Insulation

Zero Carbon Supply & Install External Wall Insulation (EWI) Throughout Scotland

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Insulating your walls internally or externally is a great way to make your property more energy efficient, heat losses in the winter months are one sure way of spending money unnecessarily. Equally insulation promotes a cooler temperature within the property and limits heat gains through the summer months.

When air on the inside of the property is warmer than the outside temperature, heat transfers through the building fabric until it balances with the external temperature; known as an equilibrium. It’s not normal for an equilibrium to be achieved because most properties are heated internally by a central heating system to maintain a desired room temperature. Heating systems are designed to heat a property quicker than the rate of loss maintaining a comfortable temperature for the occupants. During the winter months however, the rate of loss through the building fabric is accelerated when the external temperature is marginally lower than the required internal temperature. By introducing wall insulation, the building fabric creates an additional thermal barrier which provides more resistance and slows down the rate of heat loss. This means the central heating system does not need to work as hard to maintain a desired temperature which cuts carbon emissions and reduces energy costs.

The effectiveness of solid wall insulation is predetermined by measuring the thermal resistance (R-Value) or thermal conductivity (U-Value).  The higher the R-Value, the more effective the insulating properties are within the material used. U-Values however, describe a materials’ ability to conduct heat therefore a lower U-Value are desirable when choosing a product.

Internal wall insulation can be completed either by using rigid insulation boards inside the property, or building a stud partition and insulating the inside of the external walls. Both methods will reduce the floor area to some extent because the profile of the wall is thickened. The latter will be slightly more as the frame and insulation is around 100mm thick, plasterboard 12.5mm, and skim coat plaster around 2-3mm. It is cheaper to insulate internally as opposed to externally. To minimise disruption to the inside of the property carrying out works these works are perfect during renovation works however, can be carried out at any time providing space is made to do so. 

For external wall insulation, building regulations need be considered to ensure the products used achieve the thermal performance expected. External wall insulation also involves covering up the existing building fabric, this could alter the appearance of the property as a direct result and needs to be considered at planning stages before work should commence. The process for implementing this measure is relatively complex and the walls of the existing building need to be tested to ensure the strength of the existing render is satisfactory to apply further insulation and render without failing. If not, this needs to be removed to expose the existing brick/blockwork then applied. Drains, flues and ventilation must be removed and reinstated on completion of works making the process time consuming. When the walls have been prepared, insulating panels are fixed to the property using adhesive mortar and tied securely to the existing wall using plastic cap fixings. Render is applied to cover the outside of the insulating panels and insulating mesh is applied to hold the panels in position. The render is then prepared for finish, this can be completed using several methods including texturing, painting, brick slips, tiling, masonry work and cladding. Although external wall insulation is more expensive than internal wall insulation it enhances the appearance of the property and increases the lifetime of the external building fabric.

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