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Acara Concepts Ltd

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Acara Concepts Ltd

Acara Concepts distributes natural, ecological and high performing thermal and acoustic insulation products throughout the UK and Ireland.

Acara Concepts distributes sustainable, ecological and natural insulation products throughout the UK and Ireland. We supply Hofatex wood fibre thermal insulation boards suitable for walls insulation, floor insulation and roof insulation and it is vapour-open to reduce condensation and mould growth. Wood fibre provides excellent insulation as well as being the best thermal insulation for reducing n

oise in properties as well as for providing protection against summer time overheating due to its high density. These eco-friendly products are made almost entirely from trees so are very good for the environment as well as for our health. PhoneStar soundproofing acoustic insulation boards very effectively reduce both airborne (e.g. talking, music) noise and impact (e.g. footstep) noise through walls, floors and ceilings. This very slim product, at only 15mm thickness, is ideal for soundproofing walls, soundproofing floors and soundproofing ceilings from noisy neighbours, as well as for soundproofing within one's own home or workplace. PhoneStar will easily meet Building Regulation for Sound requirements in both new build and change of use properties. Acara Concepts also supply Lignotrend room acoustics timber panels which significantly reduce both echo and reverberation within a room. These contemporary panels are made from solid timber and wood fibre and are very aesthetically pleasing. Please do not hesitate to contact us for friendly no-obligation advice on: UK +44 (0)20 7998 1690 or IRE: +353 (0)1 8409 286. Our email is: info@acaraconcepts.com

27/04/2026

High Performance Meets Sustainability: Wood Fibre EWI

As the construction industry continues to focus on sustainability, energy efficiency, and healthier building envelopes, wood fibre external wall insulation systems with render finishes are becoming an increasingly attractive solution.

This system offers a strong combination of thermal performance, breathability, and environmental responsibility.

Why it stands out:

• Excellent thermal insulation, helping reduce heat loss and improve energy efficiency

• Vapour-open and breathable, supporting moisture management within the wall build-up

• Made from renewable natural materials, contributing to lower embodied carbon

• Provides acoustic benefits as well as thermal comfort

• Finished with a durable render system for both protection and aesthetics

Naturheld Wood fibre insulation is particularly well-suited to retrofit and conservation projects, where maintaining the building’s ability to “breathe” is critical.

As we move toward more low-carbon construction methods, systems like this are playing an important role in delivering both performance and sustainability.

Would be great to hear how others are using wood fibre systems in their projects and what experiences you’ve had with long-term performance and detailing.

naturheld Baumit UK Ampack Acara Concepts Ltd

24/04/2026

Stop Sealing Solid Walls — Start Working With Them!

Retrofitting solid wall buildings doesn’t have to mean compromising on performance, breathability, or sustainability.

At Acara Concepts, we’re proud to deliver high-performance insulation solutions using our Naturheld wood fibre IWI (Internal Wall Insulation) system, designed specifically for solid wall construction.

Why wood fibre?

• 🌿 Natural, renewable material with low embodied carbon

• 💧 Vapour-permeable — supports healthy, breathable buildings

• 🌡️ Excellent thermal performance for improved comfort

• 🔇 Added acoustic benefits

• 🏡 Ideal for traditional and heritage properties

Our IWI system works with the building fabric, not against it, and helps to manage moisture while significantly improving energy efficiency.

As we move toward more sustainable retrofit solutions, materials matter. Choosing the right system can make all the difference for both building performance and occupant wellbeing.

If you're exploring retrofit options for solid wall properties, we’d be happy to discuss how wood fibre insulation could be the right fit

naturheld Baumit UK

21/04/2026

The natural fit for suspended timber floors

Most suspended timber floors aren’t failing because of poor insulation, they’re failing because of moisture.

In older homes, especially with raised ventilated floors, the real challenge isn’t just keeping heat in… it’s allowing the structure to breathe and dry.

We still see too many floors insulated with materials that:

• Trap moisture

• Rely on perfect installation (which rarely happens on site)

• Increase long-term risk of rot in joists and floorboards

There’s a better way.

Wood fibre insulation works with the building:

✔ Vapour open — allows moisture to move and dissipate

✔ Hygroscopic — buffers and releases moisture safely

✔ Flexible — fits tightly between irregular joists

✔ Improves comfort, acoustics, and real-world thermal performance

This isn’t just about U-values, it’s about building durability and long-term performance.

If you’re working on retrofit projects with suspended timber floors, it’s worth asking:

👉 Are you insulating… or are you creating a future moisture problem?

20/04/2026

WHY EDGE PROFILES MATTER: THE CASE FOR TONGUE & GROOVE IN EWI

When designing and constructing External Wall Insulation (EWI) systems, how do you ensure long-term weather resistance and installation efficiency?

The answer often lies in the details, specifically the edge profile of your wood fibre insulation boards.

Naturheld Tongue and groove (T&G) wood fibre boards are engineered to provide superior protection against the elements. Their interlocking mechanism effectively sheds water, acting as a reliable secondary weather-resistant barrier and safeguarding the building's structure from moisture ingress.

Beyond protection, T&G boards also streamline the installation process. Their ability to finish between studs, rather than requiring every joint to land on framing, offers greater flexibility and can reduce material waste and labour time. This leads to a more stable and uniform substrate, essential for a flawless render finish.

Consider the comprehensive benefits of T&G wood fibre boards for your next EWI project.

naturheld Acara Concepts Ltd Baumit UK Ampack

17/04/2026

Optimising Timber Frame Performance with Wood Fibre Insulation Systems

As timber frame continues to establish itself as a leading method for low-carbon construction, the choice of insulation material becomes critical to achieving both performance and durability.

Wood fibre insulation offers a robust, vapour-open solution that aligns perfectly with the principles of healthy, high-performance building envelopes.

Here’s how it integrates effectively into timber frame construction:

🔹 External Wall Insulation (EWI)

Rigid wood fibre boards fixed externally provide a continuous thermal layer, reducing bridging through studs and enhancing airtightness. When rendered or clad, they also improve hygrothermal stability, protecting the timber structure.

🔹 Between Studs

Flexible wood fibre batts fit tightly between framing members, offering excellent thermal and acoustic insulation. Their vapour permeability supports safe moisture migration, preventing interstitial condensation when paired with a diffusion-open wall build-up.

🔹 Internal Lining / Service Zone

Internal boards can be used as part of a service layer or dry-lining strategy, adding further thermal resistance and improving humidity buffering, key for occupant comfort and material longevity.

🔹 Roof Applications

Wood fibre performs exceptionally in roof systems, whether above rafters (warm roof) or between them. Its high specific heat capacity provides significant summer overheating protection, an increasingly important consideration under current climate design scenarios.

🔹 Floors and Partitions

Between-joist applications provide both impact and airborne sound reduction while maintaining breathability within the floor structure.

In summary, wood fibre insulation contributes to;
Improved thermal continuity and airtightness
Moisture-safe and vapour-open wall assemblies
Enhanced acoustic comfort
Increased thermal mass for temperature regulation
A renewable, carbon-sequestering structure

As building standards evolve toward fabric-first, net-zero, and circular economy principles, wood fibre systems offer a technically credible path to durable, low-carbon envelopes for timber frame construction.

naturheld Acara Concepts Ltd

16/04/2026

Thermal Bridging Risks in Mixed IWI and EWI Retrofit Strategies

Working on historic building retrofits often means balancing energy performance with conservation requirements.

A question that comes up regularly is:

Can you insulate some external solid walls internally and others externally on the same building?

The answer is yes, and in many protected or heritage properties, it is often the most practical solution.

For example, where the front façade is protected, and its appearance cannot be altered, internal wall insulation (IWI) may be used to preserve the street-facing elevation, while external wall insulation (EWI) can be applied to side and rear walls.

This mixed approach can significantly improve thermal performance, but the real challenge lies in the junction detailing.

Key areas where thermal bridging needs careful consideration include:

• the junction where internal and external insulation systems meet at corners

• window and door reveals

• floor-to-wall junctions

• roof/eaves connections

• internal partition walls meeting external walls

• timber joist ends in solid masonry walls

In historic properties, thermal bridging is not only an energy issue, it is often a moisture and durability issue, with risks such as condensation, mould, and timber decay if details are poorly resolved.

For me, the most critical point is always the transition corner where the insulation line changes from outside to inside.

Done well, this approach allows us to respect heritage protections while still delivering meaningful retrofit improvements.

I’d be interested to hear how others have approached mixed IWI / EWI strategies on protected façades and older solid-wall buildings?

14/04/2026

Soundproofing Walls With PhoneStar

proofing

11/04/2026

Flexible batts vs rigid boards: the movement factor

We often focus on the headline thermal values of insulation materials, but real-world performance is just as much about how the material behaves over time.

Timber rafters and floor joists naturally expand and contract with seasonal changes in temperature and moisture. That movement may be small, but over time it can create gaps around rigid insulation boards that were originally cut to fit tightly.

Those small gaps can have a disproportionate impact on thermal continuity and airtightness.

This is where flexible or semi-rigid insulation batts can offer a real practical advantage.

Because they friction-fit between the timbers and retain a degree of resilience, they can move with the structure as it expands and retracts through the year, helping to maintain consistent contact and reduce thermal bridging.

Some rigid boards still have a clear advantage where maximum thermal performance per millimetre is required, but in timber structures, the installed long-term performance should be part of the conversation, not just the theoretical U-value.

Sometimes the better solution is the one that best accommodates the building’s natural movement.

Interested to hear how others in construction, retrofit, and design teams are approaching this in practice.

Acara Concepts Ltd Ampack naturheld

10/04/2026

Why is a lime levelling coat so important before installing wood fibre insulation on solid walls?

This is a detail that is often overlooked, but it is absolutely critical to the long-term performance of the wall build-up.

A lime levelling coat helps to:

• Create a flat and continuous surface for the insulation boards
• Eliminate voids and air pockets behind the boards
• Reduce the risk of interstitial condensation and mould growth
• Improve airtightness by sealing cracks and open joints
• Maintain breathability, allowing moisture to move safely through the wall

In older solid-wall buildings, especially traditional masonry and stone structures, the wall system needs to remain vapour open and capillary active.

This is where lime and wood fibre work exceptionally well together.

Without a proper levelling coat, gaps behind the insulation can become cold zones where moisture condenses, leading to damp, reduced thermal performance, and potential fabric damage.

Good insulation is not just about the board thickness — it is about getting the wall physics right.

Breathable materials, proper preparation, and attention to detail make all the difference.

09/04/2026

“Rafters Matter: The Overlooked Factor in Roof Performance”

One of the most commonly overlooked elements in roof U-value calculations is thermal bridging through the rafters.

It’s easy to focus purely on the insulation thickness and declared lambda values, but the timber structure itself can have a noticeable impact on the final performance.

As a practical rule of thumb, timber rafters typically account for 10–15% of the roof area, depending on their width and spacing.

That means the actual U-value can be 10–20% worse than the “insulation-only” calculation if repeating thermal bridges are not properly considered.

At early design stage, a sensible allowance is:

• 10% for trussed roofs
• 12.5–15% for traditional cut roofs

This is exactly why continuous insulation over or beneath the rafters can make such a difference; it helps reduce the thermal bridging and improves both compliance and real-world thermal performance.

Small detail. Big impact on heat loss, compliance, and building performance.

naturheld Ampack Acara Concepts Ltd

08/04/2026

“Stop Trapping Moisture: Preparing Walls for Wood Fibre Insulation”

Wood fibre insulation is a fantastic solution for energy-efficient, sustainable buildings, but its effectiveness depends on the wall assembly being fully vapour-permeable. That means removing not just the interior cementitious plaster, but also exterior cementitious renders, before installation.

❗ Why both sides matter:

1, Vapour Permeability: Wood fibre works by allowing moisture to pass through the wall. Cementitious plasters inside or outside trap moisture, risking mold, rot, and damage to both wall and insulation.

2, Hygroscopic Balance: Wood fibre naturally regulates indoor humidity. Cement-based layers disrupt this balance, leading to damp walls and reduced comfort.

3, Durability and Longevity: Moisture trapped behind non-breathable layers accelerates structural decay. A fully breathable system protects the building over the long term.

4, Proper Integration: Removing incompatible layers allows wood fibre insulation to adhere correctly and be finished with compatible breathable plasters or renders, ensuring long-term performance.

Key takeaway:

Wood fibre insulation only performs as intended when the wall can breathe. Preparing the wall by removing cementitious layers inside and outside ensures optimal thermal performance, moisture management, and building longevity.

Building sustainably isn’t just about the materials; it’s about how they work together.

Acara Concepts Ltd

07/04/2026

The Ventilation Detail You Can’t Ignore

The ventilation cavity behind timber cladding is not optional when using wood fibre external insulation; it is essential.

Timber cladding should be treated as a rainscreen, not a waterproof barrier. Wind-driven rain will inevitably find its way behind the boards through joints, laps, and fixings.

That’s why a drained and ventilated cavity is required between the cladding and the wood fibre insulation.

Its job is to:

• allow any rainwater to drain safely

• create airflow for drying and moisture release

• protect the wood fibre insulation from prolonged dampness

• improve the service life of the timber cladding itself

Wood fibre is an excellent vapour-open insulation material, but like all hygroscopic materials, it must be given the ability to dry outward.

A simple 40 mm cavity can make the difference between a robust breathable wall and a moisture risk.

Good façade design is often about the details we don’t see 😊

Address

Killossery
Dublin

Opening Hours

Monday	9am - 5:30pm
Tuesday	9am - 5:30pm
Wednesday	9am - 5:30pm
Thursday	9am - 5:30pm
Friday	9am - 5:30pm

Telephone

+35318409286

Website

http://www.acaraconcepts.com/

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Thermal & Acoustic Insulation

Acara Concepts distributes sustainable, ecological and natural insulation products throughout the UK and Ireland. We supply Pavatex wood fibre thermal insulation boards suitable for walls insulation, floor insulation and roof insulation and it is vapour-open to reduce condensation and mould growth. Wood fibre provides excellent insulation as well as being the best thermal insulation for reducing noise in properties as well as for providing protection against summer time overheating due to its high density. These eco-friendly products are made almost entirely from trees so are very good for the environment as well as for our health. PhoneStar soundproofing acoustic insulation boards very effectively reduce both airborne (e.g. talking, music) noise and impact (e.g. footstep) noise through walls, floors and ceilings. This very slim product, at only 15mm thickness, is ideal for soundproofing walls, soundproofing floors and soundproofing ceilings from noisy neighbours, as well as for soundproofing within one's own home or workplace. PhoneStar will easily meet Building Regulation for Sound requirements in both new build and change of use properties. Acara Concepts also supply Lignotrend room acoustics timber panels which significantly reduce both echo and reverberation within a room. These contemporary panels are made from solid timber and wood fibre and are very aesthetically pleasing. Please do not hesitate to contact us for friendly no-obligation advice on: UK +44 (0)20 7998 1690 or IRE: +353 (0)1 8409 286. Our email is: info@acaraconcepts.com