Silicone render is a popular render material. It boasts lots of great qualities that have gained it this position, but does it help to insulate the home? Is silicone render a suitable form of external wall insulation?
For everything you need to know about silicone rendering and how it impacts energy efficiency and your home's warmth, read on.
Insulation uses material to create a barrier between the interior and exterior of a building. These are referred to as insulation materials and they work to reduce heat transfer or heat loss in and across a building. By doing so, they help to maintain a consistent indoor temperature.
Naturally, heat flows from warmer areas to cooler areas. This means that, without intervention, in winter months, heat loss is inevitable. But with the right insulation materials, we can slow down and try to halt this process.
There are a number of natural materials and synthetic materials that have been used as insulation materials in the past, including:
All of these have their own pros and cons, from their cost to the ease of installation. They also have a thermal conductivity value (R-value) which is often considered alongside these properties. The thermal conductivity value measures how easily heat can travel through the material. A higher thermal conductivity rating means that an item will make a better insulation material, whereas a lower figure suggests poor thermal insulation.
There is not a precise answer to this question. Silicone render is better at thermal insulation than other renders, however the exact extent of this is uncertain. Some studies have valued the thermal conductivity value of silicone render at a meagre 0.19 W/mK, but other studies suggest it may be as high as 1.0 W/mK or above. It is hard to determine a solid answer as there are so many other factors that influence energy efficiency and thermal insulation in a home.
That being said, it is clear that silicone render does offer some insulation, especially when applied in thicker coats. Simply by adding further layers to the outside of the home, silicone render provides a certain level of insulation. In addition to providing these extra layers, though, silicone render can also help to improve the energy efficiency of a home through its water repellent nature.
The formula of silicone render allows it to naturally repel water. It is what is known as a 'hydrophobic' material, so rather than absorb water like other materials it simply lets the droplets roll off of it. It is also an incredibly breathable material, again, owing to the silicone resin within it. This means that as well as not absorbing water, it allows any trapped water vapour in the wall a chance to escape, keeping the substrate dry. This is incredibly beneficial for the structure of the home, but it also helps to prevent heat loss. Wet walls lose heat much quicker than dry walls, meaning homes with a waterproof render system like silicone render will benefit from reduced energy consumption and energy bills.
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It is hard to tell whether silicone render is a better alternative to more traditional insulation material due to the different reported R-values and the other contributing factors that people use to decide upon a material. For example, fibreglass is a cost-effective option but it does have a lower R-value on average than silicone render. Alternatively, the foam has a higher R-value, but it is much more expensive and it can be very difficult and labour-intensive to install.
It is worth noting, though, that studies into the insulation properties of silicone render have shown that in the right circumstances, practical use of silicone render in industrial and commercial buildings can reduce energy use by as high as 60%. In residential properties, this figure is a little lower at 30%, but it is still better than bone.
Exactly how much energy you save with silicone render will depend on other strategies in place in your property.
When you're looking at render as a form of insulation, there are a few things to consider. First and foremost, it is important to remember that your silicone renders are not the only thing that you can tweak to insulate your home better. There are a myriad of ways to make your home more energy efficient and thus reduce energy costs.
One of the easiest ways to ensure your home retains heat is by sealing around your windows and doors. If you're just looking to lower your carbon footprint and make your home more energy efficient, then you might also find that energy efficient lighting may help. These will also help to reduce energy bills, as might renewable energy sources such as solar panels.
If you're really interested in improving energy efficiency you can also do so by implementing silicone render as well as these other things or investing in bigger projects such as loft insulation or cavity wall insulation, both of which will help to reduce your energy consumption.
If you do all of this and apply silicone render to your home you are likely to notice a significant change in your home's energy efficiency and your energy bills. Your render system should not be the critical component of your energy saving measures, as silicone rendering is designed to be more for aesthetic appeal than the insulation of a home. It is just a bonus that as well as having a visual appeal, it also boasts some unique properties like insulation. It is one of the many benefits of silicone render!
There are a number of pros for using silicone renders to help insulate your home. For example:
Silicone render's formula makes it crack-resistant as well as water repellent, meaning that it lasts longer than a lot of other render materials. This makes it a good choice for insulating your home as you will have a long-term insulator installed.
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Silicone render is less likely than other renders to develop stains and discolouration. This is because of the render's water repellent nature. It is almost self-cleaning, so when it comes to maintaining the render, the process is relatively simple and easy!
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The durability of silicone render makes it suitable for UK homes that are constantly subjected to changes in weather and dramatic weather conditions.
Silicone render is considered one of the easiest rendering materials to apply. If you hire a team like WeDoRender, the job will take just a few hours, and it also means that any cracks or damage down the line are easy to fix!
Silicone renders are through coloured so they can be personalised to fit your style and your home. If you have a specific texture, colour, or finish this can be worked toward!
Silicone renders can be applied to most materials. It can even be applied to old renders as long as it is in a good enough condition, so you can insulate your home with silicone renders regardless of the material your home is made of!
There are a few downsides to using silicone rendering as a form of insulation. For example:
Silicone rendering is one of the more expensive rendering materials. In comparison to more traditional render mixtures like cement, it is a costly project.
As discussed above, it may help towards insulating your home but it is not designed for that purpose. There are other options that are designed for this purpose.
If you have damaged render on your home already, you might find that it needs to be completely removed before you can have silicone rendering installed.
Polymer renders such as acrylic render and silicone render are thought to be the best rendering methods for insulation. They provide higher levels of insulation than more traditional mixtures such as cement or concrete.
If you're looking at using silicone render as an insulation material you may be wondering how long it will help to keep your carbon footprint down. Silicone render, with the proper maintenance, can last as long as 25 to 30 years on your external walls!
Anyone looking at installing silicone rendering for its insulation properties may also be interested in doing the following to help improve energy efficiency: