A Beginner’s Guide to Stud Wall Insulation

Stud walls are a common feature in homes up and down the UK. They’re a simple way to create a partition within a space without the need for extensive structural work. One area that’s often overlooked, however, is stud wall insulation.

In this post, we’ll take a closer look at insulation for stud partition walls and the different types available.

The basics of stud walls

To put things into context, it’s worth outlining exactly how stud walls are formed. It starts with a frame of timber or metal studs, which are attached to the ceiling and floor where the wall is positioned. These are then filled with vertical studs at intervals around 40-60cm apart. Vertical studs are then reinforced with shorter horizontal studs in-between them.

The stud wall is finished when plasterboard is fitted to both sides of the frame, with a coat of plaster added on top. The walls can then be decorated by painting, wallpapering or even panelling. There’s just one thing missing, of course – stud wall insulation.

Stud walls need to be insulated to stop heating passing through, which can make it harder to maintain a comfortable temperature. Stud wall sound insulation is equally important, given that they’re usually installed to create two separate rooms within a space. If sound is passing through easily, the partition may as well not be there at all!

Stud wall insulation types

The most common types of insulation for stud partition walls are insulative boards or panels. These are fitted within the frame after one side of plasterboard has been added. The second side of plasterboard is then installed so the insulated wall can be skimmed over.

While this is the most popular method, it does have its drawbacks. For one, stud wall frames generally measure between 70-100mm in thickness. That’s not a huge thickness for cavity insulation, given that exterior cavity walls have a gap of around 250mm, for example. As a result, you may find that stud wall insulation is simply ineffective.

Alternatively, you might have a stud wall that’s already in place. In this case, it can be messy, costly and time consuming removing the plaster and plasterboard to fit stud wall insulation, before refitting plasterboard, skimming and then redecorating over the top.

Alternative insulation for stud partition walls

Thankfully, there is another option when you’re choosing what insulation to use in stud walls – an insulative coating applied on top of the plasterboard. Whether it’s a new or existing stud wall, CorkSol SprayCork can be applied in two thin layers of 3mm, with a 2mm overskim of plaster.

It can work as an alternative to traditional stud wall insulation, or even used to bolster existing panels within the stud wall frame. The results speak for themselves. SprayCork has been found to cut heating bills by 15%, reduce noise and vibrations by up to 12dB, and is even water-repellent to prevent damp and mould forming.

If you would like to find out more or get a quote from your local approved applicator, don’t hesitate to contact our team.