Is that right that you can paint it in 4 to 24 hours? Is this a specialist paint or a normal emulsion? I like the sound of it and may have a job that is ideal, let's say you stripped a normal three bedder back to brick, say an Edwardian type terrace. Once BC are involved they will want it to come upto the new U values so going back to the Same can't be done, unless you upgrade something else around the house to increase it that way (all depends on the building inspector and where you live). So if I used your products It should increase the U value compared to the last backing. Would it be enough to reach the U value requires on its own? I know there's loads of veriables but we can start here
cheers
Hello and thanks for the questions!
No, you cannot paint in 4 or even 24 hours over Bauwer Finish. At least 4 days are required before painting, subject to temperature and humidity. You could still apply Bauwer Light one day and over coat with Bauwer Finish the next day, subject environment conditions, which impacts curing timing.
Would it be enough to reach the U value requires on its own?
It is a simple question, but the answer is really it is depends, as you rightly said loads of variables there...
If you got a wall with a cavity, you can hit U values with a reasonable Bauwer application thickness on its own, improving thermal, acoustic and comfort properties of a building. For a solid wall I’d suggest using Bauwer Light, in order to level and insulate the walls, before applying mineral wool, for example Rocksilk EWI Slab (external application, lower thickness due to Bauwer insulting, leveling layer). This is more expensive, but a breathable solution to achieve U values without introducing an “airplane cabin” scenario, when your walls become sealed with a cheap phenolic or other none vapour permeable low cost boards, introducing dump issues, ventilation issues, etc. It is also possible to achieve U values with Bauwer on its own, with a solid wall scenario as well, but application thickness would be higher, up to 20cm which could be split between external and internal application, let's say 15cm and 5cm.
You can also have a case for relaxation of U-values requirements with your building inspector if:
1) the payback term is longer than 15 years (eg. cost of expensive solution to achieve U value is 15 times higher vs. annual energy saving from that solution)
2) the usable floor space is reduced by 5% or more (due to internal insulation taking space)
3) the work is not otherwise technically or functionally feasible (exterior façade requirement for example).
Many houses we see around us were designed and built before energy rocketing prices. As a consequence, those buildings use more energy than their modern equivalents and it is expensive to upgrade them to new U value standards. Bauwer insulation is a quality solution to make your property warm and healthier to live in, without spending a fortune.
Also few comments on triggers, which might require an improvement of U values to the new standards:
1. cladding or rendering the external walls
2. dry-lining the internal walls
3. stripping old render down to expose the brisk wall
The requirements are triggered when the area to be refurbished and renovated is greater than 50% of the surface area, or 25% of the total building envelope area. As I mentioned earlier, you could argue for a relaxation of those requirements with a building inspector, if solution to achieve those requirements is very expensive or non-breathable, vapour permeable or takes too much internal space, etc.
