Roz

Thanks @joe90 @PeterW and @Alphonsox . Joe and Peter are both of your builds passive spec or near also? We don't have enough space in our tiny barn conversion to put in more insulation than getting to U 0.3 for walls. We don't have space for radiators, I want to keep all walls free to keep the small rooms flexible. I feel it's less risk to just put the underfloor heating in upstairs, but we're trying to save money where we can. Although I'm not sure what the cost savings would be to be fair.

Hello, We're planning on having wet underfloor heating downstairs in our very small barn conversion with extension - coming in around 50 square metres maybe. A family member has suggested not having the underfloor heating upstairs in order to save money. It's true that we don't like a warm upstairs but is this a bad idea? I know we'd need something in the bathroom. But elsewhere? Will the heat from the ground floor heat the upstairs? The place will be insulated to current building regs standards at U values of 0.3 for the walls in both the existing barn and the extension. The barn and extension will be open plan L shape downstairs. 1 double and 1 single bedroom upstairs, and a bathroom. We'll also have a wood burner downstairs, but used infrequently. Due to space issues I'd rather not have the wood burner flue going through the main bedroom and would rather run it outside, but this will mean we don't get the extra heat from the flue in the bedroom when we do fire it up.

I think I'm quite set on using it, I like the generally lighter grey things seem to weather to when using it too, I'm just not sure whether to buy pots of the stuff and paint it on ourselves or whether to get the factory to do it. Factory costs loads, we could save maybe £500 doing it ourselves, but is it worth it to save us from painting each board with it? I know it needs 3 coats in total which does sound like a pain in the bum. And if there's risk of messing it up we wouldn't want to do that.

Hi, I'm keen on getting our larch cladding treated with Sioo:x but not sure whether to pay for it to be factory done, or do it ourselves. Has anyone DIY applied and how much of a pain is it? Do you need to apply to both sides? Thanks! Roz

Thanks Triassic, I will try to find out!

It could be, I was even wondering about hiring vans and going up there. I'll have to look into it once we feel more finalised on the decision! Then I can ask for weights etc .Thanks for your thoughts!

Thanks Joe! Did you get many quotes before you picked them? Yes I was surprised when you said you were in Cornwall. We are in between Truro and Redruth. I never thought of how annoying being down here can be until we started this, currently looking at getting some SIPs delivered for a garden workshop and the cheapest company is in Manchester area and it's £1000 delivery! But still makes them the cheapest. More so, sadly, than the only Cornwall company I can find. If this company look likely from quotes it would be great to come and look at your windows before we decide, thanks so much

Thanks Joe, we are in Cornwall too so I will look them up. Do you mind if I ask what the cost was for how many windows? Just want to check they're not totally out of budget. Or if you remember the cost for 1 of the bifolds (what width are they?) that would be interesting.

Hi, Does anyone have any recommendations for a oak windows and doors company? Plus any rough indications of price per square metre if you have used them. We're looking at flush casement with paint on the outside and something like white oiled oak on the inside, but would also consider finishing ourselves if needed. Could also be engineered oak. We're looking for 3 bifold doors, 2 external doors, 6 casement windows and some bespoke glazing to a first floor apex wall. I've put some enquiries in with a few companies but was wondering if I was missing any well recommended companies with good value. Thanks!

Thanks Tyke2. It's not too late - we are still going through planning permission at the moment, with a hopeful decision date at the beginning of next month! We've had a structural engineer look at it and he discovered the floor inside is 30cm higher than the actual base of the walls, so that's good to know. We're going to dig down to at least the bottom of those walls and then insulate etc and see where we're at. We're looking forward to getting started and doing bits of it ourselves, whilst working with same list of skilled tradespeople you mentioned. How did you insulate yours? Space is at a great premium for us.

thanks everyone. If I didn't include it would they just ask me to update with a cross sectional if they wanted it? There's some stuff we haven't decided yet and were planning to once speaking with builders after permission granted, e.g. whether to dig down into the floor, or raise the height of the first floor as the bedrooms will have the ceilings open to the roof anyway, and whether to use SIPs for the extension, etc. So if I can get away with not including this information yet (which would be highlighted in a cross sectional) that would be more ideal. We've done the planning permission drawings ourselves but will probably get help in for the building regulations phase when all of this is decided.

Hi there, I have drawn plans myself to submit for planning permission for the conversion and extension of a barn, but haven't included insulation on these. Is it necessary for this stage or can it wait for the buildings regulations phase? Many thanks! Roz

I suppose part of it is that I'm confident we'd get permission to convert it, but not confident we'd get permission to rebuild. It's in a World Heritage Site, but there's precedent for converting barns (similar sized one just across the road).Plus have had good indications from the council. However, on the other hand, others have had a lot of trouble getting permission for affordable home builds. I know we could apply and change to a conversion if we get rejected, but there is a cost and time factor involved too. The other reason is that the barn is small, and so is our budget. And whilst it has been said it's cheaper to rebuild, there's size requirements now for minimum sized new builds? Which would push our budget up too (although of course it would be nice to have a bigger house!) Lastly I feel under the impression that 'cheaper to build new' is true if we were to replace with a very simple modern build. But we'd want to add character and interest in some way and feel that would push the budget further. I suppose I also feel more capable of doing bits and pieces of a conversion ourselves (like repointing) to save money, whereas I'm not sure I would be in a new build. I'm very open to you all refuting these points though, as it will be interesting to know your thoughts! Attached some other photos Can also attach my sketch up of what we hope to add in an extension.

Hi everyone, Thanks a lot for having me I value your feedback! The other question I have been wondering (and need to decide on before applying for planning) is about the groundwork. The structural report says that it's sound and doesn't need underpinning. However, the barn is quite short. I think it's 4m tall, not at the top of the gable - I couldn't get my tape measure up there. It used to have a first floor and has the holes where the beams used to go. We'll be wanting to put the first floor back in. I had originally thought I would raise the first floor so there's more head room downstairs, and upstairs will be fine as we'll have it open to the ridge inside. However, as we'll be hoping to put on an extension, and will need to be doing some insulation and slab laying in the main barn anyway, would it be better to lower the whole floor level? If you're already doing groundwork, how much extra would I expect to pay if I wanted to lower it 30cm or something? I think I am leaning towards just raising the first floor level. I personally don't mind the walls being a bit lower than the top of my head, as there's so much extra space that will be open from keeping the roof open. But worried I am missing a trick that might not cost much more!

Thanks everyone! Some interesting thoughts. I'm hoping not to have to rebuild too much as it's got a good structural report at the moment. Plus, the council is quite against extensive rebuilding happening. So perhaps I'll give up on this recess idea! I was just trying to be clever about where to keep coats they're so pesky. I've also read comments on other applications on the council not liking porches on barn conversions, but perhaps it depends on the type of porch. I'm not sure I'm that mad on them either to be honest and they seem so expensive for the space you get. To the left of the picture is the boundary between the barn and the next door property. A few people have asked about whether we will knock it down. My feeling is that the council wouldn't be keen. We might be able to afford a slightly bigger house from it, but our budget isn't big. Part of the attraction of this place was that it's a barn, and if we do it well although it'll be small it'll have good resale value down here. Our current plan is to extend about 3.5x3.5m off the back as you see it in the pic, and also put in a SIP garden room as I work from home so we could use it as an office and also a guest room. We're wondering at the moment whether we should include the garden room on the first plans to the council or not. Or wait. But if we did it at the same time we could construct it first and stay in it whilst the rest of the work is happening. Lots to think about!

Yes that's what I thought might be the case. I thought it would be easy enough to say go half way through the wall and support above with a lintel, but I wasn't sure if the remaining wall behind the alcove would just collapse in on itself or something!

Hi! I’m new - thanks for having me! We are about to start the process of planning and converting a tiny barn in cornwall the walls are granite and rubble filled. Due to the size, I have been pondering ways of creating space and I was wondering about the feasibility of creating an alcove in the wall on the inside to turn it into a coat cupboard? It wouldn’t need to be that deep if it was just peg hooks and place for a few shoes. Is this the sort sort of thing you would tell me not to even think about? I wouldn’t do it myself. I’m unsure about the stability and whether it’s possible to stabilise it. Im sure I will have lots of other questions but I thought I would start here! thanks for your thoughts i know it looks a state in the pic but it’s had a good structural report