mcna

I am renovating an old stone cottage in North Wales and need to install a complete new heating and plumbing system. I'm looking for impartial advice on the total system design and components. I would like to have a system that is cheap and efficient to operate. However, there are some aspects I need/ would like to incorporate. Oil boiler (no mains gas) Wood burning Aga stove/ central heating 2 other wood stoves in living areas (I have land with plenty of trees!) UFH to the ground floor, radiators upstairs Solar PV to power the immersion heater (solar thermal is problematic routing the thick pipes) I have read that a thermal store tank is the way to allow the oil boiler and stove to work together? In addition to this, i must also put in a new kitchen, new bathroom, ensuite etc etc... with all the pipework to connect everything. I have spoken to a few local firms and have received conflicting advice. One tells me it should all work with a thermal tank but the tank must be above the aga, another tells me i can put the thermal tank anywhere, another tells me forget the thermal tank and aga etc etc... Who do i talk to to get impartial advice? Thank you!

The cement render inside and out has been hacked off already. And will probably be a few months before we get to replacing with Lime based render/ plastering.Hopefully enpough time to dry (if it ever stops raining in N Wales!) The roof is being completely renewed and will have all new guttering etc and as best as possible external ground levels will be lowered and have French drains installed. The walls and roof should be 'breathable' The walls dont have any dpc, they are just laid directly on the ground....

I’m renovating an old stone cottage in North Wales and I wish to upgrade the insulation as much as possible and I’m planning to use more natural materials in order to allow the house to ‘breath’. The place seems to have suffered with damp in the past as there is a strong smell of mildew. I believe this may be to do with the fact that the place was renovated in the 70’s with cement render on the external walls, cement pointing to the stone work. Cement/ plaster internally and concrete floor slabs with no insulation (but it does have a plastic sheet under the slab). The roof needs to be stripped off completely, re-slated and timbers replaced, so I’m planning to use wood fibre insulation sarking over the new rafters with either wood fibre or wool between the rafters. The walls (about 600mm thick) will have all the cement render/ plaster and pointing hacked off and re plastered with Lime. I may also fix wood fibre board internally. With the floor, I would like to insulate the floor and have UFH and am prepared to break up the existing concrete to lay new floors but have read conflicting advice on how to proceed. Some claim that an old stone building should have a breathable floor so that moisture from the ground is not pushed into the walls. Whereas elsewhere i have read that a modern floor (DPM, insulation & concrete) will be better as it prevents water vapour entering from the ground through the floor which will create internal humidity. I am far from an expert on the matter and am seeking to learn more. If anyone has experience in this area I would appreciate all comments. Thank you