If you are considering external cavity wall insulation  your home’s outer walls, there is a wide range of options available. Some are more suitable than others and you will need to decide whether or not the benefits outweigh the challenges. One option that has been gaining popularity is the ThermalWall PH panel. This is a rigid EPS foam insulation board that can be fixed to the outside of your wall and then clad with an alternative facing material, like sand and cement render or timber cladding. This system eliminates the need for a cavity and can take your total external wall R-value up to Passive House standards.

Keeping Warm with External Solid Wall Insulation: Benefits and Installation Tips

Adding solid wall insulation is not something to be taken lightly. It is a major undertaking and it is important that you take the time to think through all of your options. Before you do this, it is important to understand what type of wall your property has – either cavity or solid. You can usually tell if your property has cavities by looking at the bricks – if they are rectangular and positioned end to end then you have a cavity wall. However, many older properties have solid walls and these can be difficult to identify as they are often covered in pebble dash or render.

If you have solid walls, the best option is to clad them with an external insulation product, such as Kingspan or Celotex, mechanically fixed and then finished with a sand and cement render or timber – or whatever other weatherproof layer you prefer. This will prevent damp penetration and improve the lifespan of your brickwork. It will also make your property more energy efficient.