Insulation wall coatings have been around for a long time but until recent independant research into the insulating effects of external wall coatings most companies have been loathe to publicise the thermal gains . Until now that is.

The University of Portsmouth recently received some Government funding to test how the energy efficiency of a wet brick wall drops alarmingly when the wall is wet and consequently how much the insulation effect is boosted when a brick wall is kept dry . In other words do insulated  wall coatings actually work ?

Wall coating keeps walls dry & warm

THE SCIENCE BEHIND INSULATED WALL COATINGS

As reproduced from the University of Portsmouth website on testing the insulation effects :

” They built a small scale brick house and used a 40 watt light bulb as the heating source. They controlled the outside temperature and humidity and fixed the internal temperature at 20C. The energy consumption to maintain the internal temperature was measured before and after the application of the water proofing chemicals to the exterior walls of the test house.

With external temperatures of 0 C and 80 per cent humidity, energy consumption reduced by nine per cent. When the external temperature was increased to 10 C energy reduction dropped to five per cent. But a second experiment with ‘rain’ resulted in a 30 per cent reduction in energy consumption.

Dr Zhongyi Zhang from the University’s Department of Mechanical and Design Engineering said: “Moisture increases the thermal conductivity of bricks and mortar. By keeping the brickwork dry we can significantly improve its insulation properties and there will be no cooling effects from water vaporisation. The concept is simple but effective and should work particularly well in the UK climate and north Europe.”

Insulating Wall Coatings

Wethertex offer a unique range of clear and coloured insulating wall coatings that will keep the bricks – and stone , blockwork or cement  – dry and breathable to bring about this extra insulation performance in the wet winter months when it is most needed. With ever increasing energy bills every little helps  , both in saving money and in saving CO2 emissions.

To find out how affordable our microporous exterior insulating coatings are please CALL US FREE ON 0500 300407 or send an email for free expert guidance.

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