External wall insulation · England
External wall insulation in Greater London
Homes and buildings across Greater London — from Islington to Archway — can get a free survey and written quote for external wall insulation. For homes in Greater London, the survey starts with the wall itself: solid brick, stone or concrete, and whether any old render is sound enough to insulate over.
- Free survey and fixed written price
- Guide price from £105 per m² + scaffold, 0% VAT
- Planning and building control checked for England
Free survey in Greater London
Tell us the postcode and what you need.
What you get
- Boards chosen for the wall: EPS, mineral wool, wood fibre or phenolic
- Installing wall insulation in homes is currently zero-rated for VAT until 31 March 2027
- Covers tired brick, pebble dash or failing render with a new finish
- Work happens outside, so you can live at home throughout
- Cills, pipes, vents, meter boxes and the roofline detailed as part of the job
Greater London: walls, weather and approvals
London's housing includes a large stock of Victorian and Edwardian solid-wall terraces, inter-war semis and post-war blocks, and conservation areas cover many streets — so planning is often the first question for external work.
Much of Greater London sits in the lower wind-driven rain exposure bands, which keeps the choice of finishes wide — though hilltop, coastal and exposed gable walls can still need a tougher specification, so we check the actual site.
We plan EWI in Greater London around the details that cause trouble later — cills, eaves, downpipes and the base of the wall above the damp-proof course.
- Nation
- England
- Region
- London
- Towns covered
- Islington, Bexley, Archway, Sutton, Croydon, Ilford, Enfield, Harrow…
- Guide price
- From £105 per m² + scaffold · 0% VAT
Approvals in England
For houses, external wall insulation and render are often permitted development where the finish looks similar to the existing walls. Planning permission is usually needed in conservation areas, National Parks, National Landscapes, the Broads and World Heritage Sites (where cladding a house in stone, artificial stone, pebble dash, render, timber, plastic or tiles isn't permitted development), for flats and maisonettes, for commercial buildings, under an Article 4 direction, or where the look changes noticeably. Listed buildings need listed building consent.
Renovating more than half of a wall's area — insulating it, or stripping and re-rendering it — or more than a quarter of the building's whole external envelope brings in the energy requirements of Part L, so building control needs to be involved and the wall should reach about 0.30 W/m²K where that's technically, functionally and economically feasible.
How does external wall insulation work?
Heat moves out through a wall faster when the wall is solid or poorly insulated. EWI wraps the outside face in a continuous layer of insulation, so the masonry stays on the warm side and the cold bridges at floor and party-wall junctions are reduced. The boards are bonded with adhesive and, on most walls, mechanically fixed. A base coat with an embedded glass-fibre mesh goes over the top, then a primer and the decorative finish.
Because the wall itself sits inside the insulation, it stays warmer and drier, and the rooms keep their full size. That is the main difference from internal insulation.
External wall insulation prices in Greater London
| 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.
How it works
Tell us about the property
Use the quote tool or form, or call. Photos help.
Free survey
We measure, check the walls and confirm approvals.
Fixed written quote
System, details, access, exclusions and VAT in writing.
Installation
Scheduled for suitable weather, with a clear programme.
External wall insulation in Greater London: questions
Does EWI need Building Regulations approval?
In England and Wales, usually. Insulating more than half of a wall's area, or more than a quarter of the building's whole external envelope, counts as renovating a thermal element, so building control needs to be involved and the wall should reach about 0.30 W/m²K where that's practical. Scotland and Northern Ireland have their own building standards processes.
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.
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.
Do you cover all of Greater London?
Yes. We survey and quote external wall insulation across Greater London, including Islington, Bexley, Archway, Sutton, Croydon.
Do I need planning permission in England?
For houses, external wall insulation and render are often permitted development where the finish looks similar to the existing walls. We check your address before quoting.