southcoastseagull

I'd go for something like this, it's a very undeveloped idea just a kind of conceptual sketch. There'd be plenty of scope to include a separate office room in this design too with some further work. I also have to young kids, and the advantage of a layout like this is that they can have their bedrooms in their own wing of the house when they're teenagers. While young they'd be in the bedroom close to you. Also a note, on your current floor plans your external walls are drawn incredibly thin - I would think they'd need to be at least 400mm+

Hi, just adding my 2 cents as an architect. I think an L shaped, U shaped or H shaped floor plan would provide you with a far superior living space - I wouldn't get hung up too much on area to perimeter ratio. What you're think your saving in cost you're also losing in unnecessary circulation spaces that wouldn't be required with a more efficient floor plan. I wouldn't want to say much more without knowing the particular site constraints and opportunities - views, wind, orientation etc.

Hello everyone, I'm very much enjoying the knowledge on this forum and I've perused it a far bit over the years. Just to introduce myself, I'm an English architect who studied in the UK, however pretty much all of my practical project experience has been abroad in tropical climates abroad so I'm really not familiar with best practice over here when it comes to technical details. I'm currently working on an extension at my own home in south east England, which will be constructed in timber frame and vertical clad in narrow GFRC panels (perhaps Equitone or Reider, not sure yet). Due to site constraints the aim is have the walls as thin as practically possible. I've drawn up the following wall sections (in plan) with my first attempts at detailing the external walls and would greatly appreciate any feedback. For wall build up U Values I've been estimating using this tool: https://www.changeplan.co.uk/u_value_calculator.php Which option would be best to go for, or if there would be a better build up I'd love your knowledge and suggesttions. I should add that, according to my rudimentary calculations the U-Value of all the options is below 0.18. Another though - for the timber battens and counter battens to the exterior side, would I be best off using a composite (like this) batten rather than wood? They're much more expensive and presumably more durable, however people have been using timber for centuries... Many thanks! The thin option (224.5mm) For this option, air-tight electrical boxes would be required as the VCL would be created by the foil back plasterboard, and they would sit behind it. I'm also not sure if this is a definite no-no due to cold bridging through the timber studs directly to the plasterboard. I've seen details online like this though, and would appreciate everyone's thoughts as it allows for the thinnest wall. The medium option (249.5mm) With this option the VCL moves back to the studline and a 25mm service void is created using timber battens. The thick option A (274.5mm) I've added 25mm PIR between the studs and the service void. The thick option B (274.5mm) I've added the 25mm PIR between the studs OSB/3 and the UV membrane