How does External Wall Insulation work?
Bricks and concrete are very good a keeping house strong and upright, 
but they tend not to be very good at keeping heat in. This was not so much of a problem in the past but in these days of environmental awareness and fluctuating energy prices, we all have to take steps to make our homes more energy efficient.
Once you decide that you need to insulate your walls you have a choice between internal, cavity and external insulation. (See here for a brief description of the differences)
Below is a video explaining exactly how External Wall Insulation is fitted.
We focus on external thermal insulation, because we believe it is technically the best system on the market. Simply put external insulation is just like putting a warming blanket around your home. We encase the outside of your property in a layer of insulation and finish it with your choice of colour and finish. (See gallery) For an explanation of the various names used please click here.
The reason for doing this is to stop the 35%- 45% of your heating bill that are 
lost via the walls. By insulating the walls (decreasing the U-Value) you can trap all that heat in the walls. Trapping all that heat means you can cut your heating bills and play your part in saving the environment. Estimates by the British Energy Saving Trust suggest a saving of over 2 tonnes of carbon dioxide for a standard 3 bed semi detached house.
Different homes, which were built at when different building regulations were in force have different needs for external wall insulation. Some figures on actual U values was release by the AVASH project. AVASH stands for ‘Advanced Ventilation Approaches for Social Housing’. It is a project funded by the EU with partners in the UK, Ireland and Denmark.
The homes in Ballyfermot have a u-Value about 10 times the current building regulations value of 0.27 W/m2/K
To insulate your home we attach a few layers to the outside of your house. We first attach a layer of insulation. This can vary from expanded polystyrene to rockwool depending on the requirements. The insulation typically is fixed to the wall both chemically and mechanically (I.E. glued and bolted) to the wall. To protect the insulation from the effects of weathering we seal the outside with a layer of cement over which a new decorative finish is attached. The finish can range from a fresh cement coloured render, to wet or dry dash or even brick!
We are an approved supplier of PowerWall thermal cladding solutions in Ireland, working together with PWThermal. PowerWall are approved by NSAI and have an Agrément certificate 09/0341. PowerWall have the widest range of finishes and insulants certified for use in Ireland today. By using PowerWall you can get a finish and performance that best matches your needs. (See here for more information about certification)
Payback for external insulation
We are often asked about the payback periods for external wall insulation. This is difficult since the cost of insulation depends upon the size of the building, It is difficult to calculate average payback periods for solid wall insulation precisely, since the cost of insulation depends upon the size of the building, the energy savings resulting from the insulation (and the cost of energy), the level of insulation applied, the presence of other kinds of insulation already in the property and the availability of grants.
Plus there have been a lot of talk about CO2 taxes on private dwellings that would also have a huge impact.
Quoted payback times are averages and in reality they vary from 3-4 years for a simple installation (for example replacing worn render with an insulated render system) up to 20 years for more extensive installations (such as an expensive brick slip system to match masonry buildings). Naturally a house needs to be looked at holistically so we also offer internal and attic insulation and we partner with other companies for complementary services.
The absolute costs and payback period are also misleading in that solid wall in
sulation often provides benefits besides better U values and these tend not to be factored in. For example, external wall insulation also weatherproofs the property, enhances sound proofing, provides airtightness, eliminates mould and revitalizes the appearance by covering worn render and masonry. A lot of people are also attracted by never again having to paint their home.