insulation and heating system advice for new house

Marchef

we are currently in the process of buying an unfinished house.
i would like advice on insulation and heating system.
the property is a 2400 sq ft cavity wall block built house started in 2006, finished on the outside, unfinished inside.

the internal walls are not plastered so i was considering sand and cement for airtightness,taping windows and 62mm insulated slabs and skim coat. i will also be installing mhrv. I'm a carpenter and will be caring out a large part of the work myself. any advice on this method or alternatives to insulated slab would be appreciated.

concrete floors are not poured yet so i could choose ufh if i want. i don't think i can justify or afford geothermal or air heat source pump so I'm thinking of oil boiler and rads zoned with an airtight stove with external air supply and back boiler to heat some rads or all rads zoned at different times. again any advice would be appreciated.

we both work and will be gone from house for long periods of the day. also we have access to turf and low cost wood from a friend.

will be using engineer to sign off on draw downs from bank but would like to keep costs of consoltation to a minimum so any advice or information now would be helpful

4Sticks

Marchef wrote: »

will be using engineer to sign off on draw downs from bank but would like to keep costs of consoltation to a minimum so any advice or information now would be helpful

You don't want to spend money on professional help but want to obtain it free here ?

Or do I mis understand ?

rockabaloo

4Sticks wrote: »

You don't want to spend money on professional help but want to obtain it free here ?

Or do I mis understand ?

I think he's just looking for friendly and helpful advice. Kinda what people use forums for really.

4Sticks

In which case using the internet instead of paying for a consultants on the job services is a massive false economy.:)

AstraMonti

4Sticks wrote: »

You don't want to spend money on professional help but want to obtain it free here ?

Or do I mis understand ?

Why do you do this in each and every thread? It's completely irrelevant if he will hire a pro or not and it's your choice to give advice or not. I am reading this forum as a hobby, I 've no professional gain whatsoever but I do enjoy reading the ideas and problems that people go through their builds.
If we did the same in every forum the only answers we would need is "get your bike to the mechanic" and "get your car to the dealer". Luckily this is not happening so I can't understand what exactly is your issue, do you think you 're losing customers?

rockabaloo

4Sticks must struggle to get business without a bit of scaremongering. Quality professionals are always happy to dispense with advice for free because they know when people need to get more details then they'll be happy to pay them at that stage.

BryanF

Are you going to change the windows?
What is your ventilation strategy,
what will you do to insulate at junctions where internal walls, floors, chimney, ceilings meets external walls?
Have you looked at all junctions where cold bridge is created?
Have you considered a log/turf gasification stove? Might be the most efficient means of heating rads & hot water.
Tend to agree with you about not installing ufh - as it sounds like you wont have the insulation levels.
Best of luck on your project, but as others have said it sounds like you would benefit from some thermal,ventilation & air-tightness detailing and spec this might just be sketches and consultation at an early stage with follow up phone calls.
Have you done the BER?

4Sticks

Marchef wrote: »

we are currently in the process of buying an unfinished house.
i would like advice on insulation and heating system.
the property is a 2400 sq ft cavity wall block built house started in 2006, finished on the outside, unfinished inside.

the internal walls are not plastered so i was considering sand and cement for airtightness,taping windows and 62mm insulated slabs and skim coat. i will also be installing mhrv. I'm a carpenter and will be caring out a large part of the work myself. any advice on this method or alternatives to insulated slab would be appreciated.

concrete floors are not poured yet so i could choose ufh if i want. i don't think i can justify or afford geothermal or air heat source pump so I'm thinking of oil boiler and rads zoned with an airtight stove with external air supply and back boiler to heat some rads or all rads zoned at different times. again any advice would be appreciated.

we both work and will be gone from house for long periods of the day. also we have access to turf and low cost wood from a friend.

will be using engineer to sign off on draw downs from bank but would like to keep costs of consoltation to a minimum so any advice or information now would be helpful

You need planning permission to complete the works

By law you must have a BER cert published before you occupy. Get a provisional one now to inform your queries and demonstrate compliance with the relevant iteration of TGD L

The time will come that you wish to sell or re mortgage the house and then you will need 2 documents. 1 opinion on compliance on compliance with planning permission 2. opinion on compliance with building regulations. You can sometimes obtain 1 retrospectively but the RIAI has been advising it's members for some years now never to issue 2 if they had no role to play during the works.

Free colour coded advice with a smile

Marchef

4Sticks wrote: »

You don't want to spend money on professional help but want to obtain it free here ?

Or do I mis understand ?

You misunderstand.
I will be paying for professional advice but would like to be able to have informed conversation concerning the pros and cons of several different ideas with this professional so I don't get railroaded in a direction that suits the consultants personal or professional views

4Sticks

You need to take certain actions too under recent health and safety legislation

4Sticks

@ rockaballoo @ AstraMonti

I have had plenty of works from clients who suffered crap advice offered freely and with a smile.

What do ye bring to this thread other than supposition and a large sweeping brush?

Marchef

I know. Thanks for the advice

4Sticks

Marchef wrote: »

You misunderstand.
I will be paying for professional advice but would like to be able to have informed conversation concerning the pros and cons of several different ideas with this professional so I don't get railroaded in a direction that suits the consultants personal or professional views

Thank you for clarifying your opening post seemed to indicate that you are paying for mortgage draw downs only which is an appalling mistake to make.

You must take steps now other than post here. Hire A BER assessor that will prepare the DEAP inputs for you to obtain a BER cert AND demonstrate compliance with TGDL. Pay too for him/her sit with you , explain the basic functions of the DEAP software ( free to download from SEAI ) so you can change things around to see how the differing options affect your build.

You need more time now with computer spreadsheets and less with pvc dustsheets.

4Sticks

AstraMonti wrote: »

Why do you do this in each and every thread?

I am keenly aware of the risks

AstraMonti wrote: »

It's completely irrelevant if he will hire a pro or not

To you and casual readers here perhaps it is. The the building end user it can be a fantastic mistake.

AstraMonti wrote: »

I am reading this forum as a hobby, I 've no professional gain whatsoever but I do enjoy reading the ideas and problems that people go through their builds.

Like one watches Jermy Kyle perhaps - detached or amused by the issues?

AstraMonti wrote: »

do you think you 're losing customers?

The very opposite. Sadly many customer require my services rather late in the process - after avoidable mistakes have resulted from free advice.

Marchef

BryanF wrote: »

Are you going to change the windows?
Can't change the windows as budget is low so I have to prioritise what's important/essential maybe in a few years I'll change glazing to energy saving type. CompNy in Galway supplies this service


What is your ventilation strategy,
Mhrv and airtightness

what will you do to insulate at junctions where internal walls, floors, chimney, ceilings meets external walls?
Don't know if there is much I can do where internal walls meet external walls only pump cavity ( already got 60 mm insulation ). Floors not poured yet so I can deal with these. hollow core first floor so I'll fill void underneath with rockwool and insulate under concrete upstairs
Have you looked at all junctions where cold bridge is created?
Not yet.

Have you considered a log/turf gasification stove? Might be the most efficient means of heating rads & hot water.
Don't know anything about these and hadn't considered this option I'll look into it. House has solar panels on roof so was going to get this system finished.

Tend to agree with you about not installing ufh - as it sounds like you wont have the insulation levels.
Best of luck on your project, but as others have said it sounds like you would benefit from some thermal,ventilation & air-tightness detailing and spec this might just be sketches and consultation at an early stage with follow up phone calls.
Have you done the BER?

Not yet. Going to get smoke test done after airtightness but before plastering is finished. Is this worth the extra euros?

AstraMonti

4Sticks wrote:

What do ye bring to this thread other than supposition and a large sweeping brush?

I have nothing to bring on this thread that's why in all the construction forum and subforums I have max 5-6 posts. I don't go though in each thread telling people that they should not seek advice in the internet and get a professional.

4Sticks wrote: »

To you and casual readers here perhaps it is. The the building end user it can be a fantastic mistake.

It's still completely irrelevant to you, it's a choice the end user makes. Your only choice would be to give or not advice. What the user will do with it stays with him.

4Sticks wrote: »

Like one watches Jermy Kyle perhaps - detached or amused by the issues?

Neither, I am not in the industry and I am not building a house, but I am keen in reading what the new technology offers and what people do in their houses.

Most of the times people are here looking for advice so they have something else to read on when a professional comes out with a plan. Especially because of the cowboy builders during the boom people have become wary of the so called professionals and the more opinions someone has the best is for him to make an informed decision.

Anyway, apologies to the OP for derailing this thread, I am done here.

BryanF

Marchef wrote: »

Not yet. Going to get smoke test done after airtightness but before plastering is finished. Is this worth the extra euros?

ventilation strategy?
I would suggest 3 tests at stages of completion, starting before work commences

Marchef

BryanF wrote: »

ventilation strategy?
I would suggest 3 tests at stages of completion, starting before work commences

Why do a smoke test before work commences.? There are gaps around all the windows and doors, bare blocks on walls so slabs on ceiling between upstairs and attic. I intended to do one after airtightness which would allow me to repair any issues that show up and another when plastering work is complete. Please advise if my strategy is flawed

BryanF

Marchef wrote: »

Why do a smoke test before work commences.? There are gaps around all the windows and doors, bare blocks on walls so slabs on ceiling between upstairs and attic. I intended to do one after airtightness which would allow me to repair any issues that show up and another when plastering work is complete. Please advise if my strategy is flawed

Answer my question then I'll answer yours. What is your ventilation strategy? Ie are you mechanically or naturally ventilating the house
http://www.environ.ie/en/Publications/DevelopmentandHousing/BuildingStandards/FileDownLoad,1647,en.pdf

4Sticks

AstraMonti wrote: »

I have nothing to bring on this thread that's why in all the construction forum and subforums I have max 5-6 posts. I don't go though in each thread telling people that they should not seek advice in the internet and get a professional.

It's still completely irrelevant to you, it's a choice the end user makes. Your only choice would be to give or not advice. What the user will do with it stays with him.

Neither, I am not in the industry and I am not building a house, but I am keen in reading what the new technology offers and what people do in their houses.

Most of the times people are here looking for advice so they have something else to read on when a professional comes out with a plan. Especially because of the cowboy builders during the boom people have become wary of the so called professionals and the more opinions someone has the best is for him to make an informed decision.

Anyway, apologies to the OP for derailing this thread, I am done here.

Empty vessels and all that. A lot to say about something you know little about.

I am involved in the subject and I have seen people in severe distress when things go wrong. That is the difference between us here.

Marchef

BryanF wrote: »

Answer my question then I'll answer yours. What is your ventilation strategy? Ie are you mechanically or naturally ventilating

Mhrv-mechanical heat recovery ventilation. Sorry for not clarifying

BobMcBob

I am in the process of building a house and have found the boards an invaluable source of information.

This involved lots of people asking questions without fearing abuse and lots of people giving answer.

I have engaged professionals, but the discussion on the boards have completely changed the nature of the conversations with the professionals and have led to a proposed build that I feel is of high quality.

I had previously undertaken an extension were my involvement pretty much ended at the design. All the other decisions were left in the hands of the professionals and that was a bad mistake on my part.

Sorry for dragging this OT

Ask lots of questions, use the search function, inform yourself and get the professionals in

BmB

BryanF

Marchef wrote: »

BryanF wrote: »

Answer my question then I'll answer yours. What is your ventilation strategy? Ie are you mechanically or naturally ventilating

Mhrv-mechanical heat recovery ventilation. Sorry for not clarifying

In the case test after you've plastered and taped.

BryanF

4Sticks wrote: »

Empty vessels and all that. A lot to say about something you know little about.

I am involved in the subject and I have seen people in severe distress when things go wrong. That is the difference between us here.

enough of the personal digs, thank you

Marchef

Have you considered a log/turf gasification stove? Might be the most efficient means of heating rads & hot water.

wood log gasification heating system sounds good. my only concerns would be the extra cost of building a boiler house will increase the payback time in comparison to oil fired boiler placed in utility with added benefit of any heat loss through unit will heat room. mhrv will also have extract point in utility to aid clothes drying. We would also like a stove in house for the "warm feel"it brings. we currently have open fire which i love to light in the evening ( and watch the heat going up the chimney). is there such a thing internally fitted gasification stove with back boiler i.e will be fitted in living room and work on same principal as gasification system.i have seen airtight stoves which draw the primary air from outside which seems like a good idea.

rockabaloo

BryanF wrote: »

Answer my question then I'll answer yours. What is your ventilation strategy? Ie are you mechanically or naturally ventilating the house
http://www.environ.ie/en/Publications/DevelopmentandHousing/BuildingStandards/FileDownLoad,1647,en.pdf

The OP says in his OP that he's gonna install MVHR.

BryanF

rockabaloo wrote: »

The OP says in his OP that he's gonna install MVHR.

Apologies didn't see that