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Converting old church to home

  • 05-11-2013 12:57pm
    #1
    matrat
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 152 ✭✭


    Hi, we are toying with the idea of converting an old church into a family home. Was wondering if anyone has an expierence of this??

    My biggest concern is heat. How do thick stone walls perform?? I'd assume they be cool in summer but drain heat in winter?? Is there a way to improve them?? Something like a high performance dry lining??


Comments

  • #2
    dwiseman
    Closed Accounts Posts: 138 ✭✭dwiseman


    matrat wrote: »
    Hi, we are toying with the idea of converting an old church into a family home. Was wondering if anyone has an expierence of this??

    My biggest concern is heat. How do thick stone walls perform?? I'd assume they be cool in summer but drain heat in winter?? Is there a way to improve them?? Something like a high performance dry lining??

    There were quite a number of these done on grand designs on channel 4. Google it, you could watch a number of episodes on it.


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


    matrat wrote: »
    Hi, we are toying with the idea of converting an old church into a family home.
    1. Was wondering if anyone has an expierence of this??
    2. My biggest concern is heat. How do thick stone walls perform?? I'd assume they be cool in summer but drain heat in winter??
    3. Is there a way to improve them??
    4. Something like a high performance dry lining??

    1. yes
    2. yes
    3. yes
    4. there are specialist systems using calcium silcate or timber composite that offer some insulation properties, hemp-lime is also a great material. all these systems allow a portion of wall 'breathablity' while insulating. breatabilty should not to be confused with 'ventilation' http://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showthread.php?p=80290408

    drylining with standard materials is not a good idea and will lead to mould &/or structural issues hidden behind the drylining ( this has been discussed to death on here if you do a search under 'insulating old stone walls' or 'old house drylining' or some similar title you'll get previous threads.

    if your DIY'ing a solution be ready for some real time consuming work - regardless of what approach you take, i would recommend a holistic view is taken that considers the building envelop (including all penetrations, window etc) heating system and ventilation strategy.

    you will need an archs & engs that is firmilar with these old buildings - note that most will not be up to speed on 'breathable dry-lining methods' and you want to quiz them on this at length before selecting a professional


  • #4
    DOCARCH
    Moderators, Home & Garden Moderators, Science, Health & Environment Moderators Posts: 18,446 Mod ✭✭✭✭DOCARCH


    Double check first whether or not the church your are looking at/thinking about is or is not a Protected Structure.

    If it is a Protected Structure, it is possible that you would be allowed convert (sensitively) to a house, but, dry-lining/insulating the external walls of the structure may be a completly different matter.


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