Nemesis
Member
- Messages
- 9,402
- Location
- Planet Earth
http://www.bdonline.co.uk/story.asp?storycode=3089385&origin=BDweekly
Hmmmm.
Hmmmm.
- Thread starter Nemesis
- Start date
biffvernon
Member
- Messages
- 4,607
- Location
- Lincolnshire
Teach 'em to put layers of plastic in a wall and then call it an 'eco-house'
Nemesis
Member
- Messages
- 9,402
- Location
- Planet Earth
'Hank Dittmar, chief executive of the Prince’s Foundation for the Built Environment said: “This example shows how difficult it can be to meet zero-carbon standards through reliance on airtight membranes.
“Traditional buildings deal with moisture through render and materials that allow the building to breathe. In the long term we must evolve these traditional materials to meet new challenges rather than pursue quick fixes.” '
“Traditional buildings deal with moisture through render and materials that allow the building to breathe. In the long term we must evolve these traditional materials to meet new challenges rather than pursue quick fixes.” '
chuckey
Member
- Messages
- 883
- Location
- wenslydale
The real problem is with the "plastic backed plasterboard". Very good each board is vapour proof BUT unless a silicone sealant is used to seal the butt joins with adjacent boards, floors, ceilings etc. the whole shebang will have vapour permeability. Can you imagine the problems with trying to 100% seal 2 X 2.5mm cables into a sealed back box? (Never seen them, are they made?), then trying to seal the box to a plastic surface behind the plasterboard
Because of these sorts of problems, I do not think that builders are capable of correctly detailing air tight houses and not damaging them as well. Perhaps if the builders were made to give a 100 year guarantee against intersticular condensation, it would concentrate their minds.
I personally believe its a very poor method of building. One nail in an outside wall to hang a picture and the rot clock starts to tick.
The way to go is to use an inner skin of plastered blocks THEN the vapour barrier where it is protected then the insulation then what ever finish you want on the outside. This method also relieves all the problems with pocketting the ends of joists to get them to be "inside" the house and not a thermal/vapour bridge. It also simplifys fixing of stair cases to outside walls. In 10 years time you can bury the latest computer cables in the inner wall skin or even 12 V DC supplies for your all-LED lighting cicuit.
With solid concrete floors and 1/2" of plasterboard before you meet the vapour barrier, these houses are only good for their present owners because they are virtually un-modifiable.
Frank
Because of these sorts of problems, I do not think that builders are capable of correctly detailing air tight houses and not damaging them as well. Perhaps if the builders were made to give a 100 year guarantee against intersticular condensation, it would concentrate their minds.
I personally believe its a very poor method of building. One nail in an outside wall to hang a picture and the rot clock starts to tick.
The way to go is to use an inner skin of plastered blocks THEN the vapour barrier where it is protected then the insulation then what ever finish you want on the outside. This method also relieves all the problems with pocketting the ends of joists to get them to be "inside" the house and not a thermal/vapour bridge. It also simplifys fixing of stair cases to outside walls. In 10 years time you can bury the latest computer cables in the inner wall skin or even 12 V DC supplies for your all-LED lighting cicuit.
With solid concrete floors and 1/2" of plasterboard before you meet the vapour barrier, these houses are only good for their present owners because they are virtually un-modifiable.
Frank
Penners
Member
- Messages
- 17,294
- Location
- Suffolk, England
I hope to goodness that I never have to live in a draught-free house with fully sealed, plastic-lined walls. It must be hell! :x
You only have to spend a few minutes wearing a plastic bag* to know what I mean.
*It's a long story....
You only have to spend a few minutes wearing a plastic bag* to know what I mean.
*It's a long story....
Nemesis
Member
- Messages
- 9,402
- Location
- Planet Earth
Do tell Penners - we have all evening...
Flyfisher
Member
- Messages
- 10,245
- Location
- Norfolk, UK
My thoughts exactly . . . and people wonder why asthma and allergies are an ever-increasing problem these days.Penners said:
Penners
Member
- Messages
- 17,294
- Location
- Suffolk, England
Nemesis said:
Village fete, stall called "Drown the Clown", yours truly (who else?) is the clown.
Required to stand behind large board to which is attached a clown's body and stick my head through a hole where the clown's face would be. Punters pay to throw soaking wet sponges at aforesaid face (form an orderly queue now).
At Mrs P's insistence, much of my substantial carcase behind the board was clad in bin bags to protect against splashes and drips. However, ended up completely soaked in perspiration.
There. Still awake?
Nemesis
Member
- Messages
- 9,402
- Location
- Planet Earth
Oh been there done that - worse, in the stocks! Without the plastic!
And 'custard pie' target also... (actually shaving type foam...)
And 'custard pie' target also... (actually shaving type foam...)
chuckey
Member
- Messages
- 883
- Location
- wenslydale
Round here we have something similar at fetes, its called the wicker man. 
Frank
Frank
Penners
Member
- Messages
- 17,294
- Location
- Suffolk, England
Except - don't you set fire to him? In which case he might welcome a few wet sponges.
Gareth Hughes
Member
- Messages
- 2,741
- Location
- In the wilds of East Anglia
Penners said:
You need a virgin for a Wicker Man to work properly. Can't think where they find them nowadays.
Penners
Member
- Messages
- 17,294
- Location
- Suffolk, England
What function does/did the virgin serve? (Always assuming the answer is printable in polite society).