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Abstract or summary

This guidance note provides advice on the principles, risks, materials and methods for improving the thermal performance of buildings built with early forms of masonry cavity walls dating from before the Second World War. Builders and architects started to experiment with cavity or hollow walls from early in the Victorian period. By the first decade of the 20th century most pattern books for houses included examples of outer walls with two separate leaves of brickwork.

Details are provided on early cavity wall construction and the key issues that need to be considered if insulation is to be added.