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I'm sure I'm not fully understanding some basic concepts, can someone clarify, or point me in the direction I need to research? Everything has gone off piste from the BC drawings, I think they were minimal spec and  the problem is partly because it's a conversion, and and there are lots of compromises, problems to be solved. We haven't been told to be airtight, and there was no intention for MHVR, but condensation is an issue. 

 

The steels in my conversion will go in and out of the thermal envelope if I'm not careful. How much insulation do they need to have around them to stop condensation if I can't get them inside the thermal envelope? For example, one end of a beam is touching the bituminous roofing felt), and also on the pad stones etc. There was non put on the outside of the lintels, its just been covered with plaster board, so do I need to rectify this?

 

On the vaulted ceiling (cold roof, 500mm gap) it is a PITA getting air flow between each rafter bay, we are drilling holes in noggins. The chap helping me wants to use foil backed insulated plaster board. Still planning to cut the felt at the top, but uncertain if can be done internally or if the dry ridge needs to come off. 

 

The main bedroom and bathroom have flat ceiling, cold roof and attic trusses, would these usually have a VCL too to stop moisture getting into the loft? I'm sure the intention was just normal plaster board. How do we get a sealed loft hatch? How do I assuage my need to check / inspect later?!

 

There's a really tricky detail between the normal ceiling and the vaulted part, what do  I need to be aware of? Will just insulating everything as much as possible and then working to get all ceilings airtightness do the trick? 

 

 

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There is a LOT of stuff going on here and it’s going to be a messy thread if lots of people start answering multiple questions, it may be better to start again and ask a single question at a time and then move onto the next question…… and try and ask the questions in the right topic area.  Hopefully this will entice people to provide some helpful answers. I will try to come back and chip in something useful soon. 

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1 hour ago, Jilly said:

Thank you, I must be a bit stressed and not thinking clearly. Sorry!

I think your at the point where you need to step back and work out exactly what jobs need to be done in which order otherwise your going to get into a pickle…… 

it’s very stressful and we all want to help but it’s better to have the horse in the stable when you ask a question….. not when it’s already running down the road like a mad banshee……..

I feel like I have been where you are but I have the luxury of no time restrictions and I do ALL the work myself so procrastinating is great !

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Oh dear, thank you. Renting is the real only time restriction as it's a painful hidden cost as my partner refuses to slum it in a caravan.

 

I'm trying to familiarise myself with everything, as getting quotes to continue means that nearly everyone who comes on site to look/quote/advise sucks their teeth and says they 'wouldn't have done it like that...''  so I have to figure out what really needs rectifying by going back to first principles, which is slow and painful.

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Better sorting it out now than ignoring it and having to deal with the consequences later, it’s really important to get the basics RIGHT,

insulation where it needs to go

minimise cold bridging

get the air tightness sorted  

try and get everything to fit standard sized materials -  nothing more annoying than having to cut perfectly good sheets of plaster board down because the studs were put in the wrong place…. 
the list is endless but ignoring it will result in things like mould on the walls and depressing Electic bills……. 
I know this as I have seen people cut the wrong corners and then regret it. 
In my opinion your better of going with a great FABRIC FIRST approach and living in a shell than shine over shite with a fancy kitchen…….. 

 

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