Skip to main content

Case Study

From Pebbledash to Modern Grey Finish

A classic inter-war semi in Nuneaton updated from failing pebbledash to a sharp grey insulated render that modernises the house and improves thermal performance.

1930s semi-detached · Nuneaton · Contemporary grey render

Project overview

A classic Nuneaton 1930s semi updated from crumbling pebbledash to a contemporary grey external wall insulation finish.

Who this project helps

This project is most useful for homeowners in Nuneaton or similar Midlands areas who are comparing external wall insulation for 1930s semi-detached and want real proof of how the recommendation translates into a finished result.

Best fit for

1930s semi-detached

Local relevance

Nuneaton

Main service theme

external wall insulation

Case Study

Snapshot

  • Property Type
    Property Type
    Airey House (Prefabricated Reinforced Concrete)
  • Era Built
    Era Built
    1945–1955 (post-war rebuilding programme)
  • Construction
    Construction
    Precast concrete panels on reinforced concrete columns
  • Legal Status
    Legal Status
    Designated “Defective” under the Housing Defects Act 1984
  • Core Problem
    Core Problem
    No cavity, poor thermal performance, weathering panels, difficult to mortgage
  • Our Solution
    Our Solution
    External Wall Insulation with protective render finish
  • Typical EWI Thickness
    Typical EWI Thickness
    90mm to 150mm
  • Typical Heat Loss Reduction
    Typical Heat Loss Reduction
    Up to 40–50%
  • Typical Annual Bill Saving
    Typical Annual Bill Saving
    £200–£400+ per year

Airey Houses

The Challenge

Aliquet nec orci mattis amet quisque ullamcorper neque, nibh sem. At arcu, sit dui mi, nibh dui, diam eget aliquam. Quisque id at vitae feugiat egestas.

Our mission

Faucibus commodo massa rhoncus, volutpat. Dignissim sed eget risus enim. Mattis mauris semper sed amet vitae sed turpis id. Id dolor praesent donec est. Odio penatibus risus viverra tellus varius sit neque erat velit. Faucibus commodo massa rhoncus, volutpat. Dignissim sed eget risus enim. Mattis mauris semper sed amet vitae sed turpis id.

Et vitae blandit facilisi magna lacus commodo. Vitae sapien duis odio id et. Id blandit molestie auctor fermentum dignissim. Lacus diam tincidunt ac cursus in vel. Mauris varius vulputate et ultrices hac adipiscing egestas. Iaculis convallis ac tempor et ut. Ac lorem vel integer orci.

The numbers

Raised
$150M
Companies
30K
Deals Closed
1.5M
Leads Generated
200M

External wall insulation

Our solution

  • Thermal efficiency & energy bills
    Thermal efficiency & energy bills
    A typical 90–150mm EWI system reduces heat loss by up to 40–50%, transforming an inefficient Airey house into a warm, economical home. EPC ratings typically jump multiple bands, and annual energy bill savings of £200–£400+ are common, depending on usage.
  • Comfort & health
    Comfort & health
    Improving comfort and health by enhancing indoor air quality and thermal comfort.
  • Structural protection
    Structural protection
    Protecting the structure of the building by preventing moisture ingress and thermal bridging.
  • Mortgageability & property value
    Mortgageability & property value
    Mortgageability & property value
  • Aesthetic improvement
    Aesthetic improvement
    Aesthetic improvement
  • Noise reduction
    Noise reduction
    Noise reduction

Installation Process

Our four-stage process

Our standard Airey house EWI installation follows a proven four-stage process, usually completed within 2–3 weeks per property:

Stage 1

Reinforcement & Base Coat

A reinforcement mesh is embedded in a base coat of adhesive, creating a crack-resistant substrate that can handle the natural movement of the building.

Stage 2

Boarding

Insulation boards (typically 90–150mm EPS or mineral wool depending on specification) are mechanically fixed to the concrete panels, creating a continuous thermal envelope around the property.

Stage 3

Reinforcement & Base Coat

A reinforcement mesh is embedded in a base coat of adhesive, creating a crack-resistant substrate that can handle the natural movement of the building.

Stage 4

Decorative Finish

The chosen finish — silicone render, pebbledash, coloured render, or brick-effect cladding — is applied to complete the transformation. Homeowners can choose colours and textures that suit their preferences and local area character.

The Results

A combination of benefits

External wall insulation

The ultimate solution for Airey houses

If you own an Airey house, you're dealing with a property type that was flagged as defective forty years ago and has been depreciating quietly ever since. External Wall Insulation is one of the few interventions that addresses every core problem at once — thermal performance, damp, structural protection, appearance, noise, and crucially, the financial value and saleability of the property. At Rockwarm, we've been installing EWI on difficult property types since 1985, and Airey houses remain one of the clearest examples of how the right specification can transform a “defective” home into a warm, valuable, and desirable one.

Useful next steps from this project

Use these routes to move from a single project story into the most useful next comparison. The first group keeps you close to the right service, local coverage, and wider proof. The second group helps you keep researching before you decide whether to book a survey.

Service, place, and proof

Check coverage in Nuneaton

Use the matching local landing page to judge whether Rockwarm regularly works on homes like yours nearby.

Back to case studiesBrowse the blogBook free survey