External wall insulation · Scotland
External wall insulation in Orkney, Shetland and the Western Isles
Planning external wall insulation anywhere in Orkney, Shetland and the Western Isles? We cover towns including Kirkwall and Stornoway, and check planning and building control for each address. For homes in Orkney, Shetland and the Western Isles, 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 Scotland
Free survey in Orkney, Shetland and the Western Isles
Tell us the postcode and what you need.
Part of every quote
- Boards chosen for the wall: EPS, mineral wool, wood fibre or phenolic
- Typically takes a 225mm solid brick wall from around 2.1 W/m²K to about 0.30 W/m²K with 90–110mm of board
- Installing wall insulation in homes is currently zero-rated for VAT until 31 March 2027
- Work happens outside, so you can live at home throughout
- Cills, pipes, vents, meter boxes and the roofline detailed as part of the job
Before we quote in Orkney, Shetland and the Western Isles
The Highlands and Islands have many exposed stone and harled homes, timber-framed houses and scattered rural properties.
Parts of Orkney, Shetland and the Western Isles fall in the higher wind-driven rain exposure bands, especially coastal and upland sites, so render specification, movement joints and detailing at cills, verges and the base of the wall matter more than usual.
We plan EWI in Orkney, Shetland and the Western Isles around the details that cause trouble later — cills, eaves, downpipes and the base of the wall above the damp-proof course.
- Nation
- Scotland
- Region
- Highlands and Islands
- Towns covered
- Kirkwall, Stornoway, Lerwick
- Guide price
- From £105 per m² + scaffold · 0% VAT
Permissions 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.
What does the survey check before EWI is specified?
- Wall construction and condition, including any damp, cracking or loose render
- Ground levels and the damp-proof course, so the system starts above splash height
- Eaves depth, verges and whether the roofline needs extending
- Window positions, cill depths and reveal space
- Services on the wall: gas, electric meters, flues, soil pipes, satellite dishes and lights
- Planning and Building Regulations position for your property and nation
External wall insulation prices in Orkney, Shetland and the Western Isles
| 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 Orkney, Shetland and the Western Isles: questions
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.
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.
Do you cover all of Orkney, Shetland and the Western Isles?
Yes. We survey and quote external wall insulation across Orkney, Shetland and the Western Isles, including Kirkwall, Stornoway, Lerwick. Island and remote addresses are surveyed by arrangement.
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.