External insulation is a popular home improvement choice. It offers a range of benefits to the properties it is used on in addition to insulating the property. But does external wall insulation add value to your home?
Here's what you need to know.
External wall insulation is a type of home insulation that is applied to the external walls. It is primarily used when cavity wall insulation is impossible. During the installation process, an insulation material is attached to the wall in the form of insulation boards and then covered in render or cladding.
Generally speaking, the insulation material is usually either polystyrene, mineral wool, or phenolic foam. The presence of these on the outside of the walls reduces heat loss through the walls, thereby improving a property's energy efficiency rating and thermal performance. It can help to reduce energy bills and can even lead to a reduced carbon footprint.
External wall insulation can and does increase the value of your home. Installing external wall insulation brings with it a range of smashing advantages that will benefit any buyer hugely.
There are a number of ways that installing external wall insulation adds value to a home, for example:
By adding external wall insulation to your solid walls you will enable your home to achieve a higher score when it comes to the energy performance certificate. This is because the home's energy efficiency is dramatically improved! By adding external wall insulation, just like internal wall insulation, you improve the home's energy efficiency and an energy-efficient home is much more desirable.
As mentioned above, a home with external wall insulation installed is more energy efficient and properties that are more energy efficient have reduced energy bills. This makes the home significantly more affordable to buyers.
By adding external wall insulation you will dramatically reduce the number of through draughts in the house. This makes the home a more comfortable living environment and improves attraction during visits and viewings.
When external wall insulation is being installed, the final step involves dramatically changing the appearance of the home. External wall insulation is topped with fresh render or cladding, and this can be any colour or style. The fresh render looks great and will improve the appearance of the property. In turn, this improves what is known as the curb appeal. This is the attraction level your home has to those who pass it on the street.
In an age where many people are conscious of their carbon emissions, a reduced carbon footprint will appeal to many and may help to add to the value of the property. By installing expanded polystyrene or another insulation material, you automatically reduce the property's carbon footprint.
An alternative solid wall insulation scheme is solid internal wall insulation. Internal wall insulation reduces floor space in order to make the property more energy efficient, whereas external wall insulation doesn't affect the floor space at all.
There are other benefits that may not directly impact the value of the property, for example:
By providing insulation and keeping the internal walls warm, external wall insulation protects the home from the damaging effects of condensation.
Render and cladding protect brickwork and building materials, covering them with a protective layer. This allows them to last significantly longer without falling victim to structural damp and other issues.
Unlike internal wall insulation, external wall insulation will only require electricity and water. You will likely find your home will need to be scaffolded, but the inside of the property will be left completely alone, meaning that you can get on with your day-to-day things.
By providing additional protection and an extra dense layer surrounding your home you are also protecting yourself and your home from noise pollution as well as the cold air. Likewise, you're ensuring that you and your family go unheard by passers-by.
If you're considering having external wall insulation installed before you sell your home or in general, what are the downsides?
As you are expanding your home outwards, external wall insulation installation may require planning permission, especially if you live on a protected property. It is worth checking with the local authority, as it may depend on whether you live in a semi-detached house or a mid-terrace house and how thick the EWI is.
Dig deeper: Does External Wall Insulation Require Planning Permission
External wall insulation installation is an expensive process. It has to cover your whole home, so a lot of materials are needed. Add on the labour costs for both the installation and the subsequent rendering, and getting EWI installed becomes quite a big project.
It is important to remember that it will bring significant savings in terms of heating bills but these energy savings may take a while to build up to the point of replacing the original cost.
Uncover more: How Much Does External Wall Insulation Cost
Since EWI systems are thick, if they are not installed onto the wall correctly there can be gaps near windows and eaves. These gaps can let in moist air and cool breezes and can ultimately prevent the insulation material from working properly.
So, considering everything, is it worth getting external wall insulation installed to increase the value of your property? Generally speaking, yes.
When installed by proper experts like MisterRender, you do not need to worry about faulty external wall insulation installation. You can also trust that you're getting the best price out there. In exchange, you will be able to guarantee that your home's energy bills will decrease, the home's energy performance certificate will increase and the property value will increase.
The ROI may take some time if you aren't looking to sell, but it should come pretty quickly if you're putting your home on the market!
Find out more: How Is External Wall Insulation Installed
