Render or cladding: compare with and without insulation

A façade may need repairs, a new finish, thermal improvement or several of these. Assess the wall before adding layers. Age alone does not determine insulation needs; defects and the building project matter too.

Buildwise describes insulation under render, insulated cladding and cladding kits. Request exact layers, fixings and system documents. The word cladding alone establishes neither insulation provision nor moisture behaviour.

Request appearance, texture and a colour sample, then clarify local repairs. Define retained support, preparation and a compatible system. For old walls, neither age nor a binder name alone establishes suitability.

Specify panels or boards, subframe, fixings, joints and ends. Ask about replacing an individual component and expected finish ageing. Timber, composite, aluminium or fibre cement are not automatically maintenance-free categories.

Buildwise also links durability to connections between systems. Have windows, sills, plinths and roof junctions drawn. Added insulation does not establish removal of every thermal bridge; ask which details are actually addressed.

Align areas, preparation, access, finishes and associated work. Separate necessary work and options. Compare total costs before deducting confirmed support, then upkeep; generic lifespan figures do not replace product and site conditions.