Insulation

[mark willis]

Hi

I have an old house 1890's requiring complete renovation, I have two thoughts which I would appreciate any comments on:

1. The house has been painted externally with non breathable paint, my plan is to sand blast clean, then lime render.

2. Internally most of the plaster has blown off due to water ingress, I was thinking of either:

a) Dot and dabbing, insulated plasterboard and skimming,
b) Battern out the walls and insulation between followed by some form of board and plaster

I think these would meet the U values and provide breathablity etc, but any better ideas gratefully recieved.

thanks

 

[tobydog]

Mark - welcome to PPUK. I'm just bouncing you back up to the top because you seemed to have been missed.

There are several people on here who should come along shortly and be able to help you with your questions.

 

[worms]

In your shoes I think I might be considering something like this since I would want to have the benefits of internal thermal mass. Fixing directly to the internal face of the brick/stone wall and then lime plastering directly onto the insulation. Perhaps it is all too good to be true, so others may see the flaw in this approach!

 

[MatthewC]

Hi Mark - welcome to this pot pourri of advice and views which has been most helpful to me in the last two years.

I had to replaster all of my house (1840s, Cotswold stone) also for the same reason (NB have you fixed the water ingress?). The walls here are 18" thick and I just used lime mortar and plaster inside - it's really quite cosy now as the walls are well dried and so have a high thermal mass. I wouldn't worry about the U values per se. I would suggest at least considering replacing the old plaster with more lime plaster as I'm not convinced that either of your solutions will in fact give breathability.

As regards the exterior, I'm not sure that sand blasting will receive universal approval, but it does perhaps depend on the construction of the house; what is it - brick or stone, Listed/conservation area? Roughly where are you?

As ever, photos please!

Matthew