When trying to save energy at home, many people think about insulation for walls, double panes for windows, or venting for roofs. But one hidden issue often gets missed: thermal bridging.
If you’ve ever noticed a cold patch on your wall in winter or dealt with unexpected condensation, you may have experienced the effects of a thermal bridge. In this guide, we’ll break down what thermal bridging is, how it affects your home, and how you can fix it — including a top product recommendation that solves it fast.
What is Thermal Bridging?
Thermal bridging happens when heat moves through a material that’s more conductive than the surrounding insulation. This creates a “bridge” that bypasses the insulating layer and allows heat to escape.
Think of it like a leak in your home’s thermal envelope. Even if your walls are well-insulated, heat can still slip out through materials like metal studs, concrete beams, or poorly sealed junctions — causing energy loss and uneven temperatures.
Where do thermal bridges occur?
Thermal bridges aren’t all the same — they fall into four main categories:
- Repeating thermal bridges: These occur regularly throughout a structure, such as timber or metal wall studs interrupting the insulation layer.
- Linear (non-repeating) thermal bridges: Found around openings like windows and doors, or where a more conductive material passes through the insulation.
- Geometrical thermal bridges: These happen at building junctions — for example, where walls meet floors or ceilings — and result in a larger surface area for heat to escape.
- Point thermal bridges: Isolated penetrations like bolts, brackets, or flues that pierce the insulated layer.
Understanding which type exists in your home helps in choosing the right fix.
Why does thermal bridging matter?
Ignoring thermal bridging doesn’t just mean a few chilly spots — it can cause serious long-term issues:
- Energy loss: Up to 30% of heat loss in a home can be due to thermal bridging.
- Cold spots and discomfort: Uneven surface temperatures make living spaces feel drafty and less comfortable.
- Condensation and mold: Moist air hitting a cold surface condenses, creating an ideal environment for mold growth.
- Lower energy ratings: Thermal bridges reduce the overall thermal performance of your home, affecting compliance and efficiency standards.
Best Products to Prevent Thermal Bridging
1. Kingspan Kooltherm K17 Insulated Plasterboard
If you’re doing a renovation or building from scratch and need to combat thermal bridging from the inside, Kingspan Kooltherm K17 is one of the most effective products you can install. It combines rigid phenolic insulation with plasterboard in a single board — which means you insulate and line your wall in one go.
It’s ideal for spaces where you want high performance without losing valuable internal room space.
Why it works:
- Exceptional thermal performance with one of the lowest thermal conductivity values available.
- Saves on installation time and cost since it combines two layers into one.
- Perfect for retrofits or new builds where you’re lining the internal face of external walls.
- Can be used in homes aiming to meet higher energy efficiency standards (NCC, BASIX).
By using K17, you eliminate thermal bridges from inside the home without disrupting your external wall system — a smart, space-saving choice.
Shop Kingspan Kooltherm K17 Insulated Plasterboard here
2. Kingspan Air-Cell Insulbreak 70
For homes that already have traditional internal wall linings and bulk insulation installed, Kingspan Air-Cell Insulbreak 70 offers a highly effective external solution. This product functions both as a thermal break and a radiant barrier, installed between your wall cladding and steel frame to block conductive and radiant heat flow.
It’s particularly useful for steel-framed homes where metal components easily conduct heat through the structure — a major cause of thermal bridging.
Why it works:
- Meets NCC’s minimum thermal break requirement (R ≥ 0.2) when used in external walls.
- Reduces both radiant and conductive heat transfer — improving comfort in both summer and winter.
- Helps prevent condensation by maintaining warmer internal surface temperatures.
- Strong, durable, tear-resistant and water-resistant — ideal for Australian weather conditions.
- 3-in-1 Insulation, thermal break, and vapor barrier
- Quick to install during cladding or recladding jobs, making it perfect for builders or homeowners improving existing structures.
Use it when you can’t easily upgrade your internal insulation but still want to address thermal bridging from the outside.
Shop Kingspan Air-Cell Insulbreak 70 here
What is a Thermal Break?
A thermal break is the opposite of a thermal bridge. It’s any material that interrupts the flow of heat through a conductive element, helping to reduce heat loss and improve energy efficiency.
According to the NCC (National Construction Code) 2022, a thermal break must have an R-value of at least R0.2 and should be placed between metal framing and external cladding — especially in homes with metal frames and no internal wall lining.
Common thermal break materials include:
- Timber battens (≥ 20 mm thick)
- Expanded polystyrene strips (≥ 12 mm thick)
- Continuous insulation sheeting (e.g., Kooltherm plasterboard)
Thermal breaks are also required in roofs, especially where metal roofing is fixed directly to framing members without a ceiling lining.
How to Prevent or Fix Thermal Bridging
The key to reducing or eliminating thermal bridging is continuous insulation — that is, insulation that covers all structural elements without gaps. Here are some smart strategies:
- Use insulated plasterboards to add thermal protection directly to internal walls.
- Install thermal breaks in steel or concrete structures, using materials with low thermal conductivity.
- Seal penetrations carefully with expanding foam or sealant.
- Upgrade outdated construction methods — newer home designs focus on minimizing thermal bridges by design.
Final Thoughts
Thermal bridging doesn’t just affect houses — it’s also a common issue in mobile setups. Learn how to prevent it in your camper or van in our Van Insulation Guide. Thermal bridging might be hidden, but its effects aren’t. From higher bills to mold and discomfort, it’s a silent thief of energy efficiency. Luckily, with the right strategies — and the right insulation materials — you can stop it in its tracks.
Take control of your home comfort and cut down energy loss. For an easy upgrade, check out Kingspan Kooltherm K17 and see how smarter insulation can make all the difference.
Need help with insulation? Explore more high-performance products at Insulation Easy Australia.