Coltman Street, Middlesbrough
Value: £40,940.10 | Turnaround: 72 hours
Provincial Seals was appointed by Thrift Energy Ltd to deliver the full retrofit design for a terraced property in Middlesbrough as part of their ECO4 programme. The home, a traditional stone-built terrace with a rendered façade and decorative detailing, lacked almost all essential insulation. With only the loft insulated, the property suffered from significant heat loss through uninsulated solid walls, an uninsulated room-in-roof and an uninsulated flat-roof extension. Heating was also outdated, with a gas room heater and back boiler providing hot water, and no fixed heating in the bedrooms.
The Retrofit Challenge
The Retrofit Coordinator identified a series of essential improvements required to bring the property up to the necessary energy efficiency standards:
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Cavity wall insulation to the rear extension
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Internal solid wall insulation to the main house and extensions
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Flat roof insulation
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Room-in-roof insulation
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A full central heating system with a modern boiler, thermostatic radiator valves (TRVs) and a programmable room thermostat
Our role at Provincial Seals was to design all fabric-first measures, ensuring that every material specified was compatible with both the building’s construction and the performance requirements of ECO4.
Our Retrofit Design Approach
Designing insulation for older homes requires an intricate understanding of building behaviour. Each material must perform effectively without introducing moisture risks or compromising the building fabric.
For this property:
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Vapour-permeable insulation was specified throughout the main house. This approach suited the building’s traditional stone construction and allowed the structure to breathe.
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The rear cavity extension and flat roof were specified with vapour-closed insulation, the most appropriate solution for these areas.
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We assessed the junction between the cavity wall insulation and the internal wall insulation - typically a risk point - but due to the layout, including a two-storey solid-wall kitchen extension that could be omitted from insulation, this was safely resolved.
The heating system design was completed by a Gas Safe registered engineer, ensuring accurate boiler and radiator sizing. The Retrofit Coordinator then signed off the full design package.
Why Provincial Seals?
As specialist insulation designers and registered system designers across multiple retrofit measures, we bring deep technical understanding to every project. Our longstanding relationships with agreement bodies and guarantee providers give us access to industry-leading insight - helping us select and specify the right system for every property type.
Outcome
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72-hour turnaround: Design completed within SLA
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Coordinator approval: All designs signed off without amendment
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Smooth installation: Installer received clear, buildable designs
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High client satisfaction: Occupant reported no issues post-installation
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£40,940.10 funded through the ECO4 scheme
This project reinforces Provincial Seals’ reputation for fast, accurate and compliant retrofit design - supporting installers, coordinators and residents with solutions that work first time.