Testimonial

"We've been pleasantly surprised by how much difference the insulation has made. Our home feels cosier, and long after we have turned the heating off, the house still feels warmer than before"

Sara (Insulation customer)

0800 132689

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Installation and Product Info

Rockwarm arrange for the insulation of your property to be carried out by their teams of fully trained specialists, approved by certification of both the BBA (British Board of Agreement) and by Rockwool Approved Installers.

If you have a solid wall then you might consider external wall insulation because as much as 35% of the heat loss in a building is through solid walls.

External wall insulation works by adding a weatherproof insulating layer to the outside of your wall. This could be in the form of a protective render. The thickness of the insulation should be between 70 and 100mm thick.

The materials used for external wall insulation are often referred to as a "system" because there are three components that must work together:

The insulation material
The fixing of framework
And the finishing layer, which is weatherproof and aesthetic

The type of system Rockwarm uses is known as Wet render systems. This involves the insulation being directly fixed to the existing wall. It is covered with a render basecoat incorporating a reinforcing mesh, followed by a render topcoat with the desired finish. This can include a polymeric coating that does not require painting.

Planning Permission

External insulation often requires planning consent since it changes the appearance of a house and is generally regarded by planners as a material alteration to the building. This is particularly relevant in conservation areas, for listed buildings and in areas of outstanding natural beauty. However, modern systems can often be designed to match the original façade, thus increasing the chances of planning permission being granted.

Example of external solid wall insulation

Existing wall
Polymer adhesive
EPS board or Rockwool
Anti-crack mortar
Mesh
Anchor nail
Anti-crack mortar
Elastic putty
Finish coat

Internal Wall Insulation (IWI) Solutions

Internal wall insulation solutions are applied to the internal side of your solid external walls. These can be installed in various ways. Timber studs with insulation installed between them and overlaid with plasterboard, a thermal laminate insulation board can be fixed directly to your solid wall or thermal insulation on a roll can be applied in a similar way as wallpaper. The methods of installation and the different types of insulation used can vary depending on house type, budget, thermal efficiency requirements and individual preferences.

Why Internally Insulate?

It considerably improves the thermal performance of your home
It saves on fuel bills
It can be installed one room at a time there by minimising disruption to occupants
It does not require scaffolding during the installation process
The existing external appearance of the building is maintained and is therefore suitable for conservation areas and where planning restrictions may apply.

External Wall Insulation (EWI) Solutions

External wall insulation systems are made up of an insulation layer fixed to the existing wall (using a combination of mechanical fixings and adhesive, depending on the insulation material used) and protective render or cladding finish. This is a method of upgrading the thermal performance and external appearance of existing properties. Insulated and rendered properties are transformed into warm, energy efficient, attractive homes and buildings. Dry cladding offers a wide range of finishes such as – timber panels, stone or clay tiles, brick slips or aluminium panels.

Why Externally Insulate?

Makes your property more energy efficient
Manages condensation risk to outside of building
Suitable for solid wall, non-traditional and cavity wall properties
Work carried out outside, no internal disruption to occupiers
No internal living space lost or redecoration required.
Attractive, protective and low exterior maintenance
Attractive, protective and low exterior maintenance

Hybrid Solutions (Combination of External and Internal Wall Insulation)

In some instances the optimum solution may be to install a combination of both external and internal wall insulation. This is especially relevant for properties in conservation areas or where the aesthetic appearance cannot be altered, for example Victorian or Georgian terraced housing. An EWI system would be installed to the rear of the property, and the front of the house can be insulated with an IWI system, which maintains aesthetic quality, while also delivering high levels of thermal performance and a flexible installation solution.

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