Why Is Proper Insulation Important?

25.05.23

Dreams of a cosy, secure, and welcoming home are often challenged by the harsh realities of dampness and cold. It might not be long after settling into your new home that you notice the emergence of damp patches on the walls.

The oppressive dampness in the cellar clings to windows and ceilings, while the first signs of mould — those unwelcome black dots — begin to appear in corners. These are not simply unpleasant stains; they are indicators of a poorly insulated house, a structure that leaks more than just water.


In both ground-floor rooms and upstairs, an unmistakable chill reveals the house’s loss of heat. Every house emits warmth, but rather than staying within its snug confines, this heat often escapes through breaches in insulation known as thermal bridges.

Such heat loss can be attributed to structural flaws in the building, inadequate insulation, or improperly performed installation, including substandard thermal insulation made of polystyrene.

This article covers insulation’s importance, heat loss causes, thermographic survey benefits, primary insulation objectives, polystyrene insulation’s effectiveness, and a comprehensive analysis of building heat loss.

  1. Why is Proper Insulation Important?
  2. Breaking Down Heat Loss in Buildings
  3. What Causes Heat Loss in a House?
  4. How Can I Prevent Heat Loss?
  5. Advantages of Thermographic Survey
  6. What Is The Main Goal Of Insulation?
  7. Polystyrene Thermal Insulation

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1. Why is Proper Insulation Important?

The solution lies in the proper application of solid wall insulation. The right application of external wall insulation can ensure a comfortable temperature throughout the year, preventing the unwelcome invasion of summer heat and the escape of valuable warmth during winter.

This optimally regulated environment not only makes your home more comfortable but also allows significant savings on heating costs.

Moreover, the proper external wall insulation material affects more than just your financial expenses. It also impacts safety standards, room acoustics, and the overall comfort of your house.

For instance, external rendering contractors can utilise specific insulation and rendering methods to ensure your house doesn’t overheat in summer or lose warmth in winter. Additionally, the right insulation can have a positive impact on the environment, enhancing the eco-friendly credentials of your home.

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2. Breaking Down Heat Loss in Buildings

  • Approximately 20%-35% of heat loss is through walls and corners – it’s like your warmth is literally seeping out through the cracks.
  • About 25%-30% of heat takes an upward escape route through the roof – no wonder the attic feels toasty!
  • Windows and doors aren’t innocent either, as they account for 10%-20% of heat loss.
  • The hidden culprits are basements and foundations, contributing to 15%-25% of heat loss.
  • Other sources such as chimneys can cause up to 15% heat loss.
Remember, these losses aren’t set in stone. With the right insulation and energy efficiency measures, you can significantly curtail these figures. It’s about creating a cosy, efficient home that’s comfortable to live in and kinder on the wallet too.
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3. What Causes Heat Loss in a House?

  • Thermal bridges are the most common culprits behind heat loss in a building. These insulation weak spots can lead to leaks in the polystyrene thermal insulation, ultimately causing the corners to freeze.

    The result? A noticeable chill and drafts wafting in from doors and windows – all clear indicators that your solid wall insulation is not performing optimally.

  • Thermal bridges aren’t restricted to corners and gaps. They can also form where ceilings meet walls and above basements. Here, warm air, naturally rising, seeps through unheated structural elements, leading to significant energy losses.

    This is where an expert external solid wall insulation contractor can make a difference.

  • Insulation gaps due to a poorly insulated foundation or wall cracks induced by ground movement (such as in mining areas) can cause the building to cool down.

    These gaps allow cold air to infiltrate your home, rendering even the best heating systems ineffective.

  • Another factor in cooling down buildings is insufficient or ineffective ventilation. Without proper ventilation, there’s no exchange of fresh air into the rooms – only the escape of warm air outside.

    External house rendering, combined with effective solid wall external wall insulation, can help address this issue.

  • Incorrectly performed construction and thermal insulation during the building phase can compromise the structure’s thermal efficiency.

    A lack of attention to detail during this crucial phase can necessitate significant remedial work down the line, which is where solid wall insulation installers come in, ensuring the correct application of materials like insulating render, contributing to a more thermally efficient home.

4. How Can I Prevent Heat Loss?

The prevention of heat loss is a careful blend of quality materials, skilled workmanship, and accurate assessment. These elements combined ensure your home retains warmth remains energy-efficient, and provides a comfortable living environment, regardless of the season.

By investing in solid wall external wall insulation and professional rendering, you’re not only protecting your home but also making a wise long-term financial decision.

Should you spot disconcerting indicators of cooling rooms or widespread dampness on your walls, it’s a signal that reworking is warranted in your newly built home or renovation is necessary for an older property. Cold air infiltration can be mitigated by adeptly sealing these identified spaces.

By using high-quality materials like insulating render, we can reinforce your home’s defences against heat loss.

After the initial interventions, it’s crucial to verify that the improvements are effectively addressing the issues. This is where a thermovision examination comes into play. It serves as a non-invasive, cost-effective, and, above all, precise means of assessing the quality of the work undertaken.

By examining the thermal performance of the building, it can pinpoint even the smallest breaches in your home’s insulation system.

A comprehensive thermovision examination ensures the integrity of the house insulation. Your home is no longer a patchwork of potential thermal bridges, but a continuous, well-protected shell.

External house rendering, when done correctly by solid wall insulation contractors, can provide your house with an efficient and eco-friendly barrier against heat loss.

5. Advantages of Thermographic Survey

Rapid Identification of Heat Loss Areas: Thermographic surveys swiftly highlight areas where heat is escaping, providing valuable insights for improving insulation efficiency.

Detection of Water System Leaks: Any leakage in water systems, which might otherwise remain unnoticed, can be easily spotted, enabling timely repair.

Moisture Detection: Thermovision research is adept at identifying any damp or moisture-ridden areas that could potentially compromise the building’s structural integrity or foster mould growth.

Evaluation of Window and Door Sealing: These surveys critically assess the tightness of windows and doors, often the prime culprits of heat loss.

Quality Assessment of Construction Work: Thermographic surveys allow for a thorough evaluation of the quality of construction works, offering a check on any deficiencies.

Quick Operation and Building Condition Assessment: These surveys are swift in operation, providing an efficient evaluation of the building’s overall technical condition.

Affordable Service: Despite the wealth of information they provide, thermographic services are relatively low-cost, making them an accessible choice for homeowners.

Comprehensive Recommendations: The final report from a thermographic survey includes bespoke recommendations for addressing identified issues, thereby providing a roadmap for eliminating heat leakage problems.

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Thermal imaging plays a critical role in evaluating the efficacy of thermal insulation in a building, especially when using polystyrene insulation. Such a survey helps identify the areas experiencing the most substantial heat loss, thus enabling us to estimate the potential savings on heating costs that could be realised through additional polystyrene insulation.

6. What Is The Main Goal Of Insulation?

The main goal of insulation, especially external wall insulation and thermal insulation, is to craft an energy-efficient envelope around a property. This ensures heat is retained during colder months and external heat is excluded during the warmer season, thereby maintaining an ideal and comfortable indoor temperature all year round.

Often, it’s not merely about producing heat in a home, it’s about maintaining and managing that warmth effectively. Even the most efficient heating systems can prove redundant if their warmth is quickly lost through insufficiently insulated walls, roofs, and floors.

Therefore, the necessity for competent insulation cannot be overstated. It’s the first and foremost measure in promoting energy efficiency and reducing carbon emissions, thus aligning with the commitments to environmental sustainability.

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External wall insulation and thermal insulation serve to minimise these energy losses, facilitating heat retention in a cost-effective manner. The process typically involves the application of insulating materials to a property’s external walls, reducing the amount of heat that can escape.

Simultaneously, it combats cold air penetration, contributing to an even indoor temperature and reducing the reliance on artificial heating.

Insulation aims to create a more energy-efficient environment, potentially increasing comfort while reducing energy usage and costs.

7. Polystyrene Thermal Insulation

Polystyrene thermal insulation, when correctly installed, forms a continuous protective layer around the building, minimising thermal bridges and effectively sealing the building against heat loss. It’s an eco-friendly solution that significantly enhances energy efficiency while reducing CO2 emissions, aligning with the sustainability goals of our era.

However, it’s crucial to ensure the continuity of the polystyrene insulation throughout the structure. Discontinuities in the insulation layer can lead to condensation build-up, particularly in the corners, resulting in dampness. This is not merely an aesthetic issue; it can impact the structural integrity of the building and contribute to an unhealthy indoor environment.

Typically, a significant portion of heat loss is through a building’s external walls, windows, entrance doors, and roof. Therefore, it is imperative to pay careful attention to these areas during the process of insulation. Polystyrene insulation, installed by professional solid wall insulation contractors, is a robust solution, reducing energy costs and enhancing the comfort of your home.

By proper external wall insulation, homes can reap the benefits of lower heating bills, increased property value, and improved energy efficiency ratings, making insulation an essential investment for modern homes.

That’s why it’s important to hire a qualified company that will skillfully install insulation in your external walls, so you can enjoy a cosy, eco-friendly, and energy-efficient home for many years to come!

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Eager to unlock more benefits that external wall insulation can offer your home? Hesitate no longer! Call us now at 07594373464. Our qualified render contractors are ready to address any inquiries you may have and assist you in choosing the best insulation material for your home.

As an Essex-based solid wall insulation company, EWI Specialist Ltd, run by Sebastian & Sebastian, boasts 20+ years of experience in exterior solid wall insulation and house rendering services.

Wondering about the cost of external wall insulation for your specific needs? Let us put your mind at ease! We are thrilled to provide you with a free, no-obligation quote for your rendering project. 

It’s more than just a quote; it’s your first step towards a more energy-efficient, comfortable home.

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