air tight house

Shooter_galway

Can someone explain to me what taping a house consists of, I know its taping around windows doors etc but is it necessary to do this?? And what type of contractors should I be looking at to do this?

BryanF

what air-tightness level is in your specification? Many New homes are now installing Mvhr and detailing the external fabric minimising air-leakage & cold bridging.

Shooter_galway

Looking to achieve 7m3 air tightness, have been told to look into taping etc but haven't a clue where to look

MicktheMan

Shooter_galway wrote: »

Looking to achieve 7m3 air tightness, have been told to look into taping etc but haven't a clue where to look

Get a clue!

You do know that 7m3/hr/m2 is the absolute worst allowed by the b.regs!

At that leakage rate, I wouldn't be thinking about airtightness tapes but rather a good jumper and high heating bills:)

Shooter_galway

MicktheMan wrote: »

Get a clue!

You do know that 7m3/hr/m2 is the absolute worst allowed by the b.regs!

At that leakage rate, I wouldn't be thinking about airtightness tapes but rather a good jumper and high heating bills:)

I asked for suggestions for contractors that do taping not for you to come and leave a smart ass comment.

MicktheMan

Shooter_galway wrote: »

I asked for suggestions for contractors that do taping not for you to come and leave a smart ass comment.

While you did ask about contractors, you also asked "but is it necessary to do this". My reply was to this query and was not intended to be in any way "smart ass" but rather to wake you up to the fact that 7m3/hr/m2 is a very poor outcome in this day and age.

To answer your contractors question - you probably don't need one, if your target is 7m3/hr/m2.:)
Good luck

893bet

What stage of building are you at?

galwaytt

Shooter_galway wrote: »

Looking to achieve 7m3 air tightness, have been told to look into taping etc but haven't a clue where to look

That's what you'd get if you left the front door open. ....

Seriously, what stage are you at, what's it built of etc etc

7m3 is an appalling figure. 1m3 should be your target

Shooter_galway

Roof is just on and windows should be in tomorrow..

sydthebeat

Shooter_galway wrote: »

Roof is just on and windows should be in tomorrow..

did you ask the window supplier to preinstall the tapes? makes for much easier taping.

usually costs some where between 500-1k depending on number and size for a typical domestic situation

Drift

Hey OP,

Has someone checked to make sure your house will meet Part L of the Building Regulations. A calculation of energy usage (including the effects of insulation, air-tightness, etc.) using a software package called DEAP is required to show compliance.

The reason I ask this is because I suspect it might be very difficult for your house to meet Part L at an air-tightness level of 7m3/hr/m2.

Part L lists 7m3/hr/m2 as the absolute worst you are allowed to have (referred to as a back-stop value). It doesn't guarantee that your house will meet the regulations at this level.

It sounds like your house is in a condition where it is still possible to get a lot lower than 7m3/hr/m2 without too much effort. It could save you a lot of money in the long run if you get your building professional (architect, engineer, technician) to look at the DEAP calculation now.

Drift

sydthebeat wrote: »

did you ask the window supplier to preinstall the tapes? makes for much easier taping.

Oh how I wish I thought of this 5 years ago. My knuckles and fingers would thank me!!!!

893bet

Hi OP,

Read this! Lots of info!

http://www.zerocarbonhub.org/sites/default/files/resources/reports/A_Practical_Guide_to_Building_Air_Tight_Dwellings_NF16.pdf

Dont neglect airtightness and spend a fortune on insulation!

Shooter_galway

I've gotten the insulation crowd to price up but this just covers sealing windows and doors.. Been doing a bit more research into it for sealing walls and hollow core, is it just a case of taping over the joints of the inner walls to the hollow core?/ +(pardon my ignorance)!!

893bet

Shooter_galway wrote: »

I've gotten the insulation crowd to price up but this just covers sealing windows and doors.. Been doing a bit more research into it for sealing walls and hollow core, is it just a case of taping over the joints of the inner walls to the hollow core?/ +(pardon my ignorance)!!

By sealing windows and doors are they using the correct tapes? Be careful incase the are just foaming them and telling you that is good enough.

All external walls need to be sand and cemented for airtightness (if u are going insulated slab route then this needs to be done before the slab goes on.

An airtight membrane needs to be installed on the first floor ceilings (or perhaps in the attic depending on where you decide the airtight layer is.

Every penetration in the membrane (light fixtures etc) needs to be resealed.

All penetration in external walls (waste pipes, electric sockets etc) needs to be sealed.

You need to seal behind your skirting board between the walls and finished floor

Tape up all windows and doors.


For starters.




Airtightness is something that you have to consider everything you drive a nail basically. You need some professional advice or else so a massive amount of reading.

poor farmer

Might I suggest that you do a course in air tightness ,its a one day course.
I am a self builder and I completed this course recently .I found it useful,I know that the providers are pushing their products, but you get to see and use the products available.(different tapes, membranes ,Mastics,grommets etc.)
Also it gets you thinking ahead, air tightness requires forward planning.

mfceiling

Shooter_galway wrote: »

I've gotten the insulation crowd to price up but this just covers sealing windows and doors.. Been doing a bit more research into it for sealing walls and hollow core, is it just a case of taping over the joints of the inner walls to the hollow core?/ +(pardon my ignorance)!!

Shooter - read the live builds section on here. Look for a poster called Sas. Find his posts on the airtightness and in particular wrapping the hollowcore. He has pictures there which will let you know what to do. Do this correctly now and it will save you a fortune in the long run. Best of luck.

893bet

mfceiling wrote: »

Shooter - read the live builds section on here. Look for a poster called Sas. Find his posts on the airtightness and in particular wrapping the hollowcore. He has pictures there which will let you know what to do. Do this correctly now and it will save you a fortune in the long run. Best of luck.

Think the roof is on already so too late for that?

about2build

hows can you pre tape for the windows prior to installation.....trying to visualise....was very difficult working around the window anchors after the event!??

sydthebeat

about2build wrote: »

hows can you pre tape for the windows prior to installation.....trying to visualise....was very difficult working around the window anchors after the event!??

It's pretty much standard now to pretape.
The Windows can be strapped to the front, or if that's not possible, the tape can be applied to the frame before the straps.