What plasterboard to use in a Passive build? I wanted to achieve an excellent level of sound insulation between rooms and between floors where possible and also wanted a large mass of plasterboard in the build as it is proven to help stabilise temperature fluctuation in lightweight builds. I decided to double slab all [...]
What is first fix Carpentry First Fix involves the structural work roof struts, wall studding, framing and joists and this was all covered in the MBC package. Items that are also included in first fix that were not completed by MBC were stud work to create shower enclosures, staircase, door linings, window boards, noggins, [...]
What cladding for a Passive house? The Ash Thermowood cladding was supplied by Vastern Timber who went on to use my house as a case study for their product. Details can be found here. Fixing external battens Cladding fixing [...]
Plumbing First fix Hot water Cylinder & Under Floor Heating System testing
What is an Airtightness test? An airtightness test (also known as a door blower test) is a way of measuring the leakage in a building and is a great way of checking the quality of design, detailing and site work. Tests are mandatory in all new builds as part of the building regulations although [...]
Insulation considerations for a Passive House? There are obviously many types of insulation that can be used in a Passive House, all of which have pros and cons. All are able to meet the insulation 'U' value requirements, but will give a wall of varying thickness. There are other considerations to take into account [...]
Guide to airtightness and pressure testing produced by the Passivhaus Trust. The damp proof membrane is glued down to the slab to ensure there is no air gap. The sole plate is then fixed down to the slab with expanding fixings. After the ground floor panels are put in place [...]
Choosing windows for a Passive House When choosing windows for a Passive house there are a number of items to consider including; Cost, Performance, Appearance, Availability. I had decided that I wanted to use aluminium clad windows that were triple glazed to that narrowed down my search considerably. I wanted windows that had a [...]
Why install solar p.v. Up until the begining of this year it was pretty much a no brainer to install solar p.v. on a house, particularly a new build if you could afford the initial outlay as the Governments Feed in Tariff paid good money for power generated regardless of you using it yourself. [...]
