External Insulation - Planning Required?

kev1234

Hi,

I have a builder lined up to commence works on a refurbishment and extension to a 3 bed semi-D in Dublin in February. I had originally planned to do a 150mm cavity wall with 110mm fill on the extension walls and then internal insulation on the existing house hollow block external walls. However on review with Architect and builder I am now looking to install external insulation.

The existing house is a wet dash finish so applying the EWI will mean a smoother render finish. Is this likely to be an issue with planning? The Builder says EWI doesn't require planning but all the other houses on the road are wet dash. I won't have a response from the Architect until mid January as he is on leave.

Thanks

Gumbo

kev1234 wrote: »

Hi,

I have a builder lined up to commence works on a refurbishment and extension to a 3 bed semi-D in Dublin in February. I had originally planned to do a 150mm cavity wall with 110mm fill on the extension walls and then internal insulation on the existing house hollow block external walls. However on review with Architect and builder I am now looking to install external insulation.

The existing house is a wet dash finish so applying the EWI will mean a smoother render finish. Is this likely to be an issue with planning? The Builder says EWI doesn't require planning but all the other houses on the road are wet dash. I won't have a response from the Architect until mid January as he is on leave.

Thanks

There is no specific exemption for the External Insulation but you can argue that once finished it doesn't alter the appearance of the streetscape in my opinion.
If you have time, lodge a Section 5 Application to the council and they will give an official answer.

Or maybe someone can quote precedance?

kev1234

kceire wrote: »

There is no specific exemption for the External Insulation but you can argue that once finished it doesn't alter the appearance of the streetscape in my opinion.
If you have time, lodge a Section 5 Application to the council and they will give an official answer.

Or maybe someone can quote precedance?

Thanks. I actually got a response email from my Architect (I thought he finished yesterday but obviously not) and he said it shouldn't be a problem and just asked me to check the soffit depth which I know is fine.

I found the following in an article: "In many cases external wall insulation will be exempt from planning permission. In ROI, the exemption clause in Section 4 (1)(h) of the Planning and Development Act 2000 states: ‘constituted works which do not materially affect the external appearance of the structure so as to render the appearance inconsistent with the character of the structure or neighbouring structures’."

I'm going to have another look in the surrounding area and see if any others have done it. I know a few very similar houses on parallel streets have done EWI so I might check online if they applied for planning.

Dudda

I got planning for my EWI (as an architect myself it only cost me €35 planning fee and did drawings myself). Along with cheap planning cost the reason I got it was I was removing stupid arches, fake corner quoins and other details to make it clean and modern. I also changed a curved bay window to square. If it's just EWI you're fine but if doing other things which will change the appearance your better getting the planning.

kev1234

Dudda wrote: »

I got planning for my EWI (as an architect myself it only cost me €35 planning fee and did drawings myself). Along with cheap planning cost the reason I got it was I was removing stupid arches, fake corner quoins and other details to make it clean and modern. I also changed a curved bay window to square. If it's just EWI you're fine but if doing other things which will change the appearance your better getting the planning.

Thanks for the info. I got planning already for the extension itself but didn't include EWI at that point. I won't be changing any other features on the façade other than the render finish so I'm going to go ahead. I had originally decided against EWI because of cost and issues fixing to wet dash as opposed to flat surface but the builder says that using a thick layer of adhesive will sort this.

Lumen

Dudda, care to share pics of your EWI?

I'd like to see what it looks like when an architect does it to their own home.

Ugly detailing is the one thing that puts me off.

Dudda

Lumen wrote: »

Dudda, care to share pics of your EWI?

I'd like to see what it looks like when an architect does it to their own home.

Ugly detailing is the one thing that puts me off.

Clear your inbox to get PM's.

kev1234

Dudda wrote: »

Clear your inbox to get PM's.

Could you forward to me also? Thanks

antiskeptic

Lumen wrote: »

Dudda, care to share pics of your EWI?

I'd like to see what it looks like when an architect does it to their own home.

Ugly detailing is the one thing that puts me off.

I have visions of this architect looking up at his sheet metal cills and going "oh dear"

Dudda

antiskeptic wrote: »

I have visions of this architect looking up at his sheet metal cills and going "oh dear"

Had a few samples made all right before proceeding. Tip - spray the back of the metal cills with foam insulation to deaden the hollow sound of rain dripping on them.

booooonzo

Dudda wrote: »

Clear your inbox to get PM's.

Would also be interested to see if you wouldn't mind

housetypeb

Like to see it myself too,if you wouldn't mind.

FrancieBrady

Would appreciate a PM too Dudda. TIA

doug82

kev1234 wrote: »

Thanks. I actually got a response email from my Architect (I thought he finished yesterday but obviously not) and he said it shouldn't be a problem and just asked me to check the soffit depth which I know is fine.

I found the following in an article: "In many cases external wall insulation will be exempt from planning permission. In ROI, the exemption clause in Section 4 (1)(h) of the Planning and Development Act 2000 states: ‘constituted works which do not materially affect the external appearance of the structure so as to render the appearance inconsistent with the character of the structure or neighbouring structures’."

I'm going to have another look in the surrounding area and see if any others have done it. I know a few very similar houses on parallel streets have done EWI so I might check online if they applied for planning.

I’ve found 4 cases where Bord Pleanala made determinations on external insulation. 2 of the decisions were that the works were exempt under 4(1)(h). The other 2 were deemed not to be exempt. In one of these the insulation was covering brick and made the house inconsistent with neighbouring dwellings. If there are no features of interest on your house I think the exemption should apply