Background to the renovation works

Reason for works

The owner of the house stated that her primary focus was to make the house more cosy and comfortable. An awareness of environmental issues was also raised with a corresponding desire to reduce energy consumption. The dash render was deteriorating on a number of the houses in the cul-de-sac, and re-plastering was going to be required at any rate in the near future.

Four of the sixteen houses in the cul-de-sac were externally insulated within six months of each other in 2012. The owners of several of the houses had discussed the concept of externally insulating the houses. As the house and individual rooms were quite compact, it was considered that internal wall insulation would have resulted in a disproportionate loss of internal space. The owner of the end terrace house, which faced the south westerly prevailing winds alongside Donnycarney Road, experienced most acutely the effects of microclimate. The sheltering benefits of the keyhole cul-de-sac layout are illustrated.

Design approach

The owners of the houses carried out detailed research on the systems available and contractors’ competency. An end terrace house on the opposing terrace was the first house to be insulated and so acted as the “test bed” to the retrofitting of three other adjoining house in Belton Park Villas. These were subsequently externally insulated by the same contractor and consequently present a uniform finish.

The simple character of the houses influenced the owners– there was a desire to maintain external features such as the simple plaster band over the window openings and to reinstate cills of a suitable depth to match the originals.

Modest internal picture rail and window surround wall features were also seen as being of value. In addition, the multiple trades required, disruption and loss of internal space were issues that mitigated against an internal wall insulation approach.

Procurement

The owner engaged an architect familiar with external wall systems for a once-off consultation at the outset of the project and subsequently engaged the insulation contractor directly based on the neighbour’s experience and referral.

Grant applications

The SEAI external wall insulation grant was availed of (which was a flat grant of €4,000 for any dwelling type at the time) and was a deciding factor in undertaking the works.