MMeNDtal

Yes, it's not really an option right now to remove the cement render. Possibly in the future.

I'm South end, currently! Down in Hoswick. Any particular type of vapor barrier you'd recommend?

I was thinking something like fiber cement tiles?

Would you suggest a breathable membrane or is that not necessary, with the roof vents?

Yes, I was planning to replace the original roof straps. It looks like they're all that's currently securing the roof! Additional bracing with noggings seems sensible, too!

The rotten rafters and tie beams have been replaced. The roof is leaking in a couple of places, which we only discovered after ripping out the internal walls (it looked fine in the loft space). The downstairs floor is half suspended, half slab. I doubt very much it has any DPC anywhere.

Hi all! I hope this is the correct place to post this. I introduced myself on the forum yesterday and got some helpful advice on my project, but figured I should write up a proper post in the correct forum. I have a stone (rubble) house in Shetland that has been largely untouched since it was built, over 100 years ago! We've gutted the upstairs, in preparation for new stud walls / insulation. My question is, what setup will work best on such a building, which originally relied on the heat inside the house soaking through the stone walls to prevent condensation. What's been suggested so far is something like this: STONE WALL - AIR GAP - TIMBER FRAME WITH INSULATION - AIR TIGHT MEMBRANE - 25MM BATTENED SPACE (for services) - PLASTERBOARD My question is, with this setup, would I need to install a few vents through the stone walls of the house, to ensure air circulation? Alternatively, would roof vents through to the loft be enough? Or a breathable roof membrane (we plan to redo the roof anyway)? Would I also need some sort of vapor barrier on the stone wall side of the timber frame, or is that not necessary? Additionally, you can see in the second picture that the stone walls are built into the slope of the roof. I removed a layer, to access a few rafters that needed replacing. The boards behind the stone were moist. They've now dried out, so I assume it was condensation. I can't really see any reason for the stone above the level of the wall plate, so would it make sense to remove everything down to this level to help the wall breathe? Thanks for any advice!

Yes, that's right... No DPC. So, there wouldn't be a requirement for a vapor barrier between the stone wall and 100mm frame? Theoretically, what happens to any moisture in the stone wall? Thanks for everyone's help, so far!

I've not really looked into insulating the outside, but, if I were to do this, would the inside require no insulation or just less insulation? Is there anything else to consider when insulating the exterior?

Thanks for the reply! We're hoping to turn the stairs 90 degrees, to open up the downstairs space. I'm trying to visualize what you're describing, regarding the stud wall. Is this about right?

Yes, I love the look of the stone and would re-point it and leave it exposed in some areas, but the wife isn't so keen! We've already had to do some repairs to the roof and plan to rip off the profile sheets, and replace any bad boards, then re-cover with tiles, when the weather permits!

Hi and thanks for the reply! We're in Shetland. Are you saying the interior face of the stone wall should have a cement render? The (very) rough plan I had in my head was to stud frame the interior walls, leaving a void space for the stone wall to 'breathe'. These walls wouldn't be structural.

Hi all! Joined a while ago, but finally ready to start putting stuff back together after ripping it out! This is my first time renovating a property, so I'm getting help and advice locally, but I have some more specific questions I'd like to ask on here. The property is 150+ years old, rubble stone construction, rendered with cement. The next job is to construct stud walls and insulate the upstairs. Could someone possibly point me towards the best forum to ask about this topic? I'm particularly concerned about managing damp. Thanks!