Ormston's renovation project
 

Starting this project thread to cover all aspects of our renovation project instead of littering other threads with snippets of what we're up to.

My wife and i purchased a 1955 brick built house in need of complete renovation in july 2012, we moved into the house in november 2013 still with much(years)work to finish.

As this is a home we intend to stay in for many years i intend to do everything possible to reduce running costs without compromising on comfort.

Whilst i'm classing this as a DIY project, that may be stretching the truth a little.
I'm a certified electrician although i mostly do industrial automation and control systems.
My dad is a semi retired plumbing and heating engineer and i have uncles who are builders.

Steve

Apart from the primary need of rewiring and all new plumbing and heating, my main focus has been to insulate everything. Then insulate it again :D

We gutted the house of all wiring, plumbing, plaster etc.

http://ecorenovator.org/forum/attach...1&d=1409865019

Then started with the hydronic under floor heating.
Ground floor construction from the bottom up is concrete, damp proof membrane, 125mm(5") foil faced PIR with all joints taped, PEX heating pipe at 100mm(4") spacing and 100mm(4") screed (sand and cement with fibres to hold it together when heated).

http://ecorenovator.org/forum/attach...1&d=1409865483

http://ecorenovator.org/forum/attach...1&d=1409865483

http://ecorenovator.org/forum/attach...1&d=1409865483

http://ecorenovator.org/forum/attach...1&d=1409865483

First floor underfloor heating.

We did this the hard way as it's supposed to be done from above.
As the ceilings were down anyway we fitted the heating from below, i don't recommend this but it saved cutting up the floor above.

We run the PEX up and down the joists then folded the edged of the aluminium spreader plates downward so they would fit between the joists and give us something to nail to the joists.
The spreader plates were pushed up from below so they are in contact with the underside of the floor and nailed to the joists.
40mm PIR was then pushed up against the spreader plates and held up with strips of wood screwed to the joists.

http://ecorenovator.org/forum/attach...1&d=1409867494

http://ecorenovator.org/forum/attach...1&d=1409867494

http://ecorenovator.org/forum/attach...1&d=1409867494

The original wall construction was brick, cavity, brick, plaster.

This is now brick, graphite beads, brick, 24mm foil faced PIR with battons every 400-600mm(changed our mind half way through) then another layer of 24mm foil faced PIR then plasterboard(drywall) and skimmed to finish.

The top layer of PIR was sealed around the edge with expanding foam and all joints foil taped.

http://ecorenovator.org/forum/attach...1&d=1409868334

http://ecorenovator.org/forum/attach...1&d=1409868334

http://ecorenovator.org/forum/attach...1&d=1409868334

Ormston,

This is an awesome display of Eco-Renovation power!

BTW, if your uncles and kinfolks tire of the life of idle leisure, I sure could use some help over here on my place.

What is the story on graphite beads?? I would think that graphite would be a good thermal conductior?

-AC

I am, a bit surprised that you did your suspended floor from underneath.

That could account for a big part of the difference in temperature that you mentioned before, along with the difference in spacing, etc.

-AC

Nice floor insulation. 4" + is what we all should use but sadly it doesn't happen enough.

What made you decide between insulation on the inside of the wall verses on the outside?

What was the cost per m2 of PIR?

I have plenty of work to keep us from being idle for some time.

Just looked up the graphite beads, they are probably polystyrene coated in graphite.
This is what I initially thought they were but the installer insisted they were graphite beads so who knows?

Steve

I insulated inside the house as the outside is finished in nice looking hand made brick which we want to retain the look of it.
I,ve not looked into it but would imagine external insulation would require planning permission, most things in the UK do.

I live around 30 miles from where kingspan (PIR) is produced and slightly closer still is a company that sells all their seconds. Insulation with creased or damaged foil, irregular thickness etc.
Whilst I claim the floor to be 125mm it is made up of sheets that vary from 115-130mm and even some that is 50 one end and 75 the other(2 sheets back to back give an even 125).

By using seconds the cost is around 60-70% of the normal cost, although still not cheap.
A 2400x1200 (8x4')sheet of 120mm PIR is usually £47, using seconds reduces that to £31
The 24mm sheets I used for the walls are around £9 a sheet.
So far insulation has been the biggest cost after the original house purchase, I haven't kept an accurate record of it but must be around £4500 by now.

Steve

That cost is not too bad. As a comparison, EXP (extruded polystyrene), one of the standard under floor insulation products comes in at about 12BP ($20) for 25mm by 3m2 (4 x8') so you are coming in cheaper and with a better insulating product.

I ask about "out"sulation because there are a lot of masonry houses here and insulating on the inside takes away so much room and makes you do all the walls and trim. Outside messes up nice brickwork but siding is easier. Big dilemma for some.