Skip to content
Advertisement
Log in 
  • Do you need permission?
  • Planning
  • Building control
  • Services and information
  • England
  1. Welcome to Planning Portal
  2. Do you need permission?
  3. Common projects
  4. External walls
  5. Building Regulations: Decoration and renovation

External walls

Building Regulations: Decoration and renovation
  1. Planning Permission
  2. Is building regulations approval needed for work to external walls?
  3. Building Regulations: Decoration and renovation
  4. Building Regulations: Fire Protection
  5. Building Regulations: Thermal resistance and changes to 'thermal elements'
  6. Building Regulations: Weather Resistance
  7. Building Regulations: Weight (Loading)
  8. Case Study
  9. Getting your job done safely
Advertisement

Building Regulations: Decoration and renovation

Re-decorating the surface of an existing wall would not normally require approval. 


Renovation

External walls are considered to be thermal elements (defined in the Building Regulations 2010 (as amended)1.

It is likely that a renovation of a thermal element will trigger a requirement to upgrade the thermal insulation of that element at the same time.



Find a Trade Professional

Use our partner directories to find a planning or building professional to help with your project or development.

Find a professional (https://www.planningportal.co.uk/planning/planning-applications/find-a-trade-professional)

Find a professional


Useful links

Make an application (https://www.planningportal.co.uk/app/applications)

Make an application

Speak to an expert (https://www.planningportal.co.uk/permission/planning-guidance-service)

Speak to an expert

Studio Charrette consultancy calculator (https://www.planningportal.co.uk/permission/home-improvement/planning-consultancy-calculator)

Studio Charrette consultancy calculator

Sell your site with Land Match (https://www.planningportal.co.uk/permission/commercial-developments/sell-your-site)

Sell your site with Land Match
    1. https://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/2010/2214

    Disclaimer

    This is an introductory guide and is not a definitive source of legal information. Guidance is based on national rules, but additional local rules may also affect what permissions are needed. You should check if this is the case before applying or starting work.
    Guidance here relates to the planning regime for England, the policy in Wales may differ. If in doubt contact your local planning authority. Please note, local authorities may charge a fee for pre-application advice.
    Read our full disclaimer1.

    1. https://www.planningportal.co.uk/services/terms-and-disclaimer/terms-and-conditions

    • About the Planning Portal
    • Services and information
    • Help
    • Accessibility statement
    • Cookie notice
    • Website Terms and Conditions

      The Planning Portal is delivered by PortalPlanQuest Limited which is a joint venture between TerraQuest Solutions Limited and the Ministry of Housing, Communities & Local Government (MHCLG). All content © 2025 Planning Portal.

      The Planning Portal is delivered by PortalPlanQuest Limited which is a joint venture between TerraQuest Solutions Limited and the Ministry of Housing, Communities & Local Government (MHCLG). All content © 2025 Planning Portal.