An insight into External Wall Insulation

External wall systems consist of a layer of insulation fixed to the outer walls of a building. Completed with a protective render or decorative finish. EWI is not only an energy efficient measure, but a way to reduce carbon emissions and support energy savings.

Why External Solid Wall Insulation?

Properties built before 1930 were mostly constructed with solid walls, meaning they didn’t have cavities that could be injected with insulation. However now solid wall properties can be insulated with external wall insulation. The reasoning for insulating externally is to slow the movement of heat escaping through the walls and reduce heating bills.

Insulating your house externally is a process best done by a trained installer. The process itself consists of your installer applying a layer of insulating material to the wall and then covering it with protective layers of render or cladding.

How much could I save by insulating my home’s solid walls?(This table is from http://www.energysavingtrust.org.uk/domestic/solid-wall)

There are various types of insulation products that can be adhered to the outside of the a property. EWI Pros wall insulation includes expanded polystyrene (EPS), mineral wool, wood fibre and XPS.

EPS is certainly the most popular as it is the most cost effective. Mineral wool can also be used to insulate properties such as high rise buildings, due to it having outstanding fire resistance. Woodfibre is the most breathable and natural insulation material however the system itself is very expensive. XPS insulation is a closed-cell foam insulation board that offers fantastic thermal capabilities.

Internal Wall Insulation – what is it and its disadvantages?

you can internally insulated solid walls by securing rigid boards on the wall, or by building separate stud walls then filling the gap with an insulating material, e.g. mineral wool. Before you begin, you need to resolve any damp issues, as damp penetration can ruin the results of your external wall insulation.

Insulating your home with an Internal wall insulation system will result in the reduction of your rooms size. It will bring the walls in by around 4 inches. Internally insulating your home can be particularly disruptive and you may have to move out of the rooms being insulated, to make room for the workers who will be installing the system.

Internal wall insulation requires a lot of preparation. You will need to move furniture, pull away carpet and take off skirting boards, wall light fittings, door frames, pipework, and radiators. This also means when placing your carpet back that you will have to slice off 4 inches from all sides and replace all fittings you have removed during insulation.

If the surface of the wall is uneven and lumpy (older buildings tend to suffer uneven walls the most, especially in rural areas.) it needs to be levelled off with render or plaster before securing the rigid insulation boards.