AE1 Posted January 13, 2021 Share Posted January 13, 2021 Hi, Thanks for letting me join the forum. My wife and I are working on a refurbishment of a unique property in a pretty South Cambridgeshire village first build in 1980. We are trying to do this whilst living in with a three year old toddler in tow!. I'm a very practical guy, an electronics engineer, musician and can tackle most things proficiently. The property has three stories; one being a habitable basement below ground level, a standard ground floor and a first floor almost dormer-style including 8 large Velux openings. It also has a large attic and super enclosed rear walled garden. So far, we have replaced downstairs doors and windows, refurbished the rear conservatory and improved the central heating system. The garden is also improving (thanks to Covid and a nice summer) This year, we are going to tackle a roof refurbishment with new Velux and vertical windows (11 bits of glass) using a building firm but will also start on the basement by ourselves. This requires internal wall insulation, extension to the central heating, MVHR for ventilation and a complete make-over. Once all that's done, much needs re-plastering, full house decoration, floor coverings and whatever else pops up. It's a huge and challenging project and on top of that, I was diagnosed with lung cancer in April 2020 so that is also getting in the way of best laid plans! Best to all Andrew 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Temp Posted January 13, 2021 Share Posted January 13, 2021 Welcome to the forum! 9 minutes ago, AE1 said: I was diagnosed with lung cancer in April 2020 so that is also getting in the way of best laid plans! Yikes. That must be somewhat of a "distraction" (I'm sure there are better words for it). We've become rather too familiar with the cancer care facilities at Addenbrookes ourselves. They are pretty good though so if you are with them you are probably getting some of the best care available. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ferdinand Posted January 13, 2021 Share Posted January 13, 2021 You seem to meet all the criteria for Grand Designs. The only ones missing are baby 2 on the way. And hills for your machinery to be sliding around on. Welcome. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AE1 Posted January 13, 2021 Author Share Posted January 13, 2021 Hi Temp Correct. I'm with Addenbrookes Oncology and I only have good things to say about them. They have all been fantastic this year! Good luck with your associations with the department! Andrew 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bradders3109 Posted January 13, 2021 Share Posted January 13, 2021 Hi AE1 Good luck with the lung cancer. Regarding your renovation and MVHR particularly. From reading around the forum I would suggest that the investment would not be worth it unless you can get the building airtight. Since your dealing with an older property this isn't the easiest of tasks. I'm renovating a solid wall detached ex fisherman's cottage in Norfolk and have taken everything back to bare brick and removed all the floors in order to help me fit an airtight membrane seamlessly throughout the property. I'll also be having a new roof. Others on here are much better placed than me to comment on this, it's just what I've picked up reading the forum which is a very useful source of information. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
newhome Posted January 13, 2021 Share Posted January 13, 2021 Welcome to the forum! Sorry to hear about your health issues but hopefully you are getting good treatment and the refurbishment will be a good distraction. Sounds like a good project and I hope that you can get some good advice on here when needed. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Temp Posted January 13, 2021 Share Posted January 13, 2021 2 hours ago, bradders3109 said: Regarding your renovation and MVHR particularly. From reading around the forum I would suggest that the investment would not be worth it unless you can get the building airtight. If your objective is to reduce running costs then I agree. However a major benefit in my opinion is the constant ventilation it provides. My house certainly isn't air tight, not least because we have wood burners that burn room air. However we love the fresh air and low humidity the system is delivering us. I'd install one even if it was/is costing me money to run. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AE1 Posted January 14, 2021 Author Share Posted January 14, 2021 Thanks all Regarding MVHR; The primary aim is to ventilate the basement. There are limited windows and a very low level radon risk so it needs something just to keep the air fresh. I hope that MVHR would at least have provide some heating energy saving even though overall efficiency is not so much the concern. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bradders3109 Posted January 14, 2021 Share Posted January 14, 2021 19 hours ago, Temp said: If your objective is to reduce running costs then I agree. However a major benefit in my opinion is the constant ventilation it provides. My house certainly isn't air tight, not least because we have wood burners that burn room air. However we love the fresh air and low humidity the system is delivering us. I'd install one even if it was/is costing me money to run. That's fine Temp, I'm just highlighting to the OP that airtightness and MVHR go hand in hand if your looking at saving on heating bills. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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