External wall insulation · Scotland
External wall insulation in Edinburgh and the Lothians
Homes and buildings across Edinburgh and the Lothians — from Edinburgh to Musselburgh — can get a free survey and written quote for external wall insulation. Whole-house jobs and single elevations are both quoted in Edinburgh and the Lothians; a cold gable or rear wall can be done on its own where it suits.
- Free survey and fixed written price
- Guide price from £105 per m² + scaffold, 0% VAT
- Planning and building control checked for Scotland
Free survey in Edinburgh and the Lothians
Tell us the postcode and what you need.
What the job covers
- Work happens outside, so you can live at home throughout
- Installing wall insulation in homes is currently zero-rated for VAT until 31 March 2027
- Typically takes a 225mm solid brick wall from around 2.1 W/m²K to about 0.30 W/m²K with 90–110mm of board
- Cills, pipes, vents, meter boxes and the roofline detailed as part of the job
- Covers tired brick, pebble dash or failing render with a new finish
Edinburgh and the Lothians: walls, weather and approvals
East Central Scotland mixes stone tenements and terraces with post-war council housing and harled bungalows and semis.
Exposure to wind-driven rain varies across Edinburgh and the Lothians: sheltered town streets fare better than walls on high ground or facing the prevailing weather, and the render, beads and cill details are chosen with that in mind.
Whole-house jobs and single elevations are both quoted in Edinburgh and the Lothians; a cold gable or rear wall can be done on its own where it suits.
- Nation
- Scotland
- Region
- East Central Scotland
- Towns covered
- Edinburgh, Livingston, Musselburgh, Bathgate
- Guide price
- From £105 per m² + scaffold · 0% VAT
Approvals in Scotland
In Scotland, householder permitted development rights are set by the Scottish GPDO and are narrower for external wall changes; insulating flats or tenements, changing the appearance of a house noticeably, or working in a conservation area usually needs planning permission. Listed buildings need listed building consent. Ask your council's planning team before committing.
Work that alters an external wall's construction is covered by the building standards system; many over-cladding projects need a building warrant from the council's building standards team, and Section 6 (Energy) of the Technical Handbooks sets insulation benchmarks.
Which homes is EWI suited to?
EWI is mainly used on solid-walled houses (most homes built before about 1920), on post-war concrete and steel-framed houses, on homes where cavity fill isn't possible, and on bungalows and park homes. It also suits flats and blocks where the whole building is treated at once.
It is less straightforward where the walls face a pavement with no room to project, on listed buildings, or where planning rules want the existing brick or stone left visible. A survey picks these up before you commit.
External wall insulation prices in Edinburgh and the Lothians
| Item | Guide price | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| EPS system with silicone render | £105–£145 per m²0% VAT | Most common choice for houses |
| Mineral wool system | £125–£170 per m²0% VAT | Non-combustible, vapour-open |
| Brick-slip finish over insulation | £185–£260 per m²0% VAT | Where a brick look is wanted |
| Three-bed semi, EPS + silicone (incl. scaffold) | £10,200–£17,7000% VAT | 80–100 m² of wall; depends on detailing and access |
Confirmed by a fixed written quote after survey. 0% VAT: installing insulation in a home is zero-rated until 31 March 2027, so these figures are the total; 5% applies from 1 April 2027.
From enquiry to finished wall
Enquiry
Send your postcode and a few details.
Measured survey
Walls, damp, eaves, cills and services recorded.
Written price
A fixed price with the specification attached.
Work and handover
Installed, inspected and documents handed over.
External wall insulation in Edinburgh and the Lothians: questions
Can EWI go over pebble dash?
Usually yes. The dash is tested for adhesion and hollow areas; sound dash can be insulated over with additional mechanical fixings, while loose areas are removed first.
How long does external wall insulation last?
A well-installed render system is commonly expected to last 25–30 years or more, with occasional cleaning and inspection of sealants. The system manufacturer's documentation states the expected service life for the specific build-up.
Does external wall insulation cause damp?
Not when it is specified and detailed properly. Problems usually come from poor detailing: no starter track above the damp-proof course, gaps at cills and penetrations, or a vapour-closed system on a wall that needs to breathe. The survey checks moisture, ground levels and the wall type before a system is chosen.
Do you cover all of Edinburgh and the Lothians?
Yes. We survey and quote external wall insulation across Edinburgh and the Lothians, including Edinburgh, Livingston, Musselburgh, Bathgate.
Do I need planning permission in Scotland?
In Scotland, householder permitted development rights are set by the Scottish GPDO and are narrower for external wall changes; insulating flats or tenements, changing the appearance of a house noticeably, or working in a conservation area usually needs planning permission. We check your address before quoting.