We have compiled a selection of queries which we are often asked by householders about the application of External Wall Insulation Systems to their homes. If you have a question which is not listed here please contact us. We would be delighted to hear from you.
- What type of finishes can I have?
- What type of insulation do you offer?
- Are Noreside Construction Ltd registered with the SEAI?
- How much CO2 will I save?
- What are the other advantages of using External Wall Insulation?
- Do I need a planning permission for External Wall Insulation?
- Who can do the work?
- What is the cost of External Wall Insulation?
- How does it look?
- How much is the grant?
- How to apply for insulation grant?
- When will I be paid?
- How thick is the external wall insulation?
- What is the U-value?
- What is Thermal Mass?
What type of finishes can I have?
We have the widest range of finishes available on the market today. We offer sand and cement and dry dash. We can even offer a brick finish, where you can have a real brick facade over external insulation.
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What type of insulation do you offer?
We supply and fit approved systems using Expanded Polystyrene (EPS), Polyisocyanurate (PIR) and Mineral Wool as the insulant layer in an external insulation system. Again this is the widest range of certified insulants available in Ireland.
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Are Noreside Construction Ltd registered with SEAI?
Yes we are registered with SEAI as Contractor Number ID: PIAB/E263. You can look us up here.
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How much CO2 will I save?
This is a tricky question to answer as it depends on how you are currently heating your house and what level of insulation you currently have. But figures from the British Energy Saving Trust (which is a non profit charity) suggest a saving of 2.1 tonnes of CO2 for a typical 3 bed semi-detached house each year! With the proposed tax of 20 euro per tonne of CO2 in the commission for taxation report there is a new reason to install external wall insulation. Avoiding this tax alone would pay for most domestic systems.
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What are the other advantages of using External Wall Insulation?
- Some normal maintenance expenditure can be avoided: sound, worn render can be covered, without chipping off the old; and extensive repointing is no longer required.
- Reducing damp and mould growth can have a beneficial impact on occupants’ health.
- Reducing or eliminating thermal bridges.
- Occupants do not need to move out during the installation process.
- Since the insulation is applied externally the floor area of dwelling is not reduced.
- Building life is extended through the weatherproofing and thermal upgrade of the property.
- The façade can be remodelled and old or redundant buildings rejuvenated for new uses.
- Saves you money on your heating bills.
- Your home becomes more valuable.
Do I need a planning permission for External Wall Insulation?
External wall insulation under the HES scheme may be exempt from planning permission. The key point is to keep the appearance of a house consistent with the character of neighbouring houses. In most of cases, the easiest solution to avoid any problems with planning authorities is to simply match the original appearance of the house. SEAI advise however to contact local planning officer if there is any doubt about the future impact of external wall insulation on the character of local development.
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Who can do the work?
Accordingly with the HES scheme Terms and Conditions, insulation works must be completed by SEAI registered contractor chosen from the list of contractors. In order to register under the scheme all contractors must be insured to the minimum standards required by Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland. Moreover, all external insulation contractors must be approved by National Standards Authority of Ireland (NSAI) prior registration under Home Energy Saving scheme. Noreside Construction Ltd is SEAI registered contractor under the HES scheme. If you wish us to carry out one of the insulation works covered by the scheme grant please use our contractor ID: PIAB/E263 in the HES scheme application form.
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What is a cost of External Wall Insulation?
The actual cost of external wall insulation may vary, depending on number of factors e.g. amount of windows, required drainage and downpipes alterations, possible roof extensions, finishes, etc.
As every house is unique in some way, we always recommend to order our free quotation, which is based on short site survey. If you wish to order one please click here to visit our contact page.
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How does it look?
The finish coat is available in almost 700 different colours and textures. To see some examples of finishes please visit our photo gallery.
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How much is the grant?
To see levels of grant support available from SEAI please visit our insulation grant section.
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How to apply for insulation grant?
There are two methods to apply for a HES scheme grant:
- Online – recommended as it takes only up to 3 days to get a response
- By post – much slower up to 20 days response
Before applying for insulation grant please make sure that you have the following informations to hand:
- MPRN number (electricity meter number) – you will find it on your electricity bill
- Year of your house construction (must be before 2006)
- Name and ID of insulation contractor (e.g. Noreside Construction Ltd, ID: XXXXX)
- Your bank account details – grant payment will be transferred to this account
- Email address (online applications only)
For online applications please visit the SEAI HES Scheme Homeowner section.
For postal application download the application form or request one by contacting SEAI on 1850 927 000.
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When will I be paid?
Grants are paid only after all works have been completed and you have fully paid all involved contractors and your BER assessor. It takes on average 4 to 6 weeks from the day when SEAI received correct paperwork to the day of payment.
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How thick is the external wall insulation?
Thickness of external insulation depends on the construction of the wall and has to be calculated individually for each house. In most of cases however a use of 100mm (4 inch) graphite enhanced EPS boards is sufficient to achieve required maximum U-value equal to 0.27 W/m²K. Allowing additional 10mm for the adhesive used to stick the insulation boards to the wall and approx. 5mm for base and finish coat, the total thickness reaches 120mm (almost 5 inches).
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What is the U-value?
As per Building Regulations 2008 TGD Part L definition thermal transmittance or the U-value relates to a building component or structure, and is a measure of the rate at which heat passes through that component or structure when unit temperature difference is maintained between the ambient air temperatures on each side. It is expressed in units of Watts per square metre per degree of air temperature difference (W/m²K).
In simple words the U-value describes how well a building element transfers heat and the lower the U-value, the less heat is needlessly escaping.
In the design process or during retrofit works we should always aim to achieve as low U-value as possible. The Building Regulations 2008 TGD Part L sets out the maximum average elemental U-value as follows:
TABLE 1: Maximum average elemental U-value [W/m²K]
| Fabric Elements | New Buildings & Extensions to Existing Buildings | Material Alterations to, or Material Changes of Use of, Existing Buildings |
|---|---|---|
| Pitched roof, insulation horizontal at ceiling level | 0.16 | 0.35 |
| Pitched roof, insulation on slope | 0.20 | 0.35 |
| Flat roof | 0.22 | 0.35 |
| Walls | 0.27 | 0.60 |
| Ground Floors | 0.25 | - |
| Other Exposed Floors | 0.25 | 0.60 |
| External personnel doors, windows and rooflights | 2.20 | 2.20 |
| Vehicle access and similar large doors | 1.5 | - |
What is Thermal Mass?
Thermal mass is a building ability to absorb, store and then release the heat. Large thermal mass helps reduce the extremes in temperature experienced inside the home, making the average internal temperature more moderate and the home more comfortable to live in. For instance, when outside temperature is fluctuating throughout the day, a large thermal mass within the insulated house envelope can serve to “flatten out” the daily temperature changes, since the thermal mass will absorb thermal energy when the surroundings are higher in temperature than the mass, and give thermal energy back when the surroundings are cooler.
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