External renders can be used to improve the insulation of a wall. There are a number of ways in which this can be done and there are several proprietary products on the market. One method uses lightweight aggregates in the render. These aggregates include materials of volcanic origin and polystyrene beads. Although these renders help to improve the U-value of the wall, they are not very hard and can be damaged by minor impacts. Far more common are insulation systems which comprise an insulation board, mechanically fixed to the wall and covered with a render supported by a synthetic mesh (as shown below).
These systems, like the contemporary rendering systems described above, are comparatively new and their long-term durability is not yet proven. A number of manufacturers have attained independent certification guaranteeing a 30-year life for both the rendering and the associated insulation systems. This is, however, dependent on the use of specialist accredited subcontractors.
No comments:
Post a Comment