conservatory insulation ? vermiculite granules ?

Question

hi has anyone used SILVAPERL INSULATION VERMICULITE GRANULES in the cavity wall of there CONSERVATORY , my conservatry is freezing & i was thinking @ putting this stuff in the cavity , it wont be a problem as i can take the window sills off

Answer 1

Vermiculite granules are a natural material. The mineral mica is heated until it swells-up, similar to breakfast cerials. Totally inert fire proof unlike polystyrene, can't give off fumes.
I would say by all means use it, its good insulation. Bear in mind that no insulation provides heat, and heat loss through glass is extensive, so you may have to provide a source of heat.

Answer 2

Sounds a very good way of insulating. However if it is only the dwarf wall that you are insulating you are really wasting your time. As heat rises the heat loss from the glass accounts for 95% of the heat loss even if it is double glazed. To keep it warm just needs a lot of heat.
Always a problem with conservatories. They are too cold in winter and much to hot in summer if facing south.

Answer 3

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RE:
conservatory insulation ? vermiculite granules ?
hi has anyone used SILVAPERL INSULATION VERMICULITE GRANULES in the cavity wall of there CONSERVATORY , my conservatry is freezing & i was thinking @ putting this stuff in the cavity , it wont be a problem as i can take the window sills off

Answer 4

This not a recommended practice as vermiculite can hold moisture. Installing another type of insulation instead of more vermiculite could be a problem. Modern vermiculite is less likely to have asbestos in any great quantity. The proper installation of this product is to install a vapor barrier first then the vermiculite. It might be worthwhile to remove the existing insulation and use a newer blow in product or batts of unbacked fiberglass.

Answer 5

My last bungalow was entirely cavity filled with perlite. You may be confusing vermiculite with perlite, the former absorbs and retains water while perlite has good heat insulating properties
and does not absorb water. Perlite can be injected into cavities with a binder to prevent it running out of eg. air ventilation bricks or otherwise losing it.

Answer 6

I have seen vermiculite in loft spaces but not in cavity walls. Have you considered using hi-ex foam?

If you drill small holes at intervals around the walls (Inside would be better then you can skim over the holes and redecorate) and inject foam to fill the cavity?

Then re-decorate and hide the holes.

It is a bit of work drilling, filling and redecorating but once it's done, its done!

Answer 7

How are you going to prevent the granules falling below the damp proof course ? If you do this the damp will bridge the dpc and you may get problems

Answer 8

i have used vermiculite around a fireplace mixed with mortar check the instructions polysterene beads maybe a better job

Answer 9

The bad thing about vermiculite is that it can contain asbestos that is a carcinogen.