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Insulation - External wall (EWI) – cost per m² – UK 2026 Rate Guide

Budget rate for supply & lay · typical budget rate before your adjustments

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Insulation - External wall (EWI)
per m² · supply & lay
£160 – £402 / m²
What is it

External wall insulation is a proprietary system of insulation boards, fixings, reinforcement and protective render or cladding applied to external wall faces.

Rate guide
Standard EPS system with silicone render, low-rise£160 – £215/m²
Mineral-wool system with silicone render, low-rise£193 – £259/m²
Phenolic insulation with thin-coat render£204 – £275/m²
Non-combustible mineral-wool system, high-rise£253 – £363/m²
Insulated brick-slip finish£281 – £402/m²
Labour output
Large, clear elevations with repetitive detailing35–55 m²/gang-day
Typical low-rise elevations with regular openings22–35 m²/gang-day
Broken façades with numerous reveals and projections12–22 m²/gang-day
Restricted access or highly congested detailing6–14 m²/gang-day
Key rate adjusters
Substrate preparation
Uneven masonry, friable coatings or local repairs can add £15–£45/m² before the insulation system is installed.
Insulation thickness
Increasing board thickness by 50 mm typically raises the overall rate by about 5–12%, depending on material and fixing length.
Openings and interfaces
Dense window layouts, deep reveals and abutment detailing can increase the elevation rate by 15–30%.
Access strategy
Complex scaffolding, mast climbers or restricted loading arrangements can add £20–£60/m² to the façade package.
Fire performance
Cavity barriers, fire-break zones and non-combustible specifications commonly add £10–£30/m², with greater premiums on taller buildings.
Finish selection
Premium textures, coloured silicone finishes or brick slips can increase cost by £20–£140/m² compared with a standard thin-coat render.
Quantity surveyor insights
  • Waste and buildability: Allow 5–8% board waste on regular façades and 10–15% where elevations are heavily cut around openings; coordinated sill extensions, verge details and service relocations materially improve output and reduce remedial work.
  • Scope and procurement: Secure a single-system warranty and define responsibility for surveys, pull-out testing, fire barriers, trims, sealants, enabling works and making good; early specialist engagement reduces interface gaps and late proprietary-system substitutions.

Estimate Anything AI answer · indicative budget rates · updated 31 August 2026

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