How’s the building made?

Original construction was:

• stone faced rubble walls
• timber roof structure, slates
• sliding sash timber window frames
• stone flag floor.

Changes from the original:

• electric wiring, immersion heater
• floor concreted over
• bathroom and toilet
• double glazed windows
• oil fired range, back boiler.

Examples of projects

• Doing the basics
   

• A more sustainable extension
   

• Whole-house ventilation system
   

• Solar water heating
   

• Garden makeover

What’s the problem?

Short of space — just another room would mean the owners didn’t need to move.

Difficult to move around — steps to the front door, bathroom up a narrow stairway.

Windy — the wind rattles the windows and it’s difficult for anything to grow.

Water heating — electric immersion heater is costly to run in summer when range is off.

Doing the basics

• Changed all indoor lights to low energy lamps. Had the security light changed to a light with dawn to dusk sensor and a low energy lamp.

• Laid 270mm loft insulation between joists and over joists.

• New cylinder already insulated. Insulated hot water pipes.

• Sealed gaps round windows and front door. Already have double glazing, hung heavy, lined curtains. Fixed rubber draught excluders on the front door.

• Set the room thermostat for 18°C.

• Already have slimline low-flush toilet cistern. Fitted spray insert in kitchen tap and two water butts.

A more sustainable extension

• Insulated to the May 2007 building regulation standards, with an extra 50mm (2") of ground floor insulation.

• Builder checked carefully that there are no gaps in the insulation and junctions around windows and doors are airtight.

• Added an easy-to-use shower room with a wet area shower and toilet.

• Made the main space large enough to be used as an easy-to-use bedroom.

• Draught lobby with rack for recycling boxes and outdoor shoes.

• Largest window south-facing.

• Level threshold at entrance door.

Whole-house ventilation system

• Mechanical ventilation with heat recovery to prevent condensation in the timbers once the roof is well insulated and reduce the energy needed to heat rooms.

Solar water heating

• Large solar panel for water heating on south facing roof slope.

• Got certificate from Approved Certifier of Structural Design that roof was strong enough for large panel.

• Roofer working with heating engineer refixed slipped slates at the same time.

• Replaced hot water cylinder with tall unvented solar cylinder, insulated in the factory.

• Controls in cylinder cupboard, display beside new shower room shows temperature in panel and cylinder - family now take showers in the evening to make best use of solar heated water.

• Got grant from SCHRI to reduce the cost.

• Checked with council during design - got Planning permission and Building warrant to cover extension and large solar panel.

Garden makeover

• Gentle slope to level area by the door.

• Permeable paving draining through a swale.

• Beech hedge shelter belt, box hedging to shelter vegetable patch.

• Shed preservative made from natural asphalt, resins and oils, shed light powered by PV.

• Space for a composter near the kitchen door.

Work done well

Found heating engineer to install solar water heating and ventilation system at:

www.clescotland.co.uk

Found Approved Certifier of Structural Design at:

www.sbsa.gov.uk — select Certification