Case Study – External Wall Insulation at Rural Farmhouse, Near Newmarket, Suffolk
We’re pleased to share our latest completed project: a full External Wall Insulation (EWI) and silicone render system installed at a beautiful rural property near Newmarket in Suffolk. It’s a project we’re particularly proud of — combining serious energy efficiency gains with a crisp, clean finish that sits perfectly in its countryside setting.
The Project
Our brief was to install a complete external wall insulation system across the property, improving the walls with high-performance insulation before finishing silicone render. The property features exposed brick chimneys, a slate roof and solar panels — so the finished system needed to enhance the home’s character while transforming its thermal performance.
Once complete, the property benefits from warmer walls, lower heating bills and a fresh, weatherproof exterior — all in one installation. We chose the Johnstone’s Stormshield EWI system for this property using a careful specificaiton meeting the improvement needs in both thermal performance and giving a fantastic finished appearance.
Our team worked expertly around the brick chimneys present at the property to give a great looking and weatherproofed finish. The roofline was also extended to fully encompass and protect the insulation layer.
The Process
We began by fixing graphite-enhanced EPS insulation boards across the external walls, mechanically fastened with insulation anchors to ensure a secure, long-lasting bond. Every window, door and finished surface was carefully masked and protected, and all boards were tightly jointed and trimmed neatly around openings, verges and the brick chimney details.
With the insulation in place, our teams applied a reinforced basecoat, embedding alkali-resistant mesh across the full facade with additional beading at corners and reveals for clean lines and long-term crack resistance. Once cured, the walls were primed and finished with Johnstone’s Stormshield silicone render — a premium, breathable, through-coloured topcoat from one of our trusted supplier partners.
The transformation speaks for itself. The bright, uniform render contrasts beautifully with the slate roof and exposed brick chimneys, giving this Suffolk farmhouse a finish that looks fantastic today and will keep performing for decades.
The Benefits of External Wall Insulation
EWI is one of the most effective home improvements available, particularly for rural and solid-wall properties that are expensive to heat:
- Lower energy bills – insulating your walls dramatically reduces heat loss, cutting heating costs year after year.
- A warmer, more comfortable home – walls stay warmer, cold spots disappear and internal temperatures become far more stable.
- Reduced condensation and damp risk – warmer internal wall surfaces help prevent condensation and the problems that come with it.
- No lost floor space – all the work happens outside, so rooms stay exactly the same size and disruption is kept to a minimum.
- A complete facelift – the silicone render finish is weather-resistant, bright and gives a great visual refresh.
- Added property value – improved energy performance and kerb appeal are increasingly important to buyers.
If you’d like to learn more, take a look at our External Wall Insulation service page or get in touch to talk through whether EWI is right for your property.
EWI & Rendering Across Newmarket, Suffolk & East Anglia
From our Cambridge base, our teams regularly carry out External Wall Insulation and silicone rendering projects throughout Newmarket, Bury St Edmunds, Haverhill, Ipswich and across Suffolk, as well as Cambridgeshire, Norfolk, Essex and the wider East of England. Whether it’s a rural farmhouse like this one, a village property or a new build development, we bring the same care, quality and attention to detail to every job.
As a PAS2030 and TrustMark certified installer, all of our work is carried out to strict industry standards by trained, qualified operatives — and because we only use quality systems from trusted suppliers, our installations come complete with manufacturer guarantees for real peace of mind.
