Wall insulation

[zeb]

Which type of thermal insulation is the most effective for a given thickness to put behind plasterboard - laine de verre, laine de roche or doublage (polystyrene-backed plasterboard)?

[Gyn_Paul]

.......... and which is best for SOUND insulation ?

paul

[Nick Trollope]

[quote].......... and which is best for SOUND insulation ? paul[/quote]

Laine de roche - also of course the most expensive (avoiding hi-tech bubblewrap solutions).

It is self-supporting (unlike my missus) and excellent sound insulator, which polstyrene is not, as it is too hard and too well connected to the Placo.

 

[Ian Hoare<br>All the best<br>Ian<br>La Souvigne Corrèze<br>http:www.souvigne.com]

Hi zeb,

The most effective for any given thickness is the new hi-tech multi layer reflective stuff. A devil of a price, but you get as much insulation for 1 cm as you would for 20 cm of glass fibre.

The next best is closed cell polyurethane (BASF, I think). It's green and sort of interlocks. 5cms is the equivalent of 20 cms fibreglass. (We used it when we didn't want to lose too much floor area). You can tuck it behind the platerboard rails that you put up to screw the plasterbaord to).

Then comes polystyrene, either on its own or backed onto plasterboard. The easiest way to fix it, is using pregycolle, by the way. You make plots of the glop every 20/30 cms or so, and then press it up against the (dust free) wall. Make sure your alignement is spot on. Ity can be quite tricky to screw through 10cms of polysturene foam insulation into the rail.