Es TresidderFeb 18, 2023

Apparently my epic retrofit thread is getting slow to load, so I’m starting a part 2 here.

Six holes drilled around a unicycle expedition to Banquo’s walk (I was on two wheels). Doing a row near bottom of wall and a row near top, with 1m horizontally between each hole. 25mm diameter. Should be enough I think. More tomorrow. Sorry neighbours!

Show threadEs TresidderFeb 19, 2023
I have a recurring dream/nightmare that there is a whole annex of my 🏡 that I didn’t know about and have just discovered. No insulation, poorly fitting cheap double glazing, no airtightness. 😳😳😳😂
Show threadEs TresidderFeb 19, 2023
Seems to work ok with silicone sealant. Neat enough.
Show threadEs TresidderFeb 19, 2023
Apparently it’s only 13°C in the house. That’s not surprising, no gains from living in house/appliances etc, I’m only heating it for 4 hours a day and when the builders are in the doors and a window or two are open most of the time, so no time to get fabric up to temperature.
Show threadEs TresidderFeb 19, 2023
What is remarkable though is that as you walk into the house it feels so cosy and warm, even at 13°C. That’s down to low air speeds (thanks to good airtightness) and surface temperatures very close to air temperature (good insulation, triple glazing, minimal thermal bridging).
Show threadEs TresidderFeb 19, 2023

Houses built well (#Passivhaus) feel more warmer at lower temperatures in winter (and cooler at higher temperatures in summer) because of this. It’ll be v interesting to see what temperature we end up choosing to run it at (what we find most comfortable) when we move back in.

More on this here: https://www.highlandpassive.com/why-do-i-feel-chilly/

Why do I feel chilly? – Highland Passive

Show threadEs TresidderFeb 19, 2023
Update: it’s 14°C! Temp on watch must be slow response. Probably also not very accurate so take these numbers with a pinch of salt!
Show threadEs TresidderFeb 20, 2023
Flooring started going in upstairs today!
Show threadEs TresidderFeb 22, 2023
Flooring nearly finished.
Show threadEs TresidderFeb 22, 2023
Lead went on small bay window roof today.
Show threadEs TresidderFeb 22, 2023

Tried to drill some more vents in blockwork wall (to ventilate cavity between blockwork and timber frame) but broke the drill bit. Darn.

Time for pancakes 🥞 instead (forgot yesterday so we postponed pancake day to today!).

Show threadEs TresidderFeb 23, 2023

We have a bedroom door!

Still not solved the drill bit problem so I’m indoors trimming MVHR plenums. Good thing as it’s raining 🌧️

Show threadEs TresidderFeb 23, 2023
First one in. First attempt (first pic) wasn’t close enough to ceiling, got it second go, bit of scuffing of paint which hopefully painter can sort no bother. I’ll be more careful on the next 9!
Show threadEs TresidderFeb 24, 2023
More doors! And an air to air heat pump!
Show threadEs TresidderFeb 24, 2023
Airtightness to multiple penetrations through airtightness membrane. Should’ve done this before they bended the pipes upwards, fiddly but doable as it was. Every day’s a school day!
Show threadEs TresidderFeb 24, 2023
It’s always interesting to see what installers would normally do. Here the pipework, which contains hot refrigerant gas in pipe going into 🏠 and warm refrigerant liquid in pipe coming back out, goes in as early as possible and most of the length is inside the thermal envelope.
Show threadEs TresidderFeb 24, 2023
Even though the pipes are insulated there will still be heat loss. Less heat will be lost per m within thermal envelope (because the space is warm) and will be useful (will help to heat the house). By my calcs this change is worth ~£11 in heating costs a year (COP 3 & 35p/kWh).
Show threadEs TresidderFeb 24, 2023
They wouldn’t normally have made any attempt to make this hole airtight. Assuming this is equivalent to a 7cm2 hole that’s worth about £6 a year in heating costs, and a big impact on thermal comfort for anyone sat near this hole on a cold windy day.
Show threadEs TresidderFeb 28, 2023
Cladding going on front of house (last side to do) today. Looking nice! Time to go and trim some plenums/drill some vents.
Show threadEs TresidderMar 1, 2023
Cladding 2/3 done now. Looking sharp.
Show threadEs Tresidder
Fixing the air to air refrigerant pipework insulation that I had cut in order to do a good job on the airtightness. They’ll be cold if we ever use cooling, and also when in defrost mode I think, so need to protect from condensation within the wall.
Mar 1, 2023 at 6:48pmWeb
Show threadEs TresidderMar 1, 2023
Perhaps a good thing the old drill bit broke, this one is much sharper and therefore about 3x as fast.
Show threadEs TresidderMar 1, 2023
Planets (Venus and Jupiter) and #Passivhaus.
Show threadEs TresidderMar 3, 2023

Good progress in ☀️ this week. Cladding all but done (corner pieces need to go on). Very exciting!

Last night I insulated the first 20cm of outdoor tap pipework where it comes into house. Otherwise gets cold and causes condensation. Shoulda done plastic to avoid problem.

Show threadEs TresidderMar 7, 2023
External reveals to the front have now been done, meaning every bedroom now has a view! Windows need a clean!
Show threadEs TresidderMar 7, 2023
Same reveals from outside.
Show threadEs TresidderMar 8, 2023
Scaffolding is finally down! Yippee!
Show threadEs TresidderMar 8, 2023
Marmoleum down today for a bit of colour in the utility room, downstairs toilet, bathroom and shower room. And the special corner tap works for the bathroom window to open, just!
Show threadEs TresidderMar 8, 2023
Been looking forward to seeing the living room view without scaffolding. The weather was obliging today!
Show threadEs TresidderMar 9, 2023
Finished drilling holes in blockwork to ventilate the 50mm cavity between that and timber frame. A row of 25mm holes every metre top and bottom. Will fill them with drill vents tomorrow.
Show threadEs TresidderMar 10, 2023
Skirting boards going in, plus a water meter to allow me to monitor heat pump water heater COP, and my toy for the weekend. Gonna be drilling some big holes in the walls!
Show threadEs TresidderMar 10, 2023
Mountain reflections. Have missed having this decking for the last year!
Show threadEs TresidderMar 11, 2023
Finished vents to 50mm cavity between timber frame and blockwork. One 25mm drill vent every metre top and bottom. 👍
Show threadEs TresidderMar 11, 2023
I’ve decided the house is too airtight! 🤣
Show threadEs TresidderMar 11, 2023
Well that was hard work. Glad it was only concrete and not granite! Respect to any hole drillers in Aberdeen! Three more to go, maybe only one for today though.
Show threadEs TresidderMar 11, 2023
Done it. Second one much harder as position had to be right relative to first one. Desperate to start, then just hard for ages. Gonna be sore tomorrow.
Show threadEs TresidderMar 11, 2023
Holes line up fine with outdoor gubbins, with enough play to make sure it’s level. Phew 😮‍💨 Will work out how much I need to move shelf for MVHR to get height right tomorrow.
Show threadEs TresidderMar 12, 2023
Duct mock-up reassured me this should work, though I’m going to have to cut a few straight sections of the metal ducting. Shelf needs to drop 120mm
Show threadEs TresidderMar 12, 2023

Side note. People often seem skeptical when I talk about the need to make ducts between MVHR and insulated envelope as short as possible. ‘Why bother, they’re really well insulated?’

Supply duct contains air at outdoor air temp, exhaust air duct a little warmer, so you can think of these ducts as being like sections of external wall within the house.

43mm of insulation in walls wouldn’t look ‘really well insulated’, and it shouldn’t here. Keep ‘em short!

Show threadEs TresidderMar 13, 2023
Getting the wind-tightness sorted around MVHR duct penetrations. Interesting that it’s quite windy outside yet there’s only a light breeze coming through these, until a door is opened, then a gale. Good sign for airtightness of rest of house.
Show threadEs TresidderMar 13, 2023
A common comment about living in a #Passivhaus is that when a single door is opened there is no draught like there is in conventional buildings (should we start calling them ‘old fashioned buildings’, like some have started calling internal combustion cars ‘old fashioned cars’?).
Show threadDominicMar 10, 2023
@EsTresidder looks great. I assume that's your place. Will you move back in soon? If not already.
Show threadEs TresidderMar 10, 2023
@zapaman yes, our place. Hopefully in by the end of the month!
Show threadDominicMar 10, 2023
@EsTresidder great!! Glad you are getting there.
Show threadKennethMar 8, 2023
@EsTresidder Wowser! That is so, so, so lost for words!
Show threadGasper ZejnMar 8, 2023

@EsTresidder Oh, man, bathroom windows and opening them is sometimes ... just wow. 😁

Looks like your tap can also double as a window stopper. 😉

Show threadEs TresidderMar 8, 2023
@hruske nah there’s room to get it open, just!
Show threadS FraserMar 7, 2023
@EsTresidder what a view. Thanks for this thread, very informative.
Show threadEs TresidderMar 7, 2023
@sfscotland thanks, will be even better with clean windows! 🤣
Show threadKennethMar 7, 2023
@EsTresidder I’d give a lot for views like those. Lovely.
Show threadLilly HunterMar 7, 2023
@EsTresidder Wow. With views like that you won't need to hang any paintings on the walls, that's for sure!
Show threadKennethMar 1, 2023
@EsTresidder Spectacular!