Non Toxic Poison Shed

Historic buildings pose a huge challenge to bring them up to modern standard of thermal comfort and energy efficiency. Frequently there are both internal and external features that prevent useful levels of insulation being installed, therefore there is much reliance on the use of highly efficient heating plant.

On this occasion the existing building was a simple storage shed, with solid 13inch walls and oak framed roof under Kent peg tiles. The conversion was for a granny annexe, for which Conker obtained planning permission in August 2007.

As there were no special features internally we had the opportunity to highly insulate the internal walls using timber studs and counter studs, filled with sheepswool insulation. The system is designed as breathing walls to prevent a build up of moisture, particularly as there is no DPC. New floors were insulated and provided with underfloor heating, the roof was stripped to allow a warm roof system to be laid over the existing rafters, following the gentle undulations of the timbers and maintaining a traditional eaves detail.

A mechanical ventilation system with heat recovery has been installed to capture waste heat which rises in the open roof, extracting the warmth to reheat fresh incoming air. A wood burning stove backs up the underfloor heating, and a solar thermal panel will provide up to 55% of annual hot water needs. A small rainwater harvesting system supplies WC and garden taps.

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