External wall insulation (EWI) cladding causing aesthetic and physical damage to period properties?

[MAB]

As I walk around local roads in my area I see increasing examples of poor quality installation of irreversible External Wall Insulation (EWI) cladding causing aesthetic and physical damage to unlisted period properties or those not in official 'conservation areas'. Brickwork exteriors and associated detailing are a major part of many Victorian, Edwardian and 1930's period homes, but are just covered over leaving a bland, characterless, rendered box with deeply inset windows. Looks even worse on a terrace or semi-detached house where one half still retains its period features up against the current trend for a 'grey plague' painted smooth rendered box.....

It also looks like many 'cowboy installers' have moved in to exploit the Government backed insulation schemes, just as previously happened with sprayfoam roof insulation, etc.

 

Solid wall external insulation problems: nearly all homes need it replaced or repaired:-

https://hoa.org.uk/news/solid-wall-insulation-problems/

 

[Redbeard]

In terms of changing the appearance, yes it does. In terms of damaging the property, yes it can. In terms of damaging all properties to which it is applied, no it doesn't. Like all insulation measures it needs care and risk analyses. My guideline is that the end result must not look stupid. If it does, it probably is, and there are probably several more stupidities thrown into the mix. 'Cowboys' never give any discipline a good reputation, but there are good guys out there. I just feel sorry for those who get not-a-good-guy.

[Beelbeebub]

The "render onto foam insulation that is screwed to the wall" method has some risks. 

 

In theory a well done ewi solution should protect the building from thr elements and preserve the wall by keeping it warmer and drier. 

 

The aesthetic will almost certainly change if you start with brick or stone. There ain't really a way to mimic that - and I'm not sure we should try. 

 

Lean into the fact our buikdings are changing to adapt to new circumstances. It has always been so. Structures are extended, modified, uses change, windows are added and subtracted, uses change again etc.  Many of our houses were never built with electrical wiring or central heating. A good few didn't have plumbing and some didn't even have indoor toilets. These new technologies were added as circumstance changed. The addition of ewi is just another chapter. 

[Roger440]

12 hours ago, MAB said:

As I walk around local roads in my area I see increasing examples of poor quality installation of irreversible External Wall Insulation (EWI) cladding causing aesthetic and physical damage to unlisted period properties or those not in official 'conservation areas'. Brickwork exteriors and associated detailing are a major part of many Victorian, Edwardian and 1930's period homes, but are just covered over leaving a bland, characterless, rendered box with deeply inset windows. Looks even worse on a terrace or semi-detached house where one half still retains its period features up against the current trend for a 'grey plague' painted smooth rendered box.....

It also looks like many 'cowboy installers' have moved in to exploit the Government backed insulation schemes, just as previously happened with sprayfoam roof insulation, etc.

 

Solid wall external insulation problems: nearly all homes need it replaced or repaired:-

https://hoa.org.uk/news/solid-wall-insulation-problems/

 

 

The fact that most are poorly installed cant be a surprise, except to the morons signing off said schemes. Everytime free money is on offer, the cowboys arrive. Every, single, time.

 

Of course, with EWI, its compounded because its a job that really does need careful analysis, and fitting. And the potential damage of it not be so, very significant.

 

The visual aspect is valid, but we cant stop people upgrading houses, otherwise noting will ever change. But i certainly wouldnt do it to my house! 

[sgt_woulds]

In an ideal world, all insulation upgrades - EWI, and espescially IWI - should require building control submission, approval, and sign off.

 

They should not be permitted until a full report is produced by the installer and submitted to BC for assessment, including;

 

WUFI,

Visual assessment of existing building and issues to be resolved before insulation works commence (pointing, broken gutters, existing cold bridges, etc)

Method statement outlining how the installation will be handled - particularly highlighting cold bridging issues and weatherproofing

 

This would then be agreed in priciple by BCO (surely A.I. can assist with this stage), pending final inspection (by a trained BCO assessor) and sign-off after completion.

 

This would weed out the bandits and make the whole industry more proffessional - even the good guys sometimes make mistakes and a system of peer review is essential.

 

Unfortunately it will never happen, as Building Control departments for all councils have been defunded in real terms in the last 20 years, and the private BC companies already have more work than they can handle.   

 

 

 

 

[Roger440]

10 hours ago, sgt_woulds said:

In an ideal world, all insulation upgrades - EWI, and espescially IWI - should require building control submission, approval, and sign off.

 

They should not be permitted until a full report is produced by the installer and submitted to BC for assessment, including;

 

WUFI,

Visual assessment of existing building and issues to be resolved before insulation works commence (pointing, broken gutters, existing cold bridges, etc)

Method statement outlining how the installation will be handled - particularly highlighting cold bridging issues and weatherproofing

 

This would then be agreed in priciple by BCO (surely A.I. can assist with this stage), pending final inspection (by a trained BCO assessor) and sign-off after completion.

 

This would weed out the bandits and make the whole industry more proffessional - even the good guys sometimes make mistakes and a system of peer review is essential.

 

Unfortunately it will never happen, as Building Control departments for all councils have been defunded in real terms in the last 20 years, and the private BC companies already have more work than they can handle.   

 

 

 

 

 

The interesting thing seems to be, that those works carried out under eco4 scheme do NOT have building control sign off.

 

What i simply cannot find out, is how that can possibly be. Its notifiable work. So how can work done under eco4 not have BC sign off?

 

Of course, its no surprise that such work is generally poor, to put it mildly.

 

 

[ADLIan]

I believe approved contractors (to PAS????) can self certify

[Roger440]

10 hours ago, ADLIan said:

I believe approved contractors (to PAS????) can self certify

If thats the case, then it would certainly explain the standard of work.

 

Question then is, how did we arrive at a postion where one group of people working on houses can self certify, but others, including the major house builders cant.  Has the distinct whiff of corruption. Either way, the results merely prove self certification doesnt work.

 

Mind you, nor does building control!