Nic

Ok I know a bit but not a lot… so say I build an ICF small house say 150m2 get it air tight and as passiv as possible without a passiv certificate etc. I have installed a system like the total home environment system ( saw it at a show ) Now has anyone done this ( or a similar system) and not installed underfloor heating or any other heating in the house. Obviously the salesman said you wouldn’t need anything else it the house was up to passive ( or near) I think there also heated the hot water. I kinda know it’s a bit of a difficult ( or stupid ) question I also know if later you wanted to add retrofit is more expensive and a pain etc but I am curious if anyone here has done this and the pros an cons …. I hope you don’t mind the question

Which one who has replied is in the West Country, sorry . Thanks again

So I think I’m looking at Jackon , thermohouse or poly steel I see poly steel are quite local to Exmouth Devon. Anyone know much about thermohouse in the West Country?

So anyone using Jackon in the Devon Exeter area?

Hi anyone have any details of companies using this system, in the Devon Exeter area for a small 2/3 bed detached house self build … at the drawing planning stage at this time

Brilliant explanation 👍🏼

Hi anyone used the windows above from the green building store ? Any thoughts ?

Maybe a silly question ( I was told once there aren’t any of those🤔) if you have a mhpv or ashp that is heating the hot water via a tank. If you run out of hot water, say someone has a bath a shower and also running the washing machine etc . How long does it take to heat back up on average? Is there a general time ? Or depending on system . Are there such things as boost overrides ? told you it was quite silly 😜

@FM2015 So if you were going to build with a woodcrete block which is top of the list and why ? @JohnMo your reasons are the same I came to the conclusion for consideration to use for my first self build next year

I’m considering a polished concrete floor downstairs ( UFH) and then bedrooms carpet, no UFH upstairs 🤷🏻‍♂️

@JohnMo Curious how did you finish walls and ceilings if not plastered, painted or wallpapers?

@JohnMo this is really helpful thank you. I take it you just plasterboarded after ? Did you use any additional insulation for 50mm void ? Was this a warm roof design? thanks. Again

Airtightness - Durisol is not airtight or water tight - advantage and disadvantage. You have to know where your airtightness layer will be and it has to be continuous, so something to think about. Mine was inside so a could make the roof structure airtight inside also. So I parge coated the inside, but you also need to seal the floor the wall junction and roof to wall junction and around window/door returns. My parge coat was a concrete/lime mix and wall remains breathable. @JohnMo would be interested if you could expand on this a bit more with details of how you made it airtight with the details of what was used . Also did you do a service void on all walls was that just a batten and plastic board what size voids did you go for and did you fill it with anything? cheers

This is great info thank you for the advice

I like the idea of Durisol over the other ICF systems because render and stone slips can be applied directly to the surface on the outside saving time and money ( those who I have seen that have used it have liked it a lot) also again internally there is no need to plasterboard the surface it can wet plastered straight to the surface . Again saving time and materials

Early stages of a first self build for next year , so no figures yet . Looking at the Durisol ICF 365 blocks for the build which has 165 mm insulation and 120 concrete. Will of course insulate under the slab ( not sure what is recommended here) and then a warm roof ( again unsure of insulation at this time ) thanks again

Thanks again, being to get a picture ASHP for underfloor ( 1 ground floor zone ) and same ASHP for hot water via a cylinder. MVHR to do just it’s thing then solar and battery? To supplement/supply domestic electrics . how does solar cool underfloor? Please once again big thanks

Thanks that help . Can you just explain what the CoP means in “Flow temps will be low so CoP from heat pump” thanks again

Ok treat me kindly I’m new and I need to do a bit more reading as I’m getting confused 😂 the self build I’m doing will be approx 160m2 over two floors and will be built highly insulated and airtight ( without going for the passiv certificate) . I guess what I need to know are what I my best options for 1 heating the underfloor heating 2 ventilation of the house 3 hot water 4 there will be a solar system option with battery and also need to know best option for the electric supply to the property. we are only 3 permanent adult in the two bed house normal electrical demands

Ok I need to do a bit more reading as I’m getting confused 😂 the self build I’m doing will be approx 160m2 over two floors and will be built highly insulated and airtight ( without going for the passiv certificate) . I guess what I need to know are what I my best options for 1 heating the underfloor heating 2 ventilation of the house 3 hot water 4 there will be a solar system option with battery and also need to know best option for the electric supply to the property. we are only 3 permanent adult in the two bed house normal electrical demands thanks again for your patience

Ok that sort of confirms what I thought so my next question is if I have a hpv Will that also run the underfloor heating ? What’s the best solution to utilise say Solar from the roof and a heat pump , so that I run hot water underfloor heating and a ventilation system? thanks again

Hi new to the hub and about to embark on a first self build next year . I understand the principle of air tightness and the need for a mhrv or hrv ( what the benefits of either ) but what I struggle with ( living in the uk) is they say you don’t need any other form of heating, even some manufacturers saying underfloor heating isn’t necessary? Anyone got any thought on that or live in a home with only hrv ? thanks

did you require rebar in this build ?

No not seen that before , I shall investigate thanks

Hi everyone, im still at the dreaming stage of my build and my enthusiasm is not yet lost . I hope to start building this time next year . I have a small plot in Devon with full planning for a 1.5 story 3 bed. However I don’t like the design as reduced headspace on first floor is restricting. This is due to ‘overlooking privacy’ with a nearby building, I’m still 4.5m away from it but the architect said due to this and another garden, first floor windows needed to be Velux 🤷🏻‍♂️ anyway my thought were you could do a Clerestory roof have a row of windows letting in the light on the first floor and increase the headspace on the outer sides of the rooms 🤷🏻‍♂️ . I think I may build with ICF maybe Durisol… budgeting to do a lot of the donkey work, can use a straight edge, dot and dab, run plumbing, flooring decoration etc . Shall give up work to complete the build and budgeting for around the £1500 m2 excluding plot …. What could possibly go wrong 😂