House Insulation: Brick, Concrete and Timber Home Walls

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Brick, Concrete and Timber Walls Insulation

External walls insulation is essential in all climates. Common construction material do not perform by themselves the desired insulation, with very rare exceptions (autoclaved aerated concrete walls, straw bale walls...).

Brick walls, timber framed walls, concrete block walls, mud brick walls, all will benefit with extra insulation.

Demanded R-values in walls

See, tables in Demanded Insulation & Climate Zones

Common Insulation Materials for walls

See:
Fiberglass, Mineral wool & Home insulation
Cellulose insulation
Sprayed foam insulation
Reflective Insulation

Brick Walls

Ordinary brick walls will benefit largely in terms of energy efficiency if the cavities of the bricks are properly insulated: by sealing their bottom and pumping in loose insulation bulk material. This can be done by small polystyrene balls, but also by blowing mineral fibres into the cavities of the bricks.

Reverse Brick Veneer (RBV) walls are much more energy efficient, and need less insulation. However it may still be important in colder climates.

Timber framed walls

Timber walls rely openly upon insulation. Insulation should be fitted to the stud frame of the walls, whenever possible.

In the case of timber framed walls, it may be applied the same insulation materials used in ordinary brick walls: small polystyrene bolls and blowing mineral fibres.

Other insulation materials for this type of walls:

- Extruded polystyrene foam
- Expanded polystyrene foam
- Polyurethane foam and Polyisocyanurate foam
(see, on this issue: Spray-on foam insulation)

Reflective materials (foil-faced paper, polyethylene bubbles, plastic films and cardboard) are also used in walls, to provide reflective insulation in hot climates.

Other Types of Walls

Walls of concrete block or mud brick also need insulation.

You can use a cap of insulation material over the wall: polystyrene board, or batts, duly waterproofed.