Insulation
Solid wall insulation

Reduce your gas bills and save up to £650 a year*
Approximately 1/3rd of heat from a home is lost through the walls. Insulation on the walls slows this transfer of heat from the warm air inside the property to the cooler outside air.
New installation regulations may require additional ventilation to be fitted as part of a solid wall install.
Watch the video below to find out more:
*Based on a gas heated, detached property.
Check your wall type
TIP: If you're unsure whether you have solid walls, check the brick pattern: The brick pattern will show alternating long and short sides of the bricks (see below for example).
If your house was built before the 1930s it is likely to have solid walls. Newer houses are more likely to have cavity walls.
If you can see the brickwork on the outside of the house, look at the pattern of the bricks. If your home has solid walls, the bricks will have an alternating pattern like this:
If your home has cavity walls, the bricks will have an regular pattern like this:
Cavity walls need cavity wall insulation, more information can be found here.
How much could you save?
England, Scotland and Wales
Detached | Semi-detached | Mid terrace | Bungalow | Flat | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Fuel bill savings per year |
£650 |
£390 |
£245 |
£260 |
£195 |
Carbon dioxide savings (kgCO2/year) |
1500 kg |
910 kg |
580 kg |
610 kg |
450 kg
|
These are estimated figures based on insulating a gas-heated home. The average installed cost is unsubsidised. Figures are based on fuel prices as of April 2022.
External Wall Insulation
External wall insulation is an extremely effective way to improve the thermal performance of the home, and is the only option for properties that do not have a cavity wall that can be insulated.
It will keep a property warmer in winter, and cooler in summer, while preventing damp and condensation on internal walls. It can also improve the outside appearance of a property. In some cases it can also reduce noise and increase the lifespan of a property (as the structure is protected).
External Solid Wall Insulation - Things to Consider
- Appropriate for most pre-1930s properties without a cavity wall
- Some external features of the property may need to be moved or altered
- It requires good access to the outer walls of your property
- Issues with damp in the property should be dealt with before installation
- You may need planning permission, check whether you need planning permission here.
- Costs around £9,000-£15,000.
Internal Wall Insulation
Solid walls can also be insulated internally. The Energy Saving Trust has produced a guide on this:
Internal Wall Insulation - Energy Saving Trust
Internal Solid Wall Insulation - Things to Consider
- It will reduce the floor area to the rooms it is applied to
- It can be very disruptive
- It requires the skirting boards, door frames and external fittings to be removed and reattached
- May be unable to fix heavy items to inside walls
- All damp and condensation issues will need fixing beforehand
- Costs around £8,000.
Need more information?
For more information contact Action Surrey on 0800 783 2503 or email [email protected].
Alternatively, fill out our enquiry form online and one of our team will be in touch.
*All figures are taken from the Energy Saving Trust April 2022.