Flexible thermal linings

Flexible thermal linings are insulation on a roll specifically for use in solid wall homes, mansard roofs and dormer ceilings.  The lining is 10mm thick and supplied in rolls one metre wide, 12.5 metres long.

The material is made from a natural product – latex - in an open and closed cellular construction and has a durable fibreglass face that can be decorated with emulsion, wallpaper or even tiled.

Rigid thermal boards

Thermal boarding is a composite board made of plasterboard with a backing of insulation.  The insulation backing can be specified in a variety of thicknesses.  Insulation in excess of 60mm will typically be required to achieve best practice performance.  Up to 100mm of insulation can be included.

Thermal boards are fixed to the wall surface using continuous ribbons of plaster or adhesive, plus additional mechanical fixings.

Internal installation practicalities

Flexible thermal linings and almost all brands of thermal boarding provide better insulation than comparable thicknesses of fibre-based insulation, such as mineral wool.  In practice this means one can achieve the same thermal performance whilst using a reduced thicknesses of insulation, which is ideal when insulating a small room.

A combination of both studwork and insulated thermal board, rather than finishing the wall with ordinary plasterboard, can be used to increase the thermal performance of the wall and further reduce running costs. This is ideally done when building a extension/new building or when completely renovating an existing room.

This combined method is particularly useful when applying insulation to uneven wall faces. By applying the insulation to studwork, and creating an air gap, this negates the need to prepare the wall before hand.

External insulation

External insulation systems are made up of an insulation layer fixed to the existing wall, using a combination of mechanical fixings and adhesive - depending on the insulation material used. This is then covered completely with a protective render or cladding finish.

Most external renders consist of either thick sand/cement render applied over a wire mesh, or a thinner, lighter polymer cement render applied over a ‘GRP scrim’.  A pebbledash render should need less maintenance than a painted render finish.

Further information and useful links

• Introduction to wall insulation
• Solid wall insulation
• Full guide to the building regulations
• Making structural changes to your property
• Successfully damp proofing your home
• More walls and ceilings topics
• Building works topics

• Find a Insulation Installer near you
• Find a Builder near you

• National Insulation Association
• Energy Savings Trust (est.org.uk)
• Cavity Insulation Guarantee Agency (ciga.co.uk)
• Building Regulations an explanatory booklet (odpm.gov.uk)
• Party Wall Guidance (rics.org)
• Impact of the Party Wall Act 1996 (communities.gov.uk)