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What are the methods of insulating a single skin wall to meet building regs?

As single skin walls are solid, you can’t fill them with cavity wall insulation. So, what are the methods of insulating a single skin wall to meet building regs?

Keep reading to find out how you can insulate to meet building regs, and benefit from lower energy bills!

What are the building regs when it comes to single skin walls?

First things first, let’s take a look at what building regs say when it comes to single skin walls.

Essentially, if you do any renovation work to a single skin wall that covers more than half of the wall, you’ll need to add insulation to it to improve its thermal performance.

For example, if you want to add cladding to your home, you’ll also need to insulate your wall at the same time (unless it’s decorative cladding). The same goes for stripping a wall back to brick and rebuilding it.

But how much insulation do you need to add? Well, it must meet minimum energy efficiency values of a U-values of no more than 0.3 W/m2K. The lower the U-value, the better the insulation provided.

Methods of insulating a single skin wall to meet building regs

There are two main methods of insulating a solid – or single skin – wall, both of which can help you to meet building regs. These are:

1. Internal ways to insulate a single skin wall

Internal wall insulation involves insulating the internal side of your single skin wall – in other words, the side that’s indoors. This is typically done in one of three ways:

  1. Attach insulation directly to the wall. Insulation boards are readily available and can be attached directly to the wall using an adhesive.
  2. Wall battening. This method involves building a wooden frame against the solid wall, before attaching plasterboard onto it.
  3. Build a stud wall. In this case, a whole new stud wall is built just 40mm in from your solid wall, and filled with insulating material like mineral wool fibre.

2. External ways to insulate a single skin wall

External wall insulation involves insulating the external side of your single skin wall – in other words, the side that’s outdoors.

To do this, you’ll need to add insulation boards to the walls of your home from the outside – typically, PIR boards – using mechanical fixings and adhesive. Then, these are covered by protective layers of render or cladding.

In this way, external wall insulation will change how your home looks from the outside. This could be a good or bad thing, depending on how you feel about your home’s current curb appeal!

Internal vs external methods of insulating a single skin wall to meet building regs

If you’re umming and ahhing about whether to opt for internal or external wall insulation for your single skin walls, check out the differences between the two here.

Internal wall insulation

  • Usually cheaper than external wall insulation
  • Preserves the look of the exterior of your home
  • Will reduce the footprint of your rooms slightly
  • Can be disruptive – you’ll need to remove and reattach skirting boards, door frames and external fittings

External wall insulation

  • Usually more expensive than internal wall insulation
  • Changes the look of your home’s exterior – you can choose a finish to suit your tastes
  • Doesn’t reduce your rooms’ footprint
  • Can be installed with minimal disruption
  • Improves weatherproofing and protects your brickwork
  • Increases sound resistance
  • Can limit condensation on internal walls
  • May need planning permission

Find a professional to insulate your single skin walls

If you’re ready to reduce your energy bills by insulating your single skin walls, a professional can help. Not only will they be able to apply insulation to a professional standard, but they’ll also be able to ensure that your insulation meets building regs.

Simply enter your postcode below to find approved insulation specialists near you.

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