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Advice - Making an unfinished house energy efficient

  • 16-03-2013 10:39am
    #1
    scallion.eater
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 30 ✭


    Hi all.

    Hope post is in the right place. I am currently in the process of buying an unfinished house. It is a 4 bed detached of 1340 sq ft. Windows, doors and stairs are in. Unplastered internal walls are in. I would like make the house easy to heat and retain heat.

    I am thinking of pumped insulation in walls. Heavier attic insulation. Solar panels. Stove with back boiler. Efficient oil burner.

    Is there anything else I could do at this stage of the build or be aware of? Any opinions appreciated.


Comments

  • #2
    sydthebeat
    Subscribers Posts: 42,171 ✭✭✭✭sydthebeat


    scallion.eater wrote: »
    Hi all.

    Hope post is in the right place. I am currently in the process of buying an unfinished house. It is a 4 bed detached of 1340 sq ft. Windows, doors and stairs are in. Unplastered internal walls are in. I would like make the house easy to heat and retain heat.

    I am thinking of pumped insulation in walls. Heavier attic insulation. Solar panels. Stove with back boiler. Efficient oil burner.

    Is there anything else I could do at this stage of the build or be aware of? Any opinions appreciated.

    You should be aware of the building regulations that you have to comply with.

    even minimum standards are fairly onerous to meet. Find out what you need to do first to meet minimum regs, then see how your budget is before considering upgrades.


  • #3
    BryanF
    Moderators, Home & Garden Moderators Posts: 10,146 Mod ✭✭✭✭BryanF


    scallion.eater wrote: »
    Hi all.

    Hope post is in the right place. I am currently in the process of buying an unfinished house. It is a 4 bed detached of 1340 sq ft. Windows, doors and stairs are in. Unplastered internal walls are in. I would like make the house easy to heat and retain heat.

    I am thinking of pumped insulation in walls. Heavier attic insulation. Solar panels. Stove with back boiler. Efficient oil burner.

    Is there anything else I could do at this stage of the build or be aware of? Any opinions appreciated.
    what is the BER ?
    what year was the house completed?
    what year was planning approved?
    while the house is in a bare condition, now is the time to consider installing an air-tightness layer, ventilation system, heating system, improve insulation levels etc etc. BUT do not underestimate the cost of bringing such a building up to modern comfort and energy standards

    are the persons representing your interests (as part of the due diligence of sale) competent to assess:
    1. able to ensure building regulation compliance?
    2. able to ensure planning complaince?
    3. equipped to answer your queries as regards heating/heat retention/energy efficiency?


  • #4
    scallion.eater
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 30 ✭scallion.eater


    Thanks for the good replies. Perhaps I should have given more info but I didn't want to confuse things with too much detail. It is a detached house in a housing estate. Some houses are occupied while some are unfinished.

    Sydthebeat - If bought it will be finished by the original builder who owns the site. I would imagine in this case minimum building regs would be met. It would be my intention to budget for increased finish standard regards energy efficiency after a sale price has been agreed.

    BryanF - Unsure about BER. Can this be done before the build is complete?
    The house is not complete. The estate was built approx 2009, not sure when planning was approved. Is it possible at this stage of the build to consider an air tightness layer?

    Again thanks for replies. You've given me some things to think about and questions to ask.


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