Perlite Insulating Plaster: Keep Hot West Walls Cooler
In most Indian buildings, the roof gets all the attention. But on west- and south-facing walls, the afternoon sun heats the masonry for hours, and the wall keeps giving that heat back to the rooms well into the night.
Perlite insulating plaster replaces sand with expanded perlite, so the plaster itself becomes a layer of insulation.
What it is
A plaster made with expanded perlite, cement and an admixture. It is applied like a normal plaster, by hand or by machine, and finished to take paint or putty. It is lighter than sand-cement plaster, at about 550 to 850 kg/m³.
Why it helps
| Sand-cement plaster | Perlite insulating plaster |
Density | About 2,000 kg/m³ | About 550 to 850 kg/m³ |
Insulating value | Very little | Adds insulation to the wall |
Weight on the wall | Heavy | Much lighter |
Fire | Non-combustible | Non-combustible |
Application | Hand plastering | Hand or machine plastering |
Where to use it
West and south walls of homes and offices
Top-floor walls, together with roof insulation
Walls of cold rooms, server rooms and plant rooms, where heat gain costs money
Renovations, where adding a board system is not practical
Roof first, then walls
For a top-floor flat, the roof is the biggest source of heat, so insulate the roof first. Then insulating plaster on the sun-facing walls takes care of the next biggest source. Together they give a much more comfortable top floor.
Frequently asked questions
Can it be painted?
Yes. It is finished to take putty and paint like a normal plaster.
Can it go over an existing plaster?
On a sound, well-bonded existing plaster, after surface preparation. For loose or cracked plaster, it is better to remove it first.
How thick should it be?
It depends on the wall and the insulation you need. Tell us the wall build-up and orientation and we will suggest a thickness.
Ask us about insulating plaster for your project: contact us.
Related reading: Terrace and roof heat insulation in India · What is perlite concrete?
About Perlite India. Perlite India designs and lays perlite lightweight insulating concrete for roofs, floors, sunk fills and podiums, with 3M+ sq.ft laid across India. Supported by the Perlite Construction Division of Keltech Energies Ltd, a member of the Perlite Institute (USA).
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