With energy prices soaring and endless alarm about global warming, most of us have considered ways to make our homes warmer. Almost everyone has loft insulation and most of us have at least some double glazing, but a great deal of heat escapes straight through the walls. While cavity walls can be improved by injecting an insulating foam, a more effective option for both cavity and solid walls is a new external cladding or render.
There are three main reasons for applying some kind of external wall insulation; to reduce your fuel bills, to reduce your carbon footprint and to improve the appearance of the building. It is often possible to achieve all three with modern cladding options. Provided that you choose the right solution and have it competently installed, a new render can also solve chronic damp problems in some buildings and increase their market value too.
External wall insulation grants
Despite the recent economic turmoil, the government is committed to both climate change and housing stock improvement targets. Consequently, the well-known “Green Deal” will continue to be available – in some shape or form – for years to come. Most grants and loans are now administered by local councils, energy companies and other approved bodies and consequently, qualifying for external wall insulation grants will depend on the area you live, the kind of property you live in and your personal means. However, they can be very generous and it is possible to receive over £6,000 “cashback” toward the work.
For certain people in specific groups and properties, free external wall insulation may even be available. If you think you might qualify for free external wall insulation you can enquire with your local council or citizens advice bureau. Specialist home insulation building companies are also very helpful and often more familiar with all the grants currently available in your particular area. Cavity wall insulation grants are also still available.
Do you have cavity or solid walls?
Many home owners are confused about this but you need to know before you can apply. There are three fairly reliable ways to determine if your wall is cavity or solid. The first is the age of the building. Most homes built before 1920 were solid in construction. The second is the thickness – if they are no more than 26cm thick they are too narrow to conceal a cavity. The third is the brickwork pattern – if all the bricks appear to be lain long-ways there is probably a cavity behind (solid walls tend to have bricks both lengthways and end-on).
Your choice of cladding
There is now a very wide range of insulating materials and finishes available. They must meet a minimum thermal standard in order to qualify for external wall insulation grants but that still leaves you enormous choice over how your home will look. Typically, they consist of an insulating under-layer composed of rock wool, fibreglass, phenolic foam, polystyrene or polyisocyanurate, and a decorative weather-proof top-layer. Among the many finishes are terracotta, decorative real brick, richly coloured polymer bricks, simulated stone, timber boards, textured coatings, smooth plaster finishes, ceramics and even glass.
Care must be taken to avoid sealing in existing damp problems so always use a specialist builder.
