"External Thermal Insulation Composite System (ETICS) being added to a house in Kilcoole, Co Wicklow."
This single story 1970s Wicklow dwelling needed an upgrade. The residents 
could not get the house warm in the winter regardless of how much heat they turned on.
Insulation project purpose
The objective here was to raise the house to today's building regulations with a U-Value in the walls of 0.27 W/m2K, using an External Thermal Insulation Composite System (ETICS). By reaching the current U-values for the walls the householder became eligable for the SEAI HES 4000 euro grant.
The upgrade to the fabric of the house also involved adding new vents to provide proper ventilation once the walls were made air tight.
While this upgrade was in progress the occupants continues their usual routine. Applying an ETICS system to a house is unique as it dramatically overhauls your home without disturbing the occupants. Since all the work is done from the outside, you don't even notice that we are there, working away to make your home even cosier!
All that we require to insulate your home is Electricity and Water. So you don't have to give us keys or make any complicated arrangements to check locks in the evenings. 
Most Irish home owners choose an Expanded Polystyrene (EPS) insulation. This type of insulation tends to be the most cost effective but if you have a particular wish in mind for a different insulating layer please talk to us. Each home is different and there is no way to apply a single rule to every home.
In this North Co Wicklow home you can see that we used a 100 mm Graphite enhanced EPS with a lambda value of 0.031 W/mK as the primary insulation layer around the home. If you look carefully at the plinth you will see a layer of different coloured insulation. This lower section of wall is below the floor level of the rooms inside, because it is below the floor level thermal insulation is less of a problem. But because it is in contact with water we decided to use an Extruded Polystyrene (XPS) insulating board. These XPS insulating boards have excellent properties for dealing with standing water over generations.
Once the insulation is applied the house starts to benefit and feel warmer. But a layer of insulation is not really suitable as a finish, so we start by adding layers of specialised cement and fibre mesh to the wall. There are various meshes available depending on how much wear a particular wall is expected to receive.
These layers create a smooth hard wearing finish that will carry the final decorative render layer. At this stage the electrical lights, post boxes and alarm covers have all been removed and will be replaced later.
Often householders ask us not to replace items on the facade, which they had grown tired of as they prefer the fresh facade to be uncluttered.
Because this Wicklow home is in a development of very similar dwellings the final coat was chosen to blend in with the other houses in the neighbourhood.
This final acrylic render coat is waterproof, a vital consideration when you think of the driving rain which is so prevalent in Wicklow. Also these types of finishes will last for a generation without further painting. Because the render finish is coloured there is no surface layer of paint to wear off or be chipped off. 
You will also notice from this final picture in this Kilcoole series that the ESB box has been replaced, the house number and post box are back, new air vents have been fitted and the electrical lights have been restored. These items are all a part of the service which we offer to ensure your home is left in tiptop shape.
Click here to return to examples of external insulation projects in the Dublin Area.
If you would like to learn more about External Wall Insulation please contact us now to learn how your home can benefit.