Islington is one of London's most period-rich boroughs — Georgian and Victorian terraces, many in conservation areas, the great majority built with solid walls and no cavity.
These older homes lose significant heat through solid brick, but they also need careful handling. We specialise in solid-wall and period properties, so we assess conservation-area constraints, breathability and detailing before recommending a render system — and we're honest when external insulation isn't the right route for a sensitive frontage.
EWI is a continuous insulating layer fixed to the outside of your home, finished with a weatherproof render. Because it sits outside, your rooms keep their floor space, and the masonry stays warmer.
We don't quote specific savings figures — your surveyor explains what results are realistic for your property.
A real surveyor visits, measures up and checks wall build-up, damp risks, access and planning context. You receive an itemised written quote covering the system, render type, detailing and scaffolding. We install boards, reinforcing mesh and render with a daily clean-down, then finish with inspection, sign-off and warranty paperwork.
Roughly half of Islington sits within conservation areas, and the flat-fronted Georgian and early Victorian brick terraces they protect are usually not candidates for insulation on the street elevation. We say that plainly, because the rear tells a different story: closet wings, rear walls and later extensions carry a large share of the heat loss and can usually be insulated without touching the protected face.
Age matters on these walls too. Islington's older brickwork is laid in lime mortar and needs to breathe, so we specify vapour-open systems, typically mineral wool finished with a mineral or silicone render, rather than sealing old masonry behind an impermeable skin.
Sometimes, but it depends on the property and local planning rules. We assess this at survey and will tell you plainly whether EWI is appropriate or whether another approach is better.
We do, with the caution period homes deserve. Breathability and detailing matter on older masonry, and we specify systems accordingly rather than applying a one-size-fits-all finish.
Often, yes. On a Georgian or Victorian terrace the rear and closet-wing walls are big heat losers, and insulating them changes how the house holds warmth even with the front left original.
We specialise in solid-wall and period homes across London and surrounding areas, including:
One short form. One real surveyor. Zero pressure.