Solid wall insulation · Scotland
Solid wall insulation in Orkney, Shetland and the Western Isles
Get guide prices online, then a free survey and fixed quote for solid wall insulation in Orkney, Shetland and the Western Isles, including Stornoway and Lerwick. For Orkney, Shetland and the Western Isles homeowners weighing external against internal insulation, the survey sets out both with prices.
- Free survey and fixed written price
- Guide price from £75 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.
What's included
- Both can be done in stages, elevation by elevation or room by room
- Internal insulation suits single rooms or where the outside can't change
- Breathable options for stone and lime-mortared walls
- External insulation keeps room sizes and treats cold bridges well
- Solid walls can lose heat roughly twice as fast as an insulated cavity wall
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.
For Orkney, Shetland and the Western Isles homeowners weighing external against internal insulation, the survey sets out both with prices.
- Nation
- Scotland
- Region
- Highlands and Islands
- Towns covered
- Kirkwall, Stornoway, Lerwick
- Guide price
- From £75 per m² + scaffold · 0% VAT
Planning and building control 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.
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 Orkney, Shetland and the Western Isles
| 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
Get a guide price
Try the online quote tool for a ballpark figure.
Book the survey
A visit at a time that suits you.
Agree the quote
Nothing starts until you've signed the written price.
We do the work
Planned around weather, with you kept informed.
Solid wall insulation in Orkney, Shetland and the Western Isles: 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 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.
Can I do one wall at a time?
Yes. Many owners start with the coldest or most exposed elevation, often a gable end.
Do you cover all of Orkney, Shetland and the Western Isles?
Yes. We survey and quote solid 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.