Robbie

We'll likely be adding a central heating system with wet radiators but that will be quite a long way off. No under floor heating.

I'm getting ready to lay solid Ash parquet flooring which I've been keeping in an outbuilding up until now. Here is a link to the flooring we went for sized 22mm x 360mm x 60mm. I've been looking for advice on acclimatizing the wood online and have found several different methods suggested: Bring the boxes of flooring in to the room in which they will be laid. Leave for about two weeks in their packaging. Bring the flooring in to the room in which they will be laid. Remove from packaging and stack in small piles for two weeks. The flooring is currently plastic wrapped, with each package containing 50 lengths of parquet see image below. I had thought I'd remove them from the packaging and stack them maybe 20 high with gaps between each board. I think if left the flooring in the packs it wont be able to adjust moisture content due to the more or less airtight plastic wrapping. At the same time I'm a bit worried about the timbers cupping or bowing whilst acclimatizing if i remove them from the packaging and they acclimatize too fast. To make matters more interesting, I also have a wood burner as my only source of heating in the room which means the temperature will fluctuate a lot over the course of a day. If required I could add a small electric heater to keep the temperature more constant? Anyone have previous experience of this or any advice? Cheers, Robbie

Hi Ed, Youre right it might be worth me contacting building control although I suspect they may be unwilling to provide any concrete response. I'll let you know what resonse I get. I'd prefer to avoid external wall insulation.

My partner and I recently bought a small cottage near Forres in Scotland. It has a concrete floor slab and thick masonry walls. I've been planning to add a layer of insulation to the inside of my house but have found guidance on this to be a bit vague. Some suggest that a permiable insularion should be used others a vapour barrier. There is a threat that if the wrong approach is taken damp / condensation could result. I'm hoping to hear from people who have insulated their walls successfully. What method of insulation was used? Any input or suggestions welcomed.