Free Cavity Wall Insulation FAQs
You can watch this 6-minute video to get a glimpse of the process.
We insulate cavity walls by blowing polystyrene beads into the cavity, usually from the outside, though it can also be done from the inside if necessary.
Small 22mm holes, just slightly smaller than a 2p coin, are drilled into the external walls following a specific pattern laid out by the British Board of Agrément (BBA) for the insulation material used.
The insulation and adhesive are injected into the holes using specialized equipment. The adhesive sets within 20 minutes, forming a loose block of polystyrene beads.
Afterwards, the holes are filled with colour-matched cement to blend seamlessly with the existing mortar or render.
Cavity wall insulation is not a DIY job. For an average 3-bedroom semi-detached house, the process takes about 3 hours.
Many of our customers are impressed by the speed and neatness of the installation.
Plus, the work comes with a 25-year guarantee from CIGA, the government-backed Cavity Insulation Guarantee Authority, for complete peace of mind.
To find out if you qualify, or to book a free no obligation survey, complete our enquiry form or give us a call
or call us on 0800 8 10 10 60 or 07960 799681 and speak to one of our cavity wall experts.
Yes, the insulation comes with a 25-year guarantee from the Cavity Insulation Guarantee Agency (CIGA).
CIGA provides independent 25-year guarantees for free cavity wall insulation in Swansea and the surrounding area, installed by registered professionals throughout the UK and Channel Islands. However, this guarantee is only issued if the property successfully passes a Cavity Assessment Survey (CAS).
A grant for insulation won’t be approved unless a CIGA guarantee is provided.
The government considers cavity wall insulation to be “the most cost-effective energy-saving measure for most homes,” and a crucial element in reducing carbon emissions.
CIGA was established in collaboration with the government’s Energy, Environment, and Waste Directorate (a division of DETR), offering homeowners a consistent, independent guarantee that covers defects in materials and workmanship.
Research by the Department of the Environment, Transport, and the Regions (now defunct) confirmed that cavity wall insulation is a highly reliable process. Problems are extremely rare, but CIGA has the necessary expertise to swiftly resolve any issues. The new CAS survey adds an extra layer of security by ensuring only suitable walls are insulated.
Additionally, CIGA oversees the Cavity Wall Insulation Self Certification Scheme (CWISC), in partnership with the British Board of Agrément, ensuring that work completed by registered contractors meets building regulations.
To find out if you qualify, or to book a free no obligation survey, complete our enquiry form or give us a call
or call us on 0800 8 10 10 60 or 07960 799681 and speak to one of our cavity wall experts.
Not all homes with cavity walls are suitable for insulation.
Prior to 1920, most houses were built with solid walls, either stone or solid brick (two brick walls side by side). A few exceptions exist, such as mill houses in regions like Lancashire and Yorkshire, which were built with two stone walls and a cavity in between. These types of homes should not be insulated due to potential complications.
Solid walls were prone to dampness, which often led to health problems like pneumonia, putting people’s lives at risk.
Cavity walls were introduced as a solution, featuring two brick walls with a gap (cavity) between them. By the 1920s, this design became more common, and by 1930, cavity walls had become the norm.
While homes built after 1930 are typically suitable for cavity wall insulation, it’s always important to note that this is subject to a proper survey.
There are three key exceptions:
- Concrete properties (often former council houses) with unfilled cavities. Insulating these could lead to issues such as “Concrete Cancer,” making them unsuitable.
- Timber-framed properties, where a wooden frame is attached to the inside of a brick outer wall and filled with insulation. In these cases, additional cavity wall insulation is unnecessary.
- Homes built after 1982, were required to have insulation during construction, as part of new building regulations. However, many homes built in the 1980s, 1990s and even 2000s were left uninsulated and may still be suitable for insulation, pending a survey.
To find out if you qualify, or to book a free no obligation survey, complete our enquiry form or give us a call
or call us on 0800 8 10 10 60 or 07960 799681 and speak to one of our cavity wall experts.
You will need to be in receipt of a qualifying benefit.
Here is the list of Qualifying Benefits.
- Pension Credit
- Income Based Job Seekers Allowance
- Universal Credit – No income threshold
- Income Related Employment and Support Allowance
- Tax Credits (including Working and Child Tax Credits) – No income threshold
- Income Support
- Housing Benefit – NEW
- Child Benefit/Family Allowance. Income Thresholds apply – see table below. These are gross (before stoppages) thresholds.
| Number of Children | 1 Adult Household | 2 Adult Household |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | £19,900 | £27,500 |
| 2 | £24,800 | £32,300 |
| 3 | £29,600 | £37,200 |
| 4 | £34,500 | £42,000 |
To find out if you qualify, or to book a free no obligation survey, complete our enquiry form or give us a call
or call us on 0800 8 10 10 60 or 07960 799681 and speak to one of our cavity wall experts.
If you have noticed damp patches on the inside of your external walls, it’s crucial to address these before proceeding with any insulation installation.
If a property suffers from damp, it will fail the CAS (Cavity Assessment Survey), and cavity wall insulation cannot be installed under the Great British Insulation Scheme (GBIS).
This is because, to qualify for a grant, a 25-year guarantee must be issued, which is only possible if the property passes the survey. If the property has damp, it will fail the CAS survey, and no grant will be approved—plain and simple.
However, if you see “black mould or spots,” this is likely caused by condensation rather than structural damp.
In about 90% of cases, condensation results from lifestyle factors, such as inadequate ventilation or drying clothes indoors, rather than issues with the building itself.
Cavity wall insulation can help mitigate this by keeping the internal walls warmer, which can reduce or even eliminate black mould caused by condensation.
To find out if you qualify, or to book a free no obligation survey, complete our enquiry form or give us a call
or call us on 0800 8 10 10 60 or 07960 799681 and speak to one of our cavity wall experts.
The simple answer is, “I can’t tell you without conducting a survey.” However…
If your home was built after 1925, there’s a good chance it has external walls consisting of two layers of brick with a gap (cavity) between them, held together by wall ties. This is referred to as a cavity wall.
Free cavity wall insulation in Swansea fills this gap, which helps retain warmth, saves energy, and may also reduce or eliminate condensation inside your home—particularly if your external walls are prone to moisture problems.
Your home will likely be suitable for free cavity wall insulation if:
- The external walls have unfilled cavity walls.
- The cavity is at least 50mm wide.
- The brickwork or masonry is in reasonably good condition.
However, it’s not quite as simple as that.
Part of the process includes a Cavity Assessment Survey (CAS), which is administered and audited by the Installation Assurance Authority (IAA). This thorough survey assesses the suitability of the walls for insulation.
During the survey, small test holes are drilled into each wall elevation, and a borescope (a special camera) is used to inspect the cavity, taking photographs and measuring the depth etc.
The walls are carefully examined for issues such as cracks, unfilled holes, or other remedial work that must be addressed before insulation can proceed. Gutters and downpipes are also inspected to check for leaks, blockages, and proper drainage.
This free-of-charge survey takes around two hours to complete, after which the report and photos are uploaded to the IAA platform for auditing.
This survey and inspection process ensures that properties are suitable for insulation under the new free Cavity Wall Insulation Grant scheme, which includes enhanced quality control measures to prevent issues.
To find out if you qualify, or to book a free no obligation survey, complete our enquiry form or give us a call
or call us on 0800 8 10 10 60 or 07960 799681 and speak to one of our cavity wall experts.
Free cavity wall insulation in Bristol can lower your fuel bills, reduce your carbon footprint, and help minimize or eliminate condensation.
Here’s how heat loss typically breaks down in a house:
- Walls: 35%
- Roof: 25%
- Floor: 15%
- Draughts: 15%
- Windows: 10%
Uninsulated walls account for 35% of a home’s heat loss. By installing free cavity wall insulation, you can reduce this heat loss by 70%. As a result, your heating costs could drop by 24.5% (since 70% of 35% equals 24.5%).
Be cautious of companies that overstate this figure. Some may claim your bills will decrease by 35%, but no insulation can completely prevent heat loss through walls.
To find out if you qualify, or to book a free no obligation survey, complete our enquiry form or give us a call
or call us on 0800 8 10 10 60 or 07960 799681 and speak to one of our cavity wall experts.
EPC stands for Energy Performance Certificate.
A property requires an EPC if it being sold or if it is rented.
They were introduced on the 1st August 2007. So, if you bought your property before that date you won’t have an EPC.
They are good for 10 years. So you could sell a property with a 7-year-old EPC, but it wouldn’t necessarily reflect the energy efficiency of the property on the day it’s sold. There is talk of reducing the life of an EPC to 5 years.
The EPC rating is a measure of the cost of heating the house and hot water, based on 2.5 occupants. The rating will fall into a level of A to G. A is the best and G is the worst.
There are a lot of changes taking place with regard to the input data (in spring 2025) to make an ERC far more accurate.
If you don’t have an EPC you can still apply for a Cavity Wall Insulation grant.
To find out if you qualify, or to book a free no obligation survey, complete our enquiry form or give us a call
or call us on 0800 8 10 10 60 or 07960 799681 and speak to one of our cavity wall experts.
If you don’t have an EPC (Energy Performance Certificate) you can still apply for a Cavity Wall Insulation grant using The Great British Insulation Scheme.
As a part of the required survey, we produce an EPR (Energy Performance Report). An EPR uses the same dataset as an EPC, but it is not registered and you don’t get a certificate.
So, you don’t need to have an EPC!
To find out if you qualify, or to book a free no obligation survey, complete our enquiry form or give us a call
or call us on 0800 8 10 10 60 or 07960 799681 and speak to one of our cavity wall experts.
We exclusively use “SuperBead” polystyrene beads for cavity wall insulation, not mineral fibre options like “RockWool.”
Here’s a 6-minute video demonstrating how cavity walls are insulated and explaining why “SuperBead” does not cause damp.
Polystyrene beads are a superior insulation material for cavity walls, though they are more expensive. “SuperBead” cavity wall insulation is certified for several important properties:
- Thermal Efficiency: “SuperBead” boasts a thermal conductivity of 0.035, making it highly effective in retaining heat.
- Water Resistance: It resists water transfer across the cavity, preventing dampness.
- Condensation Control: By keeping internal walls warmer, it helps reduce the risk of condensation.
- Fire Safety: “SuperBead” does not compromise the fire resistance of the walls.
- Durability: It is long-lasting, rot-proof, and water-resistant, remaining effective throughout the building’s lifetime.
Compared to fibre insulation, “SuperBead” is up to 20% more efficient. When installed, it’s blown into the cavity with an adhesive that sets within 20 minutes. This process requires about 30% fewer and smaller holes than fibre insulation, creating a solid blanket of polystyrene that reduces heat loss by approximately 70%.
The polystyrene beads are rigorously tested, fire-resistant, and certified by the BBA for use in extreme conditions.
As part of the installation process, we conduct a Cavity Assessment Survey (CAS) to ensure your walls are suitable for insulation. This is part of the improved quality control standards under the Great British Insulation Scheme (GBIS), formerly the free Cavity Wall Insulation Grant scheme.
To find out if you qualify, or to book a free no obligation survey, complete our enquiry form or give us a call
or call us on 0800 8 10 10 60 or 07960 799681 and speak to one of our cavity wall experts.
Cavity wall insulation offers several key benefits, including:
- Energy Efficiency: It reduces heat loss, helping to maintain a comfortable indoor temperature with less heating, which lowers energy bills.
- Cost Savings: By reducing the need for heating, insulation leads to long-term savings on energy costs.
- Increased Comfort: Insulation minimizes drafts and cold spots, creating a more even, comfortable indoor climate throughout the year.
- Environmental Impact: Improved energy efficiency means fewer carbon emissions from heating, reducing your home’s environmental footprint.
- Condensation Control: By keeping internal walls warmer, insulation helps prevent condensation, reducing the risk of damp and mold.
- Property Value: Energy-efficient upgrades like cavity wall insulation can increase your home’s value, as energy efficiency is a growing priority for buyers.
- Noise Reduction: It also acts as a sound barrier, reducing outside noise—a bonus for homes in busy or noisy areas.
- Quick Installation: Installation is fast and causes minimal disruption, typically taking about three hours for a semi-detached house.
To find out if you qualify, or to book a free no obligation survey, complete our enquiry form or give us a call
or call us on 0800 8 10 10 60 or 07960 799681 and speak to one of our cavity wall experts.
Yes, free cavity wall insulation can be highly effective in reducing condensation.
Condensation happens when warm, moist air meets a cold surface. Warmer air can hold more moisture, but when it cools down on contact with a colder surface, it releases that moisture, which can accumulate as water droplets. If this moisture isn’t dried quickly, it can lead to the growth of black mold.
By insulating cavity walls, the internal walls of your home stay warmer, making it much less likely for condensation to form. This reduces the risk of dampness and mold growth, helping to create a healthier living environment.
Free cavity wall insulation can thus be a valuable solution in minimizing or even eliminating condensation issues.
To find out if you qualify, or to book a free no obligation survey, complete our enquiry form or give us a call
or call us on 0800 8 10 10 60 or 07960 799681 and speak to one of our cavity wall experts.
Yes, the UK Government Grant Scheme is called the Great British Insulation Scheme.
To meet their significant legal targets for reducing carbon emissions, the government has passed the responsibility to energy providers through a legal obligation known as the Energy Company Obligation (ECO).
Under this scheme, gas and electricity companies are required to take action to help lower carbon emissions.
We all contribute to this initiative through our fuel bills, as part of what’s called the “green levy” – 6% of gas bills and 11% of electricity bills go towards this fund. The energy companies then use this money to fund ECO grants, including schemes like free cavity wall insulation.
So, while the insulation itself may seem free, we’re indirectly funding it through our energy bills, as is often the case.
To find out if you qualify, or to book a free no obligation survey, complete our enquiry form or give us a call
or call us on 0800 8 10 10 60 or 07960 799681 and speak to one of our cavity wall experts.
You will need to be in receipt of a qualifying benefit.
Here is the list of Qualifying Benefits.
- Pension Credit
- Income Based Job Seekers Allowance
- Universal Credit – No income threshold
- Income Related Employment and Support Allowance
- Tax Credits (including Working and Child Tax Credits) – No income threshold
- Income Support
- Housing Benefit – NEW
- Child Benefit/Family Allowance. Income Thresholds apply – see table below. These are gross (before stoppages) thresholds.
| Number of Children | 1 Adult Household | 2 Adult Household |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | £19,900 | £27,500 |
| 2 | £24,800 | £32,300 |
| 3 | £29,600 | £37,200 |
| 4 | £34,500 | £42,000 |
To find out if you qualify, or to book a free no obligation survey, complete our enquiry form or give us a call
or call us on 0800 8 10 10 60 or 07960 799681 and speak to one of our cavity wall experts.
According to the Cavity Insulation Guarantee Agency (CIGA), damp problems occur in approximately 3 out of every 1,000 homes with cavity wall insulation (CWI). Most of these issues are due to inappropriate insulation being installed in unsuitable walls. Historically, Rockwool was the standard material used for CWI, but it has since been replaced by polystyrene beads, which offer better performance.
However, early versions of polystyrene beads, such as the small, soft, white beads found in bean bags, were not effective at repelling water and sometimes contributed to damp problems. Today, cavity wall insulation uses larger, grey or silver polystyrene beads of varying sizes, specifically designed to repel water and minimize the risk of dampness.
A key cause of problems was improper installation practices. In the past, some salespeople promised free cavity wall insulation without conducting proper surveys, leading to unsuitable homes being insulated and resulting in complications.
Improvements in Quality Control
In April 2017, the British Board of Agrément (BBA) introduced the Cavity Assessment Surveillance Scheme (CASS) to prevent the insulation of unsuitable homes. The BBA, which certifies building materials for specific uses, outlined standards for proper installation. In October 2018, CIGA took over this scheme, which is now managed by the Insulation Assurance Authority (IAA).
The CASS process involves a thorough survey of each property, typically lasting two hours. The survey assesses the condition of the walls, cavity depth, damp-proof course, and the state of gutters and downpipes (leaky gutters and downpipes are common causes of damp). The survey data, including photos of the cavity, is uploaded to the IAA platform for review. Every survey undergoes a desktop audit, and 1 in 10 homes receives an on-site audit by an IAA surveyor to ensure accuracy.
This rigorous quality control is expected to reduce the number of homes inappropriately insulated, thereby lowering the risk of dampness caused by CWI.
Prior to 2017, CIGA reported that 3 out of every 1,000 homes experienced damp issues, but with the introduction of the CASS process, this number is expected to decrease significantly.
To find out if you qualify, or to book a free no obligation survey, complete our enquiry form or give us a call
or call us on 0800 8 10 10 60 or 07960 799681 and speak to one of our cavity wall experts.
There are three main pathways to qualify for a cavity wall insulation grant in Swansea:
1. The General Group
To qualify under this group, you must meet two key criteria:
- Council Tax Band:
- In Wales, your property must be in bands A, B, C, D, or E.
- In England, it must fall under bands A to D.
- You can check your council tax band on the Gov.UK website. ✔
- Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) Rating:
- Your property must have an EPC rating of D, E, F, or G, which can be verified on the EPC Register. ✔
These conditions apply to homeowners and private renters (with the landlord’s consent). However, private tenants must also receive a qualifying benefit to be eligible for free cavity wall insulation and the EPC rating of the property must be a D or E.
F or G rated rented properties must have a legal exemption registered to qualify,
2. The “Low Income” Group
To qualify through this group, you need to be receiving one of the following benefits, and your EPC rating must be D, E, F, or G:
- Pension Credit
- Income-Based Job Seekers Allowance
- Universal Credit (no income threshold)
- Income-Related Employment and Support Allowance
- Tax Credits (Working and Child Tax Credits – no income threshold)
- Income Support
- Housing Benefit (newly added)
- Child Benefit/Family Allowance (with income thresholds based on the number of children in the household)
Child Benefit Qualification Matrix: Your household income must be below the following thresholds:
| Number of Children | 1 Adult Household | 2 Adult Household |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | £19,900 | £27,500 |
| 2 | £24,800 | £32,300 |
| 3 | £29,600 | £37,200 |
| 4 | £34,500 | £42,000 |
3. LA Flex Funding
This flexible route takes into account additional factors beyond just benefits. There are two ways to qualify under LA Flex:
- Route 1: Your total gross household income must be £31,000 or less per year.
- Route 2: Someone in the household must suffer from one of the following conditions:
- Cardiovascular condition
- Respiratory disease
- Limited mobility
- Immunosuppression
This flexible approach allows more households to qualify based on specific circumstances, expanding the reach of the grant.
To find out if you qualify, or to book a free no obligation survey, complete our enquiry form or give us a call
or call us on 0800 8 10 10 60 or 07960 799681 and speak to one of our cavity wall experts.
We take care of everything for you, so you don’t have to worry about any paperwork.
During the survey, we manage the entire grant application process and verify your eligibility.
Once the work is finished, we request the grant funds, which are paid directly to us.
All you need to do is relax and enjoy your reduced energy bills and a smaller carbon footprint!
To find out if you qualify, or to book a free no obligation survey, complete our enquiry form or give us a call
or call us on 0800 8 10 10 60 or 07960 799681 and speak to one of our cavity wall experts.
To find out if you qualify, or to book a free no obligation survey, complete our enquiry form or give us a call
or call us on 0800 8 10 10 60 or 07960 799681 and speak to one of our cavity wall experts.
