EXTERNAL INSULATION IN PROFILE

A draughty 17th century Shropshire farmhouse, Houlston Manor, was transformed into a cosy modern home with the help of external wood fibre insulation.

The unlisted box-framed farmhouse had undergone various alterations over the decades, yet remained chilly. The windows were very draughty and the southern gable end let in wind and rain due to a great deal of failed pointing. To resolve these issues, the owners wanted to replace the fenestration, insulate the walls and improve the overall appearance.

When thoughts turned to insulation, the owners chose a system that combined external wood fibre board as a protective thermal layer and lime render as a weatherproofer. Being a solid-walled construction with no damp-proof course, breathable insulation materials were chosen to allow vapour to transfer through walls to help reduce condensation risk.

Available in various thicknesses, 160mm wood fibre insulation boards were fixed directly onto the brickwork before being covered with two coats of lime render.

As a result of the improvements, the owners enjoyed a 59% reduction in energy costs and expect further improvements as the original brickwork dries.