulation material. On the other hand, solid walls are single-layer structures consisting of bricks and no gaps.
Generally, before the 1920s, most external walls were constructed as solid structures whereas, after this time, more modern construction techniques have seen cavity walls become more common due to their better insulation properties.
They offer better protection against weathering by allowing any moisture passing through the outer layer to evaporate while trapping air in the gap which acts as a barrier against cold temperatures.
What Are The Advantages Of Cavity Walls?
Cavity walls provide numerous benefits, including improved moisture resistance, better heat and sound insulation, and material savings.
The air gap between the two layers of cavity walls acts as a moisture barrier which prevents moisture from coming in and condensation from forming within the wall.
By having this air pocket, cavity walls are able to store heat for longer periods of time, resulting in improved thermal insulation; it also insulates against outside sounds more effectively than a solid wall, making it useful for noise reduction.
Finally, cavity walls allow builders to save on materials by using less brickwork or blocks than would otherwise be needed.
What Are The Disadvantages Of A Cavity Wall?
Cavity walls can have certain disadvantages, primarily related to moisture.
- By insulating the wall and loft spaces with cavity insulation, you create a humid box that traps any moisture created from living and breathing, with no means of escape unless you adequately heat and ventilate your home.
- This can create condensation on surfaces within the home leading to mold growth which is both unhygienic as well as potentially damaging to house structures such as wooden beams and joists leading to costly repairs.
- Furthermore, when using a liquid form of insulation this can seep into areas between the internal and external walls, eventually freezing in cold weather which could force bricks apart or allow drafts through.
If not installed properly it is also possible for water to penetrate the walls themselves leading to dampness issues and structural damage.
