All You Need For Insulation Month
The BBA approved EWI Training Academy is terrific preparation for installing external wall insulation. Our experts will detail both the theoretical and practical basics behind installing various systems. From there, you are certainly welcome to peruse our website, and visit our sister company EWI Store. However, this particular blog will detail all the basic materials and tools you will need for your project. Consider this your one stop shop!
The super-insulation envelope
The principle behind external wall insulation is simple; create a super-insulation envelope. The envelope works in two ways. Firstly, it reduces the rate of heat loss from your home, and secondly, it increases the capacity for storage of heat. Both characteristics are crucial to reducing your energy expenditure, which is why EWI is considered the most crucial stage of creating a passive house. The passive house status is highly desirable as you can operate a fossil fuel free household. Certain external wall insulation systems can also work to offset the embodied carbon of your construction project due to a far lower operational carbon level.
The principle behind the super-insulation envelope is the creation of a barrier to offset as much of the loss of heat through thermal bridging as possible. Heat seeks out these highways, attempting to travel to a colder environment through the path of least resistance. However, you can impact this by increasing insulation around these areas, or employing double or triple glazing. Consequently, by reducing these thermal bridges, you reduce the loss of heat.
The combination of EWI and render can also improve the aesthetics of your façade. We have all you need to cover up that outdated, discoloured pebbledash or brickwork.
The Process
Detailed below is the process of installing EWI and render to your property. For substrate variances, please look through our system build-ups.
Step 1
The first step to deciding what you need for your EWI installation is to determine the substrate you’ll covering. Once established, we recommend looking through our system build up to determine the whole process. Irrespective of what the substrate it, you will need to prepare it by cleaning it, and ensuring it is clear of any dirt. Following this, our EWI-310 Universal Primer can prime any surface, increasing its adhesion. The EWI Store range of basecoats work as adhesives so you get plenty of versatility and choice. The Premium Basecoat is recommended for any Mineral Wool installation due to its strength and flexibility. A notched trowel is the ideal tool for the application, and fibreglass mesh serves to add an extra layer of reinforcement. The depth of the installation should be 6mm at this stage.
Step 2
The substrate on your property is now reinforced, protected against weather conditions, and highly adhesive. Our blog comparing the choices of insulation will allow you to decide which boards will suit your property needs. Subsequently, when considering our choice of the Premium Basecoat, we can install Mineral Wool or Kingspan K5 insulation boards. Many companies in the UK now dry fix insulation, however, we strongly recommend wet fixing with adhesive, and adding mechanical fixings for further strengthening. Beading is also crucial to ensuring any dampness in the bottom of the insulation. Starter tracks ensure that the surface for application is level, and they are attached to the substrate above the DPC. Mineral Wool will require metal fixings.
Step 3
Every insulation installation needs a solid external envelope, and the EWI Store Silicone Render range can provide exactly that. To further reinforce and level the surface of your insulation, apply the Premium Basecoat and embed Fibreglass Mesh. Your substrate is now ready for your aesthetic render finish. Render Primer will ensure that your render finish adheres properly and securely. Thankfully, our Universal Primer can also be used in this process!
EWI Store through-coloured silicone renders can provide the vast colour range you need, whilst retaining beneficial qualities. The whole envelope is now encased in a weatherproof, flexible layer. Apply with a trowel and use a plastic float to get the desired surface. Silicone paint can also protect your brand new render finish.
Other considerations
As with most products, we offer variations that offer different benefits. The EWI-220 EPS Basecoat Adhesive is specifically designed for the EPS insulation system. Nano Drex Silicone Render is a premium silicone render. It offers unmatched performance in terms of flexibility, breathability and self-cleaning properties. Formulated using Nano-silicone technology, this render is completely hydrophobic, presenting unbeatable water and dirt repellence.
