Home improvements that can save money on homeowners energy bills and transform the look of their homes - what’s not to like, asks Colin St John, Freefoam Commercial Director.
Insulated cladding cuts homeowners’ energy bills and drives installers’ sales
After two years of unprecedented demand for home improvements, 2022 is shaping up to be a tougher year for installers. Prices are rising at their fastest rate for 40 years and soaring gas and electricity costs are squeezing household budgets. But there are big opportunities enhanced by these trends. Cladding, which is growing rapidly, must have the biggest potential of these opportunities.
New research confirms that UK housing is among the oldest, leakiest, and worst in Europe for energy efficiency. The Green Living Index, which researched the thermal efficiency of homes in 28 countries, found that the UK ranked 23 out of 28 European countries.
To improve the energy performance of our homes – and put a dent in rising bills – there are lots of measures that homeowners could consider, such as upgrading their heating system or installing solar panels.
But these are all very costly, and unless the fabric of the building is well insulated and draught-free, their potential impact will not be fully realised. In fact, the Energy and Climate Intelligence Unit suggests that poorly insulated homes could be spending an extra £246 a year on their gas bills – and that’s before the energy cap rises again in October. This is where cladding comes into its own.
Save your energy!
PVC cladding is an increasingly popular choice for homeowners looking to transform the appearance of the outside of their property, or to cover a feature which is too costly to remove or replace, such as hanging tiles or pebble-dashing. While most installers sell it for its aesthetic affect, cladding when paired with non-combustible mineral wool insulation, weatherboarding installations achieve an A+ rating from the BRE.
Cladding and non-combustible insulation installations are suitable for a variety of building envelopes, including brick, block, masonry, and concrete. For older pre-first world war homes with solid walls, the energy savings are very impressive, with figures from the Energy Saving Trust estimating the potential savings to be £650 a year for a detached property.
As well as providing an insulating layer to keep a home’s heat in for longer, there are many other ways that cladding benefits the homeowner too. It is a barrier for any cracks or gaps in the brickwork to reduce draughts and make the living areas cosier. It will improve the weatherproofing of the brickwork to reduce maintenance costs and help protect walls to increase their lifespan. It can reduce condensation and damp, and, as it’s applied to the outside of the property, there is no loss of floorspace and there’s little disruption to the homeowners.
To ensure homeowners have the widest possible choice, all Freefoam cladding boards can be fitted with standard insulation. This includes our popular single Shiplap range, available in white and smooth woodgrain finishes, and our Fortex® range that has an attractive embossed wood effect finish for both Double Shiplap and Weatherboard in an array of colours including on-trend greys. The Freefoam range is completed with the X-Wood cladding range, a 16mm premium grade solution made from durable composite board.
The installer view
Installer Glen Young runs a home improvement company in Berkshire fitting fascias, soffits, guttering and most recently, Freefoam cladding. Having been in the industry since he was 15, Glen has seen a lot of changes over the past 30 years. He has noticed a real uptick in requests for cladding recently, and he knows what a difference it can make to his customer’s bills.
Glen says: “It definitely improves energy efficiency to put in the insulation with the cladding. Generally, I can touch the back of the plasterboard when removing old render, cladding, or hanging tiles so I talk to the customer and add it to the price. I try my best to advise customers that it’s in their best interests to do it.
“I had a customer who had cladding with insulation fitted at the front and back of his house and it saved him 30% on his heating bill! Cladding with insulation changed his house and bills.”
Putting your energy into cladding
Cladding has helped Glen grow his business, particularly over the past three years. With energy prices on the up, it is set to become an even more popular choice among his customers, and an easy sell to those with money to invest in energy saving home improvements.
If you are looking for an opportunity to increase your sales and grow your business, why not consider adding cladding with insulation to your portfolio of products. Easy to fit, available in a range of finishes and cost effective for customers, it’s a gift of a home improvement option for those feeling the pinch.
Photos courtest of NG Roofline, Windows & Doors
Article in Window News July/August 2022