Stops heat leaving through the walls
Uninsulated solid brick lets heat straight through. A layer on the outside keeps it in.
Solid-wall insulation / London
External wall insulation in London
London's Victorian and Edwardian houses were built with solid brick walls and no cavity. We fix insulation to the outside, finish it in render or brick slips, and leave every room its full size.
What it does for a London house
01 / Heat
02 / Space
No floor space lost
In a London house every square metre counts. Insulating outside leaves rooms untouched.
03 / Comfort
Warmer wall surfaces
The inside face of the wall stays warmer, so rooms feel more comfortable and cold spots shrink.
04 / Condensation
Less risk of mould
Warmer walls make condensation, and the black mould it feeds, less likely on outside walls.
05 / Weather
New weather skin
Tired brickwork and patched render get a continuous, weatherproof finish.
06 / Disruption
Life carries on inside
No stripping kitchens, moving radiators or replastering. The work happens outside.
Where it usually goes on a terrace
On a typical London terrace the street front is the part most likely to be protected. The walls behind it rarely are, and they are often the coldest.
- Rear elevation. The full back wall, often three storeys.
- Back addition. The narrow rear wing with the kitchen or bathroom, cold on three sides.
- Flank wall. The exposed side wall of an end-of-terrace house.
- Side return. Where it is not on the boundary with next door.
- Whole house. Common on interwar and post-war houses in outer London, where a change of finish is often less restricted.
What we check before anyone quotes
London adds a few questions that other places do not. We answer them at the survey, not halfway through the job.
Planning
Conservation area or Article 4
Whether the walls you want done can change appearance, and whether brick slips would help.
Ownership
Freehold or leasehold
Who owns the walls and whose consent is needed.
Boundaries
Walls on the line
Any wall where extra thickness would overhang next door.
Access
Scaffold and parking
Pavement licences, parking suspensions and access through the house.
Services
Flues, vents and pipes
What has to be extended or moved out to the new wall face.
Condition
Damp and movement
Anything that has to be fixed before the wall is covered.
Book a free survey
Leave your details and we will call to arrange a time.
- No charge and no obligation
- A written quote naming the board, its thickness and the finish
- Scaffold included in the price
- Planning, ownership and boundary questions flagged up front
Or call 020 3996 0973.
Your details
We will call you back.
Where we work
Across London. A few of the places we cover:
- IslingtonN1
- HackneyE8
- WalthamstowE17
- LeytonE10
- Crouch EndN8
- BrixtonSW2
- ClaphamSW4
- PeckhamSE15
- LewishamSE13
- EalingW5
- ActonW3
- CroydonCR0
TrueFinish EWI London at a glance
| Service | External wall insulation |
|---|---|
| Based in | London |
| Phone | 020 3996 0973 |
| Insulation | EPS, mineral wool, phenolic or wood fibre, chosen to suit the wall |
| Finishes | Silicone render, mineral render, brick slips |
| Typical walls | Rear elevations, back additions, flank walls, whole houses |
| Quotes | Free survey, written quote, scaffold included |
Common questions
Can I insulate the front of my Victorian terrace?
Sometimes, but often not. Much of inner London is covered by conservation areas, and many streets also have Article 4 directions, so changing the look of a front usually needs permission and may be refused. The rear, the flank wall and the back addition are a different matter, and they are often where most of the heat is lost.
What if the front cannot be done?
Insulating the rear, side and back addition still makes a real difference. A brick slip finish can also help where a brick look must be kept, and the front can be treated from the inside by a specialist in internal insulation.
I own a leasehold flat. Can I have it done?
The outside walls usually belong to the freeholder, so you will need their consent, and often the other leaseholders are involved. We are happy to survey and quote for a freeholder, a managing agent or a group of neighbours.
Our back addition is right on the boundary. Is that a problem?
It can be. On many London terraces the side wall of the back addition sits on the boundary line, so insulation on it would overhang next door. You would need your neighbour's agreement, or that wall is left and the others are done.
Does it need Building Regulations approval?
Insulating most of a wall usually counts as renovating a thermal element, so the work has to meet Building Regulations. Ask us at the survey how sign-off will be handled on your job.
How long does it take?
A rear and side elevation on a terrace typically takes a few weeks including scaffold, depending on detailing and weather. Pavement scaffold licences and parking suspensions add lead time, so they are booked as soon as you go ahead.
Can I stay at home during the work?
Yes. The work is outside. If the only way to the back is through the house, floors and doorways are protected before anything is carried through.
Is any funding available?
Government-backed schemes sometimes help eligible households pay for insulation. The schemes and their rules change, so check what is open now before you start, and tell us if you are applying.
Find out what your walls can have
Call or send your details for a free survey.