What is external wall insulation?
External wall insulation comes as part of a system, which is fixed to the exterior wall of your home which allows you to choose the colour, texture and finish of the render. For older homes, this finish can completely transform the appearance of your home, making it look fresh and modern. Upgrades to existing houses can often be limited by the existing level of insulation and the structure of the house itself. In this article, we explore what you need to know about external wall insulation (EWI), the key benefits of EWI, how systems work, the installation process, and the grants available to help you make an informed decision.
What are the benefits of external wall insulation?
- Minimal disruption: External wall insulation can be applied with minimal disruption.
- No loss of space: It will not reduce the floor space of your property.
- Enhanced aesthetic: External wall insulation could upgrade the appearance of your outer walls.
- Increased longevity: By protecting your property's brickwork, the lifespan of your walls could be increased.
- Energy efficiency: External wall insulation could save energy and reduce the cost of your heating bills.
How does it work?
Heat moves from warmer to colder areas. This is what causes buildings to get colder in winter and hotter in summer. It happens through one or more of the three heat transfer mechanisms:
- Conduction
- Convection
- Radiation
Thermal insulation works by restricting how heat moves via conduction, convection and/or radiation. External waIl insulation restricts heat loss through your walls.
How to install external wall insulation?
Applying external wall insulation, like Kooltherm K5, Aerowall Platinum or K-Roc External Wall Slab, to your home is a non-intrusive process that requires no access to the inside of your home.
The insulation is mechanically fixed to the exterior wall of the property by a system provider.
A bonding agent is then layered over the insulation, which will add a weather-resistant layer, and a mesh is then embedded into this agent to add strength.
Finally, the external render is layered over the mesh in your preferred colour and texture. This will make your home look fresh, as well as make it feel warm and cosy.
Are there grants available for external wall insulation?
The Kingspan Insulation One Stop Shop helps homeowners improve their homes energy efficiency by providing a comprehensive, end to end solution for domestic retrofit and refurbishment projects.
The Kingspan Retrofit Team can offer advice, organise assessments and manage the whole project from start to finish. They also provide access to a range of grants offered by the SEAI (Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland) to support your home energy upgrades.
Learn more here.
