During

 







Single-glazed windows were replaced by double-glazed soft wood windows assembled in the factory to ensure highest quality standards; adapted to local style to meet conservation area requirements (U value of glass =1.1, of whole window incl. frame about 1.3) (supplier: Zech)






Six new windows were added in the south wall (light + passive solar heating), two windows and one door were added on the east side and five roof lights in the new loft extension and bathroom extension in the back.

Cracks in the south wall were made good with HELI bars to secure maximal stabilisation, render was renewed where necessary and the whole wall covered with a flexible mesh and breathable render.

This made sure that the wall stayed dry. (A consultation early on in the process suggested to tank the wall !! It is of course much better to fix the source of the dampness and enable the wall to 'breathe'. 










In addition to damp proofing the house, breathable wood wool insulation material + wall radiant heating in outer walls (plus one inner wall as it was necessary for heating the large living room). Due to the conservation area status, outside insulation was not possible in our project (but discuss this with your council as they might have a different opinion), which is why we adopted inside insulation. The formerly wet south wall was kept dry not only from dampness from the ground, but also from its extreme exposure to weather; And even if some moisture would come through again at some point in the future, the wood wool can keep some moisture and releases it again slowly, supported by the wall radiant heating which would help to push it outwards. Although primarily heating towards the inner side of the house, it still pushes any moisture out of the insulation, and further out through the wall.




5cm of insulation added to all exterior walls (U-value of wall =1.2); 2.5cm where wall radiant heating installed (U of wall =1.6). Magnesite bound woodwool slabs from Heraklith BM (supplier: Skanda UK Ltd). We chose wood wool not only because of the insulation and eco-features, but also because the rough surface is amenable for plastering on top of it.



























Wall radiant heating works with large surfaces and lower water temperature (less energy use because of lower supply temperature (35-40° C), perfect for combining with solar water heating; radiant heating feels also very pleasant (supplier: Roth); under-floor heating in kitchen and bathroom as not enough wall space (kitchen units, windows, doors) (supplier: Roth). There are also health issues related to this (see the tab called 'Health' above).



 


After the mesh and plaster have been applied, the heating pipes become invisible.



Before driving a nail in the wall, it's crucial to feel where it's warm (pipe) and cool (here it's safe). If you would really hit a pipe, it is also no real drama because it is a low pressure system. Simply cut the pipe into two pieces and insert a coupling (and plaster over it again).




4 solar panels with 15 tubes each (supplier: Schott), 550 litre cylinder (150 lt. hot water, 400 lt. puffer for heating; 8 cm insulation on each side, 12 cm on top; supplier: Sonnenkraft). Backup for the heating: system gas condensing boiler (supplier: Bosch). For the backup system, our first choice had been wood pellets, but with only one supplier in Sussex at the time, it seemed too risky. The second choice had been a ground source heat pump but there is no access for a maching for digging. The third choice would have been an air source heat pump, but this deemed to be too risky because of possible noise in the garden as we are situated in a densely populated city area. But with the new models on the market, we would probably try it out now.

Space was used as efficiently as possible. Here on the ground floor a cloak room was added under the stairs.

















Up-to-date insulation as necessary according to building regulations for loft conversion and new-built bathroom.





The wooden floors were lifted and underlaid with 10cm polystyrol insulation in lounge and hallway. The wood in the kitchen was unrecoverable, hence insulation, concrete, underfloor heating, and tiles were used. Between floors 10cm mineral wool were added for insulation.

Biofa eco-paint was used throughout for internal walls, and Biofa hard oil and parquet oil for wooden floors (supplier: Villa Natura). The hard oil nurishes the wood and is more elastic than conventional products. Whenever there is a bit to repair, just use the hard oil and this is it! And of course it is an eco product, which was particularly important to us given that our new baby was to arrive soon.

A+ rated appliances and low energy induction hob; durability was also a concern for us (supplier: Miele).

Energy saving light bulbs.