I’m hoping to start work on renovations before too long. I think I want to start out with a phpp assesment and do a deep retro.
I’m a part I architect and compentent self builder. I’m quite keen to take a few extra steps when doing my renovation to make sure it wont be revisited and that I’ve popped a bit of glassfoam under my joists or taped the right junction before covering with iwi.
I have bare wooden floors in several rooms so want to get new big rads installed before this all goes back together so I can run my combi at 40’ until it packs in and then swap for an ashp.
Could use some help ordering the work and making sure Im going sufficiently deep at all of the key details. Other things like at what point to instal mvhr, should I preinstall some ducting when I lift floors etc.
Not sure if I need an architect, certainly very happy to pay for phpp if thats what I end up doing. Has anyone these skills prepaired to travel to Sedbergh nr. Kendal Cumbria? What is a reasonable expectation of costs for this? 4 bed victorian end terrace over 3 stories with loft and dormers. Slate and rubble fill. Still mostly lime walls. Suspended floor etc. Quite typical and mostly original.
I think I’d like to learn it to do the phpp but that can wait until reno has rendered house comfortable but probably way before its fit to be certified if it ever is. I like the philosophy of lock in so doing my steps suffiently deep is more crucial to me than the final result. For example I might leave my 30 year old window frames in for another 30. Not sure its worth the carbon or money to rip out. However I can’t bear the thought of working on cold bridge details in my crawl space in 20-30 years time!
Looks like there are lots of experienced hands about so will go through all the old threads and hope to benefit from your wisdom and experience.
Experimentation can be an important tool for learning but leaves you exposed to legal claims unless you experiment on your own home. Do you see your home as an experiment or somewhere to be comfortable?
I took the AECB CarbonLite Retrofit course, which was very useful but didn’t include instruction in PHPP. There are other courses in that.
I undertook some work on my house based on the course and the results of an airtightness and thermal survey but when it came to structural change I engaged an architect on the Passivhaus Trust database.
Don’t think there should be any need to experiment to too greater extent. I don’t need to be cutting edge and certainly wouldn’t take a risk with someone else’s property. Are you suggesting that I would or wondering if I’m asking someone non-qualified for advice?
I think if I do more training myself would be my first bit AECB CarbonLite Retrofit course at first . Maybe the PassivHaus designer course after that but first I’d like the house safe and comfortable if not completely renovated with a sensible plan for order of events. I’m also early in my research and have a somewhat urgent problem in that half of my ground floor is so cold it is not very usable for the winter months and I’d love to make some progress on that quite soon. I would happily pay for qualified advice to move forward on this if it was affordable and I knew where to find it.
If an architect is required, so be it. I’ll take that advice. I thought there may be a library of approved ideas and products and also certified consultants. It’s just I don’t necessarily want to change the design or uses in my building which is what I expected an architect would need to be involved for. At this stage it’s more of a question of building mechanics/technical advice but if that’s into the realm an architect I’ll look for one locally. They could provide their own guide prices before we get too far into it.
I don’t think I need to make any structural changes in this batch of work. I don’t think swapping a brick for a bit of structurally equivalent insulated material in a donkey wall is not what I would call “structural” in a floor support context but bringing in a steel beam and cutting out all the joist ends would be. I have worked as a mason and builder for several years so my appetite is perhaps different from some diy home owners.
PHPP could also come later. The enerfit documents suggest that you should start with a PHPP or you may dam yourself and the future of your house! Hence my pausing on the matter just now.
However, I am prepared to take some measured risks and experiment based on available information and manufacture specifications independently if this turns out to be unaffordable or otherwise a dead end.
There are several threads on ground floor insulation. You could try to find Your floor structure. The AECB have a forum, parts of which are open to non-members.
It looks from your OP that you have mostly suspended timber ground floor, also that the timber is exposed. This is the optimum combination for a deep freeze in winter. You need to make the floor airtight, as such floors are a source of cold air for the whole house. While you are at it you need to insulate the floor. First though you need to check for any damp and treat it.
I suggest that you read threads by @pottyone72 and @sianrichards55 , both of whom have been and are still struggling with Victorian houses.
My daughter moved into a house with floor boards Nov 24. I first inspected the underfloor area, sorted ventilation, dealt with moisture issues, treated woodworm, rot etc, insulated heating pipes and then insulated floor. It made the house more habitable.