Case Study: Wells O Wearie Cottage

Thermal upgrades to Walls, Roof, Floors and Glazing

Added: 4th March 2014 | Author: Roger Curtis, Architect/Designer
Completion status: Completed

Upgrades to Wall, Roof, Floor and Glazing of a single storey detached cottage built of lime bonded sandstone rubble.

This project sought to demonstrate that effective thermal upgrades were possible in parts of a traditionally constructed stone building without excessive cost and disruption for the owner, nor requiring extensive removal or damage to the building fabric.

There was also an aspiration to use, where possible, natural materials that maintained appropriate levels of water vapour movement through the fabric.

Current refurbishment approaches tend to take the ‘all or nothing approach’ with respect to intervention – most internal fabric is typically removed and replaced. While such a template can yield significant thermal improvements, the interventions to the building are considerable and the financial cost is invariably high.

Either consideration makes such an approach problematic for many homeowners and property managers who wish to commission improvements on pre-1919 structures.

Related measures

fabric

Wall

Frame infill insulation

Roof

Loft insulation

Floor

Floor insulation between/under floor joists

Windows

Secondary glazing

Doors

Door refurbishment

Chimney

Reduced air flow

Frame infill insulation

Addition of frame infill insulation material or replacement of existing frame infill material with more insulating material.

Technical (8)

Energy (3)

Heritage (6)

Loft insulation

Adding layers of insulation to a roof above the ceiling

Technical (8)

Energy (2)

Heritage (3)

Floor insulation between/under floor joists

Adding insulation between and/or under the floor joists of a suspended (timber) ground floor, ensuring the ventilation paths below are retained (or improved). Usually floor-boards can be retained, though in some cases may need to be replaced.

Technical (10)

Heritage (4)

Energy (3)

Secondary glazing

Addition of a second pane of glass or double/triple glazed unit inside an existing window.

Energy (5)

Technical (5)

Heritage (5)

Door refurbishment

Repair of existing doors to make operational and tight fitting.

Technical (4)

Energy (1)

Heritage (4)

Reduced air flow

Air flow in flue reduced by the use of permanent or temporary measures such as a register plate with fixed ventilation, fitting of an enclosed stove, fitting of a damper plate or using a chimney balloon allowing residual air flow

Technical (4)

Heritage (1)

Energy (1)

service

Heat Generation

Fan-assisted replacement storage heaters

Hot water Storage

Hot water cylinder insulation

Lighting

Lighting system upgrade

Ventilation

Passive stack ventilation

Fan-assisted replacement storage heaters

Replacement of old storage heaters (or electric room heaters) with fan assisted storage heaters with automatic charge control to provide heating. Hot water provision upgraded to dual immersion heater with large cylinder with 50mm factory applied insulation

Technical (3)

Energy (2)

Heritage (1)

Hot water cylinder insulation

Installation of hot water cylinder insulating jacket

Technical (1)

Energy (1)

Heritage (1)

Lighting system upgrade

Lighting system upgrade which may include rewiring, alterations to controls and fitting of low energy light fittings

Technical (5)

Energy (1)

Heritage (3)

Passive stack ventilation

Review of natural ventilation strategy to ensure sufficient ventilation is provided. This strategy uses either air pressure or temperature difference to draw in fresh air (at wall or window vents) and extract stale air to the outside (through passively operated extract terminals located in wet rooms). Windows can be opened for rapid purge ventilation

Technical (7)

Energy (2)

Heritage (2)

Building context

Approximate date: 1840
Heritage: Listed - Important
Condition: Good
Exposure: Sheltered
Number exposed sides: Double or multiple

Case study location