The Insulated Render and Cladding Association (INCA)’s annual awards ceremony celebrates the best in external wall insulation (EWI) across the construction industry. The winners were chosen by a panel of fully independent industry expert judges, who described Kingswood Estate FRBs as “a truly excellent project – a stunning, large-scale transformation with a high level of consistency, good finish and a mix of materials that blend so well.”

Elkins’ Senior Contracts Manager, Michael Bailey, Site Manager on the project, Steve Ward, and Liam Markey from Cignia, attended the awards ceremony as guests of our subcontractor PJ Mear, who installed external wall insulation on eight of Kingswood Estate’s flat roof blocks.

“PJ Mear have completed the installation [of the EWI] to a very high standard of workmanship, overcoming challenging design aspects during the course of the works,” said Mike Balfour, Project Manager at Southwark Council. “The installation of the EWI formed one element of the works undertaken to alleviate the historic condensation damp and mould issues within the blocks. The result of the completed works now improves the residents’ living conditions as well as their health and wellbeing.”

“It’s fantastic to see PJ Mear’s work on our Kingswood Estate project recognised with this award,” says Michael. “They have done a great job, working in close collaboration with the Elkins team to overcome several challenges through innovative solutions.”

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Improved health and wellbeing

One of the most important reasons to retrofit residential properties is to improve the living conditions for residents. Works undertaken to increase the energy efficiency of homes, such as draught proofing, installing insulation and triple glazing, result in better indoor air quality and reduced exposure to cold and damp. This provides health benefits to residents, prevents problems like mould, and generally makes their homes more comfortable to live in.

Reduced environmental impact

While modern building regulations set out the energy efficiency requirements new homes must meet, there is still a huge amount of older housing stock built before such standards existed. Demolishing and rebuilding existing homes would have a significant cost and environmental impact, therefore retrofitting older properties is a more efficient and sustainable way to bring the UK’s housing stock in line with modern standards.

Updated modern technology

As well as updates to building regulations, there have also been significant advancements in knowledge and technologies since many properties were first constructed. These include new and improved insulation methods and materials, plus more energy-efficient heating systems using renewable energy sources, such as heat pumps and solar panels. Utilising these can update older homes to make them as efficient and comfortable as more modern properties.

Lower energy costs

Retrofitting older homes ultimately saves residents money on the day-to-day running costs of their property over the long-term. Improved energy efficiency means less energy is required to heat their homes, plus any energy coming from renewable sources is completely free. This is a major benefit during the cost-of-living crisis, when energy prices are high and many people are looking at ways to cut down on their usage.

Higher property values

The UK energy crisis has made the energy efficiency of buildings a key consideration when it comes to buying and selling properties. Retrofitting older properties can significantly

increase their worth. This is partly due to the increased demand for more sustainable buildings, as well as the improvements to the buildings themselves, which offer better living conditions for residents and lower running costs.

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