Yes – installing external wall insulation does add value to your property as it increases your EPC rating, improves the outward appearance of your house, as well as saving money on bills. Continue reading for an in-depth look into how external wall insulation can add value to your home:
- EPC rating
- Appearance
- Loft insulation
- Grants
1. EPC rating
It is more common, and more cost efficient, for solid wall houses with very low EPC ratings to have external wall insulation installed. EPC stands for Energy Performance Certificate and is based on a scale from A to G, where A is the best energy performance and G is the worst, and this certificate is valid for ten years. Your property’s value will depend on a range of factors, such as location and size, however, your house’s EPC rating will also affect its value. Installing external wall insulation can increase your EPC by 10-20 points, and in London this rating will increase the value of your property by up to £40,000. With energy prices rising every year, it is worth investing into your property with external wall insulation.
2. Appearance
People often think of working on the aesthetics of the inside of their property rather than the outside, but the outside is just as important as the inside. You can insulate your internal walls, and this will be less costly, however, if you have an unattractive external wall that is taking away from the overall aesthetic of your home then external wall insulation will beautify this area. In turn this will add aesthetic value to your property, as a result adding to the overall value of your house.
3. Loft insulation
Another way to add value to your property is to add an ever-increasingly popular loft conversion as they can add up to 15% onto the value of your home. With a loft conversion comes loft insulation, and if you are already installing external wall insulation due to a low EPC loft insulation is also a must have. About a quarter of your heating is lost through your loft, so installing loft insulation will further increase the EPC of your property and hence the value of your home.
4. Grants
A grant is available from the government’s Green Deal Home Improvement Fund (GDHIF). The fund was started in 2014 by Energy and Climate Change Secretary Ed Davey and Climate Change Minister Greg Barker. The grant can cover up to two thirds of the cost of a small house, however larger houses will only be covered by up to one third of the cost of the installation of the external wall insulation.
Suppliers across the UK are required to deliver ECO from 2020, but we at Towy Valley Heating are proud to have been involved with the ECO scheme since it began. If you are eligible, you can apply for a grant through Towy Valley Heating. Alternatively, you can contact us via email at info@towyvalleyheating.co.uk or telephone at 01269 400 350.
Written by Lois Ferns for Towy Valley Heating.