Old stone cottage maybe around 1900's

[bennyc]

Doing up old stone cottage with roof mostly intact with need to felt and slate. 

 

Walls need pointing and then it's a full retrofit.

 

Looking advice on bets approaches to insulation

[jayc89]

Welcome, some pictures would go down a treat!

Insulation on older properties is a minefield. There's no proven right or wrong approaches, but many people feel passionately over certain methods - good luck!

[Redbeard]

Strongly consider natural materials, such as wood-fibre or a proper insulating plaster like Diathonite - goes on very thick, usually sprayed!

 

Remember that your stone building was probably built with materials - stone, lime mortar and lime plaster, which can absorb and 'breathe out' water vapour without damage. As far as possible you want to make the next layers in the 'sandwich' behave in the same way.

 

Look into air-tightness with regard to 'solid' wall insulation and don't be fobbed off by 'it's OK - it's got a vapour control layer (VCL)'. Acquaint yourself with the Building Regs and in particular how adhering to the U value targets can, in some circs with internal insulation, cause 'interstitial condensation' - condensation on the old surface of the original wall behind the insulation. I'd suggest not getting talked into plastic insulation before you have had a very good look at all the pros and cons. Of *course* it can work, but knowing all the advantages, disadvantages and practicalities in advance gives you the best chance of making the right decision.

 

Think v carefully when/if insulating suspended timber floors. It *can* work, but it can go wrong too. If you cannot get the ventilation (etc.) conditions right you might consider a solid floor, either with 'modern' (plastic) materials or with something self-draining like foamed glass aggregate.