3 ms·
TLDR: point one: you need insulation _everywhere_, along with some thermal mass to make sure there is some inertia to keep temperature even. This means that p
by KaiserPro 5y ago
TLDR:
point one:
you need insulation _everywhere_, along with some thermal mass to make sure there is some inertia to keep temperature even. This means that putting a jacket around the outside of a brick/cement structure is generally better than putting it inside. You need to insulate under the floor.
External wall insulation is not overly expensive. Its about 50% more expensive than a standard silicon render (in the UK)
Point Two:
Windows and doors are normally the weak spot. Standard double glazing has a U value of about 2. Depending on the coating and the position, they can also let in up to 2kw/m2 of heat through solar gain.
You need ideally coated triple glazing, which if paired with the correct frames has a U value of about 0.8-1.1 The coating is to reflect solar gain. You will need sun shading so that in winter the sun comes streaming in, but in summer its shaded out by the small shades.
In the UK its possible to get triple glazing at about the same price as double. For us, the big companies quoted >15k for shitty double glazing, local company was ~10k, eventual installation price was 8k for triple. This included custom arched door/window, and a french door.
- masklinn 5y ago> Windows and doors are normally the weak spot. Standard double glazing has a U value of about 2. Depending on the coating and the position, they can also let in up to 2kw/m2 of heat through solar gain. Also do be careful of thermal bridges and missing seals at and around the frame. My current rental is relatively well insulated all in all, but one of the huge weakpoints is the stone sill of one of the east-facing windows, I don’t know what the builders fucked up but in winter it can literally serve as a fridge.
- alkonaut 5y ago> Standard double glazing How is the code still allowing new construction with windows having U of 2 (such as double glazing)? A more restrictive code would reduce a country's CO2 footprint, companies would sell more expensive products like windows, and no one except the few constructing new homes would be economically impacted - and obviously only short term, while the economic gains are reaped by everyone. So how is this not politically easy to just...do?
- KaiserPro 5y ago> How is the code still allowing new construction with windows having U of 2 (such as double glazing) its complex. but as I'm retrofitting the rules are different. The standards are here: https://great-home.co.uk/building-regulations-current-u-values-for-insulation-in-homes/ https://great-home.co.uk/building-regulations-current-u-valu... But the real kicker is that glazing should have bleeder vents in them, in some circumstances. Which is a pain in the arse. Most of my windows don't have them, but the two in the loft extension do.
- alkonaut 5y agoYeah having different rules for retrofitting is understandable (Although it would be good if those who retrofit were at least required to improve the status quo of the building, if not required to bring up to the standard of new building). But what blocks the code from saying e.g. U=1.2 for new construction which is a normal (and honestly pretty cheap) triple glass window?
- Mvandenbergh 5y agoEffectively it isn't allowed since the whole building has to meet a minimum efficiency standard which would be impossible to meet with U=2 windows throughout. My double glazed windows have a U value of 1.2 and typical for triple is 0.8 so the improvement isn't that big between good new double glazed and triple.