External wall insulation makes it possible to insulate a home by fitting insulation to its external walls. This can improve thermal performance and reduce energy consumption. EWI offers multiple advantages for both renovation and construction.
Weber comforts
Comfort is probably the most important factor in our health and well-being. An interior which makes its occupants feel as comfortable as possible is a healthy, actively beneficial environment.
Comfort is a state of well-being that derives from the material conditions of an environment: the way it is designed, built, decorated and furnished. The intelligent choice of materials and the way those materials are used is a major factor in determining the quality of an interior, and thus the level of comfort enjoyed by its inhabitants.
There are four key elements which contribute to general comfort. Together, they amount to goals building materials must achieve:
1 - What work does external insulation involve?
External Wall Insulation (EWI) consists of applying several layers of render and insulation to a home’s external walls:
- insulation layer: polystyrene, mineral wool, resole foam
- glass fibre matting
- undercoat render and primer
- topcoat (paint, render, etc.)
The fitting method (adhesive, nails, pegs) is determined by the location of the home, its altitude, its aspect and the local weather conditions.
The condition and type of the substrate (external walls) also determine the appropriate product solution and fitting method.
The home is habitable during the works, which take place exclusively outside. The inside area is not reduced, unlike with internal insulation, which can reduce the habitable area by up to 7%).
The duration of EWI works depends on the area to be renovated. Works take 3 weeks, on average, for a 100m² home.
2 - Improving the home’s thermal performance
External wall insulation improves the walls’ thermal inertia. With layers of insulation added to the wall, EWI limits heat loss.
- improves the home’s thermal comfort
- reduces heating costs
- limits CO2 pollution
- limits energy costs of accessories (heat pump, air-conditioning, fans)
3 - More comfortable living spaces
Excessive damp in a home is due to heat loss through the walls. Water vapour condenses on cold walls and in the least-insulated corners. Damp appears at thermal bridges, resulting in paint and plaster degrading, wallpaper coming unstuck, and the development of mites and moulds. Damp homes cause or exacerbate respiratory problems.
Effective external insulation of a home limits the effects of condensation and eliminates a large number of thermal bridges.
Thermal bridges account for up to 40% of heating power consumption and 5 to 25% of heat loss (Source Ooreka).