no cavity walls – what are my options?

If your property was built before 1925 it is almost certainly of solid wall construction and as there are no cavity walls which can be filled you will need to consider alternative methods of insulation.

The preferred method of insulating older buildings is external wall insulation, also known as exterior wall insulation. This method involves fixing sheets of insulating boards to the external walls of the property.

Will this alter the appearance of my property?

External wall insulation will alter the appearance of your property. Depending on the construction material of your building ie. stone, brick, block etc., the exterior will require appropriate rendering, cladding or wood panelling not only to aesthetically improve the appearance of the property but also to protect the insulation boards from the elements.

Is there an alternative to exterior insulation on a solid wall construction?

Should you not wish to alter the exterior of your property you may wish to consider interior wall insulation. This method requires the erection of a timber frame closed with plasterboard to the interior walls forming a cavity which can then be filled with appropriate material. Once filled, the plasterboard can be skimmed and decorated. The main advantage of this method of insulation is that it could be done on a room by room basis as finances allow. It is important to consider however, that floor space will be slightly reduced due to the formation of the cavity.

how expensive is external wall insulation?

If your property is unsuitable for cavity wall insulation and you are considering this option, it is important to note that External wall insulation is a more expensive method of improving your home’s heat effeciency as it will involve erecting scaffolding. Further costs will be incurred once the insulation is complete as the property will require rendering.

However, the immediate benefits means that, as with cavity wall insulaion, it will pay for itself over a period of time. The benefits of external wall insulation will be felt immediately upon completion.

10 advantages of external wall insulation

• Improved thermal effeciency of building
• Reduced heat loss and energy consumption
• Increases lifespan of exterior wall material
• External appearance is aesthetically improved upon completion
• Reduces your carbon footprint
• Condensation on interior walls is reduced
• Provides sound resistance
• Does not impact on internal floor space
• Fire resistant
• Continues to deliver savings throughout the entire lifetime of the property