A warm coat to keep out the cold

Published by Davina Langley for Anglian Building Products in Housing

A sheltered housing scheme in Southend will not only look smarter this winter but warmer as well thanks to Anglian Building Products.

South Essex Homes appointed Anglian Building Products to install external wall insulation to seven blocks of sheltered accommodation in Kingfisher and Sandpiper Close. The blocks were built in the 1970s using the Wimpey ‘No Fines’ solid wall construction method when insulation levels were not the highest priority.

This is being remedied by the installation of the lightweight Weber.therm  XM system. The system uses 70mm polystyrene installation, followed by two coats of base render then a coloured top coat with a pebble dash finish.  The system holds British Board of Agrement approval and the installation carries a 10 year manufacture guarantee.

The Weber therm XM system not only transforms the existing façade of the building but provides a significant saving in heating costs. The insulation reduces the U value of the properties from an estimated 2.4 W/m2K to 0.25W/m2k.

Six of the seven properties are now complete and the contract is due for completion by the end of January 2011.

“The job has progressed to plan” said Anglian contract manager Steve Cordell. “I have personally consulted with each resident during the works; our main focus has been on minimising inconvenience which has resulted in numerous compliments.”

www.anglian-building.co.uk