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Best Practice for insulating an old cottage.

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  • 21-01-2008 3:54pm
    #1
    slanleat
    Registered Users Posts: 21 ✭


    Hi,
    Great resource this board, I have read a lot of the previous threads on insulating and old house and I'm a bit confused as to what methodology is the best practice.
    Current house is a 800 sq ft labourers cottage probably built by the Land Commission or an LA sometime in the 1930's.Construction method is mass concrete walls , seems to be a slate Dpc in the walls that does not seem to be working too well but probably nothing under the bulk of the house.House is extremely cold , in fact if there is a mild day after a cold snap it will be warmer outside than inside!!
    Bulldozing and rebuilding is not an option so we have to work with the existing fabric and bring it up to 21st century standards.
    External insulation is a not an option because of roof overhang, window sills, all the facia would have to be changed around etc.etc.
    So we propose to put 12'' of fiberglass in the attic (we don't need it for storage) .
    Inject a chemical dpc into the exterior walls. Lift the floors and put down a Radon/ Damp membrane , insulation ( Is Polysterene the best thing to use here?, how thick should it be?) , New joists covered with 3/4 inch ply or OSB and an oak floor on top that.

    Exterior walls: One of the bedrooms was drylined (12mm plasterboard on 2x1 batens) in the 80's and we suspect there is mold in the cavity as the room smells damp and there are no ventilation holes in the walls , the situation improved somewhat when we unblocked a chimmney which increased the airflow and allowed for the egress of moisture laden air.
    We propose to apply that plasterboard that has the foam insulation stuck on the other side.
    What is the best method to fix this , some posters say on battens with fixings with an aircavity , others say dab/glue it to the wall and make sure air can not get behind it by sealing at top and bottom ...with caulk I presume?

    Flush to the wall or on battens, fairly big difference there , which method is right?

    Would you need a vapour barrier or is that foil back insulation sufficient?

    Thanks.


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