1930's mass concrete renovation

marizpan

Hi,
Looking for feedback and ideas. We are about to renovation a 1930's mass concrete cottage style house. It hasnt been lived in for over 15yrs and there is no damp except in front porch. The floors have all been concreted except one room. We intend to replace windows & doors and reroof and add small extension. Any body got experience dealing with his kind of houses. We are on a budget, but is it worthwhile to use external insulation?
Thanks

mossfort

from the one i know these mass concrete houses were poorly constructed and very prone to dampness and cracks in walls due to poor foundations.
external insulation would be better if the house is small but you would have to re plaster the whole exterior of the house.
best of luck with it.

Victor

It would have the advantage of not impairing the floor area, but you may need planning permission.

AMIIAM

The fact that it has been unoccupied during the phoney "Building BOOM Years" speaks for itself. Do not even consider. I bet you a cent you will not find any DPC membrane within the structure.

marizpan

Thanks, would i be better to take up concrete floors? the external insulation sounds great but the cost is limiting.

AMIIAM

If you actually own the site and concrete structure, I would think demolition and re-building to modern specifications would be the wisest option, in the long term

marizpan

We own the house. And sticking to a budget so rebuild is out of the question

Poor Uncle Tom

Get a good local Architectural Technician and go over your options and budget with them on site. It depends on your LA but a lot of councils don't like to demolish a cottage just to replace it, if renovation and retention of character is an option.

No6

marizpan wrote: »

Hi,
Looking for feedback and ideas. We are about to renovation a 1930's mass concrete cottage style house. It hasnt been lived in for over 15yrs and there is no damp except in front porch. The floors have all been concreted except one room. We intend to replace windows & doors and reroof and add small extension. Any body got experience dealing with his kind of houses. We are on a budget, but is it worthwhile to use external insulation?
Thanks

Hi Marizpan I recently got back quotes for a large 50's mass concrete bungalow, I requested prices for both external and internal insulation, the external insulation came in at about 10K more, The clients are replacing the heating, plumbing, wiring, windows, some timber floors roof and building a small extension for less than 100k. You will get a better U value from external insulation and improved thermal bridging values with external insulation.

marizpan

Thanks No6,
the house is only about 500sq ft so it might be affordable after all, i assumed it would cost a min of 12k

No6

I believe it is about 100 per msq gross wall area very ball park figures, the best way to find out is get a quote!!!