8 Benefits Of External Wall Insulation

By: John Garcia | Date Posted: January 10, 2022

External wall insulation (EWI) also known as solid wall insulation, is a system that insulates and protects the exterior of your property. Itā€™s then covered with your choice of render cladding. It can finish your home in a choice of different colors and textures. This form of insulation is ideal for solid-walled homes.

External Wall Insulation

If you have serious heating issues or need major exterior repairs, your best option is to have external solid wall insulation. If your attic is properly insulated and sealed but your home still feels cold, drafty, or hot in the summer, you may need to insulate the external walls. Consider adding insulation when replacing your homeā€™s exterior siding.

Benefits Of External Wall Insulation

Installing external wall insulation normally takes a week, depending on the size of your home and the weather conditions. The exterior walls of your home are insulated and then protected with render or cladding.

Here are some of the benefits of having external wall insulation:

  1. It Increases The Thermal Efficiency In Your Home

External wall insulation improves your homeā€™s energy efficiency. You can save up to 50% on your heating bills and minimize your carbon footprint.

It reduces your reliance on central heating because less heat escapes through the roof and walls, so more heat is kept inside. In the summer, external wall insulation allows heat to escape, keeping the property cool.

  1. It Can Increase The Buildingā€™s Lifespan

External wall insulation insulates the entire exterior of a structure, preventing heat loss and protecting the structure from weathering. The external render protects the property by avoiding water penetration and damage from extreme weather.

  1. It Enhances The Appearance Of Your House

External wall insulation systems come in a variety of aesthetic finishes that greatly enhance a buildingā€™s appearance. A wide selection of trims and accessories guarantees that all detailing issues are effectively and aesthetically addressed.

  1. Itā€™s Cost-effective

Heating your home requires energy, and this comes at a cost. Walls with inadequate insulation can lose heat energy, requiring almost twice the energy to maintain a comfortable temperature in the winter. Proper insulation keeps heat in longer, requiring less energy and lowering bills.

Heating accounts for at least 50% of the energy used in a typical home, and 20% of it goes to heating water. Appliances, lighting, and other items contribute 10% to 30%. Unless a property was built with energy efficiency in mind, adding insulation will lower electricity bills.

More energy is used in older homes, resulting in high heating expenses. The savings from lower utility expenses can pay for the insulation within a few years, even if the home is brand new.

  1. It Protects Against Dampness

It Protects Against DampnessThe natural moisture in the air causes condensation on many properties. If this moisture penetrates the buildingā€™s exterior, it can develop dampness and mold, which is unpleasant and costly to repair.

External wall insulation is a great way to protect against penetrating dampness by putting a new waterproof layer on the outside of the house and cutting down on the amount of heat that passes through the walls.

While this is a clear benefit, itā€™s important to think about ventilation in your home, whether or not you insulate. This can be done by adding more vents or by changing your habits, such as opening the windows and doors while cooking, to help keep the air in the house clean.

When installing solid wall insulation, you must consider water vapor to avoid future damp issues. Using ā€˜breathableā€™ insulation materials that enable vapor to permeate the walls or establish a continuous vapor barrier to prevent it from entering the walls from the inside. A skilled installer can create a moisture management strategy for your building.

  1. Itā€™s Environmentally Friendly

Many people use fossil fuels to heat their homes. Producing this energy can pollute the atmosphere and harm the ecosystem. Effective insulation reduces the amount of energy required to keep your home warm, lowering your carbon footprint.

  1. It Reduces Noise Levels

Many people live in rural areas where thereā€™s a lot of noise from cars, people, loud music, and more. This noise can be very bothersome to some people. Insulating your home could be a good idea if you work better and sleep well when thereā€™s less noise around.

Installing an EWI system can help reduce outside noise and improve your well-being. A quieter home is a more comfortable home.

  1. It Can Increase The Value Of Your House

When upgrading your home, consider the long-term impact on the property value. Prospective buyers will be pleased to learn that the home is energy efficient and has reduced heating bills. A well-insulated and energy-efficient home is more valuable and appealing to potential purchasers.

Choosing The Right Service Provider

Hand Pick Your Contractors

Itā€™s best to hire a skilled insulation contractor to install or upgrade your homeā€™s external wall insulation. Installation techniques require knowledge of air infiltration, recessed lighting, vapor retarders, ventilation, and water pipes.

Local codes and regulations should sound familiar to professional insulation contractors, who may advise on the type and amount of insulation to be used. Poor construction, detailing, and design can lead to structural damage and poor indoor air quality.

Once youā€™ve chosen an insulation contractor, ensure that the contract includes the cost, job specification, payment method, and manufacturerā€™s warranty information.

Conclusion

External wall insulation costs a lot, but it is very effective. It will cost less as part of a bigger project, and it doesnā€™t have to be done to the whole house.

An attractive facade may be better insulated inside, while less appealing side and rear walls can be insulated outside. But even though it costs more, the advantages that external insulation has over internal insulation make it hard to ignore.

The use of external wall insulation significantly reduces heat loss, resulting in savings in annual fuel expenses. This system preserves the building structure and prevents thermal bridging.

To achieve temperature fluctuations and low heating requirements, EWI systems are the most cost-effective way to achieve current and future thermal performance criteria.

Thank you for reading!

John
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John is the founder and chief editor of Homienjoy. With over 15 years of experience in the home improvement industry, John is passionate about helping homeowners confidently tackle their projects. Holding a civil engineering degree and working as a contractor, project manager, and consultant, John brings a wealth of knowledge and expertise to the Homienjoy community.

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