Stomix EWI system improves energy efficiency

Residents in 68 homes in Rugby will benefit from more energy efficiency thanks to the installation of the Stomix external wall insulation system.

The project follows a £1 million grant from the Government’s Social Housing Decarbonisation Fund (SHDF), which has been match funded by Rugby Borough Council. The local authority joined forces with E.ON to make the improvements to homes in Long Lawford and Rokeby, where fuel poverty rates are above the national average. The properties were built in the 1950s and have low energy performance due to solid wall construction. 

To enhance the homes’ energy efficiency and make them cheaper to heat, the StxTherm Robust system was specified. Part of the Stomix range, StxTherm Robust is an EPS-based external wall insulation system designed for social housing refurbishment. Ideal for low-to-medium rise housing, it prevents heat loss and eliminates thermal bridges. By insulating the outer leaf of each property, the entire structure becomes warm and dry, reducing the risk of condensation and associated mould growth.   

Installed by Green Homes Solutions, the system was finished with a through-coloured Stomix silicone render in cream. Replacing the existing pebbledash, the new render has enhanced the exterior of each home, and is designed to be weatherproof and vapour permeable, allowing the walls to breathe and overcoming the problems associated with conventional renders such as interstitial condensation, which can lead to mould growth and freeze thaw cracking. Unlike traditional sand/cement renders which require frequent over painting to maintain their appearance, a through-coloured Stomix render does not require over painting to maintain its weatherproof or aesthetic qualities.  

The improvements follow a similar project in Wilmslow Cheshire, which saw Sto’s external wall insulation system selected to upgrade terraced homes.  

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