Energy efficiency is one of the most important features of your home. Insulation is always the first line of defence against escaping heat, but do brick houses in particular need insulation?
While brick houses have natural insulating properties, it is more energy efficient to insulate them. Bricks retain heat from the day and slowly release this at night keeping the house cool and warm when you most need. But adding insulation will help you maintain your desired temperature for longer.
Almost all modern houses are built with added insulation for energy efficiency. So, when you’re thinking about insulating your brick house, this is a good indicator to follow through. Read on to find out more.
Do brick homes need to be insulated?
Brick homes should be insulated to boost your home energy efficiency and save on heating and cooling costs. Bricks do have a number of insulating properties because of their thermal mass and ability to absorb moisture. This means they can absorb heat throughout the day that will slowly be released through their pores at night. By doing this, bricks alone are good at keeping your house cooler during the day and a bit warmer at night. But without insulation, your brick house won’t stay very warm as the temperature cools.
Bricks are often cool to touch because of the moisture they store. So, while the heat from the day will be released throughout the night, it probably won’t be enough to keep your house very warm.
By insulating a brick house, you give an extra fluffy layer to your walls that will catch the air and regulate the temperature. The insulation also stops your heating and cooling from escaping through the house walls too quickly. This will mean you won’t be using your heater as much and will be saving money. So, while brick houses can be warm without insulation, controlling the temperature is a lot easier with insulation.
Most modern brick houses are built with insulation because of the energy efficiency. There are a few different insulation methods that you can use. Let’s look at the best ones.
What is the best insulation for a brick house?
Foam insulation is the favoured choice of insulation for brick houses. Specifically, the most efficient is a polyurethane spray foam. This is generally the most cost-effective and efficient solution for a brick house.
You can also use rigid foam boards. These are fitted to your home’s specifications, and are another very common form of insulation, especially in older homes. The foam boards slide in easily between the brick and the interior wall to insulate your home. They have been more affordable than most methods in the past which contribute to their popularity as an insulation method. But they do the trick well.
If you are inserting the insulation into an already built brick house, you might need to cut away the wall and then reseal it. For any house adjustments, make sure you have quality bricklaying tools to get the best results. Foam boards include rigid foamboards like extruded polystyrene and polyisocyanurate.
You can also use mineral wool insulation. Mineral wool is less favoured nowadays since it is generally more expensive and less efficient than other kinds of foam.
Is insulation for brick houses expensive?
The cost of insulation for brick houses changes depending on whether the walls are solid or cavity walls, insulation used and size of the house. Solid wall insulation is more expensive, but it can save you more on your bills. But the most common wall type are cavity walls.
For a cavity wall, you will either use spray foam or fibreglass insulation. This will cost €0.50-€2 per square foot. For the average-sized home, then, the cost range will be anywhere from €1250 to €5600. This is a wide range, but it’s because the insulation will be tailored to your home specifically.
This can be a scary price tag to look at, but you need to think of the money you are saving in the long run. By insulating your brick house, you won’t use as much heating or cooling because the temperature will be regulated better. This will save a lot on your energy bills, especially in very cold winters. So, while insulating a brick house is a big expense, it saves you a lot in the long run.
Is exposed brick bad for insulation?
Exposed brick isn’t bad for insulation, but there are more effective insulation methods for a brick house. Bricks can only hold out so much wind and moisture before the cold slips into the house. While exposed brick does a reasonably good job of trapping heat inside, your whole house won’t stay warm for long without a good heat source.
Exposed brick will insulate your house better than thinner materials like weatherboard. But without insulation, you will be using a lot of energy to maintain a good temperature throughout the house. This is why you should be looking at making sure your house has added insulation. It will save you money and lots of cold nights.
Is insulating a brick house cost-effective?
If you live in a climate where you are using central heating or cooling often, insulating a brick house will be cost-effective. By adding insulation, you will be able to maintain a comfortable temperature in your house without blasting the heating/cooling constantly. This will really lower your energy bills, saving you a lot of money.
If you live in an older house, you should be considering adding insulation and checking fittings like doors and windows. This is because older houses are less energy-efficient with less insulation. If there are doors and windows that aren’t fitting properly because of ageing, heating and cooling won’t be kept in the house well. This will hike up your energy bill when trying to fix the house’s internal temperature.
The first step is to replace these fittings and see if that might help with the temperature. But ultimately, when trying to save money, you will be better off fixing up the insulation in an old house, just like a new one. This can be more expensive initially, but it will make your brick house much more energy-efficient and cost-effective in the long run.
Brick is a great building option with its strength and availability. Recently, brick veneer has become a popular option for houses too. So, what do you need to know about brick veneer? We have the answers for you! We can also give you an insight into the lifespan of a house. Paragon Masonry Tools is here to help with your bricklaying and masonry needs.
