Solid wall insulation · County Durham
Solid wall insulation in Durham
Looking for solid wall insulation in Durham? We survey homes across Durham and the DH1 area, then give you a fixed written price before any work starts. For solid-walled homes in Durham, we check wall thickness and age first to confirm there's no cavity to fill.
- Free survey in DH1 and nearby
- Guide price from £75 per m² + scaffold, 0% VAT
- Fixed written price before work starts
Free survey in Durham
Postcode, service and a phone number is all we need.
What's included
- Solid walls can lose heat roughly twice as fast as an insulated cavity wall
- Breathable options for stone and lime-mortared walls
- Both can be done in stages, elevation by elevation or room by room
- In England and Wales, Building Regulations apply when more than half of a wall is treated

What we look for in Durham
As well as Durham itself, we quote in Chester-le-Street, Houghton-le-Spring and Stanley. Durham sits around 17 miles from Darlington. The North East has many solid brick terraces, including former colliery housing, plus post-war council estates with some system-built homes.
Exposure to wind-driven rain varies across County Durham: 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.
On solid-walled houses in Durham, the gable or the most weather-exposed wall is often the place to start.
- Postcode district
- DH1
- County or area
- County Durham
- Nation
- England
- Nearby
- Chester-le-Street, Houghton-le-Spring, Stanley, Washington
Planning and building control in England
For a house in Durham, external insulation or render is often permitted development if it looks similar to the existing walls; conservation areas, flats, commercial buildings and listed buildings need permission or consent, so we check your address first.
Insulating or re-rendering more than half of a wall's area brings in Part L of the Building Regulations, so building control is notified and the wall is upgraded to about 0.30 W/m²K where practical.
How can I tell if my walls are solid?
Measure the wall thickness at a window or door: about 225mm (9 inches) of brick usually means solid, while 260mm or more often means a cavity. On exposed brick, a pattern with bricks laid end-on (headers) every few courses points to solid construction. Stone walls are usually solid regardless of thickness. Age is a strong clue too — most homes built before the 1920s are solid-walled.
Solid wall insulation prices in Durham
| Item | Guide price | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| External (EWI) | £105–£210 per m²0% VAT | By board and finish |
| Internal (IWI) | £75–£130 per m²0% VAT | Plus making good |
| Survey and written recommendation | Free with a quote |
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.
Solid wall insulation in Durham: questions
Is solid wall insulation worth it?
For many solid-walled homes it's one of the biggest single improvements to comfort, because the walls are often the largest heat-loss area. Savings depend on the home and heating, so we don't promise a figure.
Can I do one wall at a time?
Yes. Many owners start with the coldest or most exposed elevation, often a gable end.
Can I get a grant for solid wall insulation?
Some schemes cover it for eligible households — for example ECO4 until 31 December 2026, Home Energy Scotland's grant and loan, Wales' Warm Homes Nest and NI's Affordable Warmth Scheme. Each has its own eligibility and installer rules; see our grants guide.
Do you cover Durham?
Yes — we survey and quote solid wall insulation in Durham (DH1) and nearby Chester-le-Street, Houghton-le-Spring and Stanley, with a fixed written price before any work starts.