External wall insulation in Leeds
Warmer rooms, drier walls and a brand new look, without losing an inch inside. We insulate solid-wall terraces, back-to-backs and post-war houses across Leeds and finish them in render or brick slips.
Why insulate on the outside
A solid brick wall has no cavity to fill. The heat goes straight through it. Insulating on the outside is the most complete way to stop that.
Rooms keep their size
Internal insulation eats into every room. External insulation adds its thickness outside, where you will not miss it.
No work indoors
No moving kitchens, radiators or sockets. You carry on living in the house while we work outside.
Warmer, steadier rooms
Walls stay closer to room temperature, so rooms feel warmer and hold their heat for longer.
Fewer cold spots
A warmer inner wall surface makes condensation and the mould that follows it less likely.
A new weatherproof skin
The finish protects old brickwork from driving rain and frost, which helps keep the wall itself dry.
A complete facelift
Tired brick, patchy render or pebbledash is replaced by a clean new finish in the colour you choose.
Built for Leeds houses
Leeds has more solid-walled housing than most cities. That is exactly the kind of house that gains most from external insulation.
Back-to-backs
Harehills, Beeston, Holbeck and Armley. Few outside walls, but each one solid and cold.
Through terraces
Hyde Park, Burley, Bramley and Chapeltown. Solid brick, often with a cold rear offshot.
Post-war estates
Seacroft, Gipton and Middleton, where many houses were built from concrete or other non-traditional systems.
Gable ends
End-of-terrace walls that face the weather and leave the bedroom behind them cold.
When it is not the right answer
External wall insulation is a big job, and we would rather tell you if something else would serve you better.
- An empty cavity wall. Cavity insulation usually comes first and costs much less.
- A listed building or protected front. Permission may not be given for a change in appearance.
- Existing damp. Leaks, failed gutters or a bridged damp course must be fixed before a wall is insulated.
- A wall right on the boundary. The extra thickness would sit on your neighbour's land, so you would need their agreement.
Free survey. We check the walls, the damp course, the roof edge, the sills and any flues before we recommend anything. You get a written quote that names the insulation, its thickness and the finish.
Book a free survey
Leave your details and we will ring you to arrange a time.
- No charge and no obligation
- A written quote naming the system, thickness and finish
- Scaffold included in the price
Or call 0113 490 0422.
Your details
We will call you back.
Where we work
Across Leeds and the towns around it.
- Harehills LS8
- Headingley LS6
- Armley LS12
- Beeston LS11
- Bramley LS13
- Roundhay LS8
- Horsforth LS18
- Seacroft LS14
- Crossgates LS15
- Morley LS27
- Pudsey LS28
- Rothwell LS26
- Garforth LS25
- Otley LS21
TopFinish EWI Leeds at a glance
| Service | External wall insulation for houses |
|---|---|
| Based in | Leeds, West Yorkshire |
| Phone | 0113 490 0422 |
| Insulation | EPS, mineral wool, phenolic or wood fibre board, chosen to suit the wall |
| Finishes | Silicone and mineral render, brick slips |
| Best suited to | Solid-wall and non-traditional houses |
| Quotes | Free survey, written quote with scaffold included |
Common questions
What is external wall insulation?
It is a layer of insulation board fixed to the outside of your walls, covered with a reinforced basecoat and then a weatherproof finish such as render or brick slips. It wraps the house in insulation without taking any space from the rooms inside.
Is my house suitable?
It suits most houses with solid walls, which in Leeds means a lot of Victorian and Edwardian terraces and back-to-backs, plus many post-war houses built from concrete or other non-traditional systems. Houses with an empty cavity are usually better off with cavity wall insulation first, as it costs far less. We tell you honestly at the survey which applies.
How much will I save on heating?
It depends on the house, how you heat it and how much of it is insulated, so we do not put a figure on the website. Solid walls lose a lot of heat compared with insulated ones, and insulating them is one of the bigger improvements an older house can have.
Do I need planning permission?
Sometimes. It depends on where you live and how much the look of the house changes. Conservation areas, listed buildings, flats, and fronts where brick would be covered with render are the cases to check with Leeds City Council planning before you commit. A brick slip finish can help where keeping a brick look matters.
Does it need Building Regulations approval?
Insulating most of a wall normally counts as renovating a thermal element, so the work has to meet Building Regulations. Ask us at the survey how sign-off will be handled for your job.
Can I stay in the house while it is done?
Yes. Nearly all the work happens outside. You will hear drilling when the boards are fixed, and someone may need to come in briefly if a vent or flue is being extended, but rooms are not disturbed.
How long does it take?
A typical terrace or semi takes a few weeks from scaffold up to scaffold down, depending on size, detailing and the weather. The finish coats cannot go on in frost or rain. Your quote gives expected dates.
Is there funding available?
Government-backed schemes sometimes help eligible households with the cost of insulation. The schemes and the rules change, so check what is open now before you start, and tell us if you are applying for one.
Ready for a warmer house?
Call us or send your details for a free survey.