SOLID WALLS
About 35% of heat is lost through walls
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Look at the pattern of the bricks on the house as this can show how the wall has been built.
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Internal wall insulation
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ls done by fitting rigid insulation boards to the wall, or by building a stud wall filled in with insulation material such as mineral wool fibre. Can be done room by room when redecorating or renovating.
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Is generally cheaper to install than external wall insulation.
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Will slightly reduce the floor area of any rooms in which it is applied (the thickness of the insulation is around 100mm).
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Can be quite disruptive but can be done room by room.
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Requires skirting boards and external fittings to be removed and reattached.
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Cannot be done before fixing any problems with penetrating or rising damp.
External wall insulation
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External insulation will also cost less if you fit it when you’re having other work done to the outside. If you’re having a new roof, or painting the windows, or even having solar PV panels fitted, then you will probably have scaffolding up already, which can save a bit on the costs. If your walls need repointing or other repair work, it’s worth getting a quote for a complete refurbishment including insulation – it will probably work out cheaper than doing the two things separately. Costs are in the region of £170/200m2.
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The finish can be smooth, textured, painted, tiled, panelled, pebble-dashed, or finished with brick slips.
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Can be applied without disruption to the household does not reduce the floor area of your home.
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Fills cracks and gaps in the brickwork, which will reduce draughts, as well as renew the appearance.
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Increases the lifespan of your walls and improve weatherproofing and sound resistance.
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Reduces condensation on internal walls and can help prevent damp (but will not solve rising or penetration damp).
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Best installed at the same time as external refurbishment work to reduce the cost.
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May need planning permission – check with your local council.
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Not recommended if the outer walls are structurally unsound and cannot be repaired.
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