Our little house by the sea in Co Mayo was a dream, but the damp was a nightmare. I looked into external insulation first as a solution for the damp which was breaking out on all the internal walls. The walls were concrete, there was condensation streaming down the inside walls in winter, and rain was penetrating all the window cills and surrounding walls. The skirting boards were wet and rotting. We decorated a couple of rooms, but months later, white mould was coming through again and the paint peeling off.
In 2012, I engaged Comfort Solutions Ireland to insulate and damp-proof the house. External insulation has not only completely cured the damp, but has made the house cosy and warm to live in even in winter, and far more economical to heat. We have had great Christmases there the last two years. You can even have a shower in the bathroom and the walls and mirror are dry minutes afterwards! Fergus was extremely helpful in planning the insulation and additional measures, like putting in a damp course and attic insulation. His technical advice was sound, his knowledge of old buildings is exceptional and he knew all the ins and outs of grant applications, sending all the paperwork promptly. While the work was going on, he was always willing to drive over at a moment’s notice and sort out a query. He and his team were cheerful, efficient and professional workers, who got the work done with a minimum of fuss and did not leave mess behind. External insulation makes sense – technically, environmentally, economically. As I say, I first looked into it because of the awful damp we had, but now realise that there are many other benefits. Fergus’s firm was a real pleasure to work with, because they are aware of the conditions in rural Ireland, but also of all the new technologies there are to improve those conditions. Comfort Solutions are doing great work, and I couldn’t recommend them more highly.