Private Housing

Older houses may have a certain charm about them - but this can wear a little thin as running costs continually seem to rise. Heating older, solid walled houses, even to the minimal level of comfort, is often one of the major household expenses.

One of the reasons why solid walled houses are expensive to keep warm is because up to 50% of the heat is being lost through the un-insulated outside walls, whereas houses built to modern day Building Regulation standards have walls insulated against such heat loss.

In addition to the lack of insulation, the building fabric of older houses can be in a poor state of repair - sometimes even allowing water to penetrate within the property.

External Wall Insulation is a refurbishment process, which clads the outer walls for insulation and renovation purposes, bringing solid walled properties up to the same insulation standard as new homes. A 25% saving against the annual fuel bill is typically achieved and overall comfort is vastly improved. Problems such as damp penetration through the walls, and condensation on the internal walls should be resolved. The reduction in heat loss that follows the application of insulated render or cladding also contributes towards cutting pollution. Government figures show that following treatment, an annual reduction of 690 - 1000 kg of CO2 emissions can be achieved per house.

A further practical advantage of insulated render and cladding/external wall insulation is that it does not occupy valuable living space. In fact rooms that were too cold and damp for much of the year can be utilised after the treatment.

In addition to its insulation and weatherproofing benefits, the aesthetic appearance of the house undergoing treatment can be considerably enhanced. The process is generally a composite system, made up of three basic components - an insulant, a fixing, and a render or cladding, which includes a protective, decorative finish. The process is offered in a range of finishes, textures and colours. Apart from rendered coats, the choice has now widened to take in a variety of commercially available claddings, including lightweight natural stone aggregate, brick, tile, decorative weatherboarding and other finishes.

In view of the skill needed to apply the process, it is important that an approved installer, generally a member of the Insulated Render & Cladding Association (INCA), is employed. As an INCA member, Joyner Group can ensure that the detailing is professionally executed - finishing’s around external services, pipe work, window sills, flue extensions, etc. Attention to the dpc is important and should be included in the package.

Because it is applied to the outside of the external wall, there is no disturbance whilst the work is in progress. By contrast, where internal linings are applied, this can create disruption, and expensive redecoration of the existing decor becomes necessary.

Joyner Group can apply Insulated render and cladding systems to the average house in about ten working days. They cost from around £60 per square metre applied, dependent on the condition of the exterior surface, detailing and scaffolding requirements. A semi-detached house, with some 80 square metres of walls is likely to cost from £5,000 (plus scaffold and any building work costs.). This becomes particularly economical where your property needs re-rendering or weather-proofing. Property value can increase pro rata and heating costs fall by hundreds of pounds, dependent on fuel used, heating system, etc.