Insulation & Retrofit

A warmer home starts with the wall, not a product name. Compare insulation routes, understand the role of cork and prepare a brief that an installer or design team can assess.

Choose your wall-insulation route

Internal wall insulation — compare room space, disruption and junction details.
External wall insulation — understand insulation boards, render finishes and the complete external build-up.
Solid-wall insulation — consider internal and external approaches for brick, stone and traditional walls.
Thin internal wall insulation — weigh limited space against the thermal performance you need.
Breathable insulation — ask how the whole construction manages moisture.
Cold walls and condensation — investigate the cause before choosing a finish.

Cork coatings and cork boards have different jobs

A thin spray-applied or trowel-applied cork treatment can form part of a specified surface build-up. It should not be assumed to provide the thermal resistance of a thicker insulation layer. An external insulation system includes the insulation, compatible adhesive and fixings, reinforcement, finish and junction details.

Explore the ECOPROCORK system family and illustrated build-ups, then compare cork, render and insulation systems. Board-only shop prices do not cover a complete installation.

Start with a whole-building assessment

Record the wall construction, condition, exposure and existing finishes. Investigate leaks, damp, failed pointing and gutters before covering the wall. Consider heating, ventilation, moisture and thermal bridges alongside insulation. A coating alone does not guarantee prevention of condensation or mould.

For older buildings, assess compatible materials and conservation constraints. Ask a competent building professional whether the proposed work needs further moisture analysis or permissions.

What to ask before accepting a quotation

Which exact products, installed thicknesses and finishes are included?
What is the calculated performance of the complete wall, including relevant corrections?
How are reveals, floors, roofs, services and adjoining walls detailed?
What moisture, fire and installation evidence covers this construction?
Which repairs, ventilation work, quality records, maintenance and written warranty terms are included?

Thermal conductivity is a material property. A wall U-value describes the complete construction. Neither a product photograph nor a conductivity figure establishes an EPC uplift or a percentage energy saving. See our EPC and energy-performance guidance.

Choose the right next step

Homeowners: share your postcode, property age, wall type, photographs and desired outcome. Find an Approved Applicator and confirm suitability, scope and availability.

Architects, housing providers and commercial teams: use professional specification support and request evidence for the proposed complete build-up.

Trades and applicators: follow the trade route and thin-wall practical guide. Training does not establish the suitability of every installation.

Plan the next step

Explore all insulation and retrofit guides · Compare systems · Technical evidence

General planning guidance reviewed 16 October 2026. See Energy Saving Trust: solid-wall insulation and Historic England: energy efficiency and retrofit. These independent sources explain general principles; they do not approve an ECOPROCORK system.