Screed sandwich

Due to the height constraints of the building we came up with a somewhat unusual floor makeup. Sound proof dense plasterboard was laid straight on top of the oak beams, followed by 22mm chipboard and then a 40mm screed through which the services run, finished with a top of 18mm chipboard ready to take the carpet.

The result is a structurally solid, acts as a thermal store, and is acoustically isolated.

The studs float on top of the screed at the exact right height. To achieve this we came up with a pegging system. We used a liquid screed from Lidstones the pegs came out and the holes are filled in.

We don’t know if anyone else has come up with such a sandwich construction, most probably, but for us it was the right solution for this build. Another plus was a considerable reduction in the first fix labour, with a combined saving on plumbing (M&M Plumbing) and electrics of a massive £4000 across the whole build. All the cables and pipes are simply clipped to the floor and run into any studs or wall chases; no drilling through beams, feeding cables and pipes, joints or awkward corners.

      

Birthday boys

 

The uncomfortable truth

A lot of old buildings, even those given a clean bill of health by a “surveyor” can have horrors in store. I this case no foundations and floor levels excavated under the stone standings were not picked up by a local well respected one.

Whenever we uncover a sight like this one can’t help being filled with a bit of dread. Usually though there is a cost effective, structurally sound, naturally insulated breathable solution if you can think out of the box a bit, (and sometimes there has to be a little concrete in the mix).

We will do some diagrams/cross-sections of our solutions at a later date… until then here’s a bit of an idea.

   

See here is Kieran on work trial, getting nicely stuck in.

Damp solutions

Excavate to expose foundations and stop damp penetration through the walls from above floor level. Insulate with natural external cork render.

Big thanks to Dave for his digger work. Accurate fast and friendly.

I Derender

The first building stripped and ready for pointing with Lime from Mike Wye. Cork insulating render to go over – shame as the stone is really beautiful but it really is the best way to treat these old walls. Oh and yes proof we did have a summer!

JJF – R.I.P.

Today and far away, whilst this joint was being lovingly crafted by John, there was a change in the order of things, an exchange of energy, a release. I know he would have been proud - Rest in Peace John Joseph. 

 

Beam me up Johny: part deux

    

There has been a lot of sanding…