richo106

Hi I have been spec'd a 16kw Daikin Altherma 3 with outdoor and indoor unit (possibly combine hot water tank unit) The guy also said Daikin do heat pump convectors instead of radiators and supposedly work better at lower temperatures than traditional (low temp) rads do. They also claim to offer heating and cooling Has anyone any experience with these? My mrs won't be happy with the look (i'm sure) but the positives might out way the negatives All help and advice/input greatly appreciated

Thank you

Hi We are renovating a bungalow and just starting to get down to some finer details regarding insulation. Obviously I would like to insulate the property as well as I can. Exterior insulation is not possible in our design, so we are planning to install 50mm PIR on the internal walls, however the cavity between the bricks is only 70-80mm and I'm almost certain there is some form of blown insulation in there (I could see some white fluffy insulation when I took a window board off) My question is how effective is this insulation? Is there a way of improving this insulation further during the build? Many Thanks

Hi The supply cable to our bungalow comes in the front side of the house and then into the garage, I am happy with the location of the incoming cable to the property I don't know the exact route it comes but it looks like it could cut over where I am planning to have a double story extension. Can I build over this cable or would I have to re route this cable? Also the cable comes up the front of the bungalow, am I ok to plasterboard over to conceal it (obviously keep it within cable zones) I am not sure what to do on this so any advice would be helpful Thanks again

Hi We have just had our planning permission granted (subject to Bat survey) A couple of builders whos been the quote our extension/conversion has suggested have building regs drawings with structural calcs on etc... Has any one used an online service provider of this? Just send them the drawings and they produce them? Any opinions on this? How has other people approached this?

Hi We are currently in process of planning our extension/renovation We are looking to install a 16kW ASHP, electric range cooker and all the other general electrics within a house (as this minute no electric showers) A builder mentioned I might need to look at the supply to my house to make sure it is 'man enough' to cope with the extra demand Is this something people have come across before? Many Thanks

Thanks for replies, basically we 'just want it' we like the idea of no radiators in any of the rooms especially if go down the ASHP route as they would need to be oversized. We like the idea of engineered wood flooring throughout upstairs (at the minute) My concern is would it work if we have UFH pipes, then 22 T&G flooring and then 20mm engineered wood floor? How much insulation would we need in between the joists - is 50mm PIR sufficient? This will be a full house and not a chalet/dormer style bungalow so will have full insulation in the loft Is there a better way to achieve this? Thanks again

We have decided to have UFH upstairs in our bungalow conversion As this is a conversion it will have complete new joists etc so can access from either above all below The UFH company priced (warmup) to supply aluminium diffuser plates to install it upstairs Is this the best way to install UFH upstairs? I am guessing I will need to insulate below these plates, does this have to be pir or can it be standard rockwool type? We are thinking of having oak/engineered wood floor upstairs and tiles in the bathrooms (2) What is the best way to achieve this floor look? Do I lay 22mm T&G floorboards over it and then my floor covering? All help and advice very much appreciated

We are planning on adding another full story onto our old bungalow, the footings are OK and planning is going through (hopefully) The existing external brickwork will be rendered and the new upstairs will be brick (see photo) The existing bungalow has 70mm cavity with retro fitted blown cavity insulation, it is brick both inner and outer skin. The extension on top will carry on top of the current brickwork so this will have a 70mm cavity also. What insulation would be best to use in the new cavity? Will I have to alter the existing cavity insulation? Will it be best internally insulation anyway? To satisfy building regs? The ground floor concrete slab will have at least 100mm PIR (most probable floor) Just trying to look at the best way to internally insulate as I want to try and do this myself (competent DIY'er as electrician by trade) Is it better to dot and dab insulated plasterboard? Or batten and insulated then plasterboard? I will be taking off the existing plaster to expose brick work etc All help and advice will be greatly appreciated

Thanks for all the replies The floor currently has a decent void beneath it so digging out is not an issue fortunately! I’m not sure my mrs will like the idea of no heating in the bedrooms but I will certainly propose it. regarding the zones I have no idea why there is so many zones, I sent them my plans and that is what they came back with (Warmup)

Yes taking it right down and new DPC installed Please see attached image of our foundations Thanks again

OK I will mention the 150mm to the builders that's no problem We hoping to add a full story to turn it into a house so it will have a loft etc Will this change your thoughts? Thanks again

We are planning to have 100mm insulation

Hi We are more than likely having a ASHP (maybe oil) to supply our renovated 1960's bungalow. We will be turning it into a house hopefully. We will not be able to achieve passive levels of insulation, the quote we have had is based on meeting current regs Downstairs we will be having a new concrete slab with insulation and screed etc, however the question is we can't decide whether to have UFH upstairs aswell? Upstairs we are planning to have carpet in all the bedrooms and then tiles in the bathroom and ensuite. What are peoples experience with this would they recommend UFH and carpets or just radiators suitable for the lower temps? They have quote spreader plates for the installation method upstairs, is this the best way to install UFH upstairs? Or are the insulated boards better? What would be the floor make up of installing carpet over UFH? would you lay 22 T&G over the pipes and then carpet on top as normal? Also they have quoted to split the house into 14 different zones, 6 downstairs & 8 upstairs with a thermostat in each room. One manifold upstairs and downstairs....is this normal? or overkill? All help greatly appreciated

Yes that's correct we want to change the outer skin so all of the house is of the same brick Thanks

Been trying to do a lot of my own research and a lot of comments go against having rigid insulation within the cavity so would it be better just to have standard wall insulation at 70/80mm or full fill insulation. Then insulate internally using pir rigid insulation? Thanks

Hi All We are hoping to add another story to our bungalow to make it a house, footings are Ok for this and due to budget constraints we won't be knocking it down (as much as I would love too but had plenty in depth conversations with builders) We want all brick design with new brick, the plan was for me to take of the outer skin to the blues and then the builder would start from there, however due to it being a 1960's bungalow there is only around 70-80mm cavity. My idea was to fill this with 50mm PIR insulation and obviously in the new walls as these will have the same thickness cavity. Does this sound sensible? Would you still insulate on the internal walls too? One idea we was torn with was external insulation and render but we really not so keen on all rendered house even though it might be the most cost effective/easiest method What are peoples opinions on this? Any other recommendations/ideas? Many Thanks

I can see your point regarding the issue you raised, but on the other hand I do love the look of your windows. Have you got any other pictures of your windows? And what was the make/style of these windows you installed? Many Thanks

Thank you very much for the information Don't suppose you have images of the windows you installed? Thanks again

Hi For our upcoming project we are considering the black steel look framed windows. I’m guessing these will be made from aluminium as the steel would be really expensive!? Has any one got any recommended suppliers for anything like this? Many Thanks

Thanks for your comments they are all taken on board. My other question is that exterior insulation has been mentioned with builders etc but the existing bungalow and the new extension does/will have a cavity. The existing cavity is filled with the blown insulation type I believe at its only 80mm wide. Would exterior insulation be pointless as most of the heat out of the rooms would of been lost in the cavity? Would my best option to internally insulate on the external walls of the house? Was thinking 50mm What is the best way to internally insulate? Thanks again

Even though we are now living in the bungalow, if we knocked it down and re-used the footings would this be classed as new build. Would I need to change the plans submitted to planning? When speaking to the builder he said it would considerably more to knock down and rebuild, I believe the footings would need widening also to accommodate the wider wall structures now. Luckily in the job I work in I can materials at a very good discount so hoping to save there. Also with claiming the VAT back I don't know if my cash flow could handle claiming it all back at the end

If we had the budget would love to knock it down, I've had several builders who are experienced in house building/renovation and they say what we are planning is very doable and more cost effective way tp hopefully achieve what want. Obviously we all agree knocking it down is better but budget won't stretch to that. The existing bungalow is structurally very good and good footings. We just need to over come the issues of insulation and exterior look

We are planning our bungalow conversion, we will be adding a story on top to create a house. Ideally we wanted a new brick design all over but to keep it within (almost) or budget we are going to have to keep the original building so the best option we have is to render over it but then thinking about having the new top half brick. The top of the downstairs windows is the height of the current bungalow What other exterior finishes could we use? We are struggling to find an exterior look we like, we are based in a little village so didn't want to go too modern I have attached our elevations, would love any input/ideas from any one With render we externally insulate but then if we bricked the top half would this sit too far back and look a bit daft? Thanks in advance

Hi All I am planning my bungalow extension (biggest project I've done by far!) we are adding another floor to our bungalow and little side extension. Our planning permission application got submitted couple of months back so just awaiting results on that Does this require full building regs or just a notice? Would people recommend getting building regulations drawing done? We need to upgrade the insulation throughout the existing house too What would be the next steps be regarding building regs? Wait for the plans to be passed and then find speak to BC? All help and advice and this subject greatly appreciated