Apple Tree Corner – Open Eco-Homes Fact Sheet
Apple Tree Corner, Forder Lane - Open Eco-Homes Fact Sheet
General Introduction
A stone outbuilding converted from workshop to living and work space to a high eco-specification, using local, reclaimed and natural materials, and local labour as far as possible.
Vital Statistics
This detatched 25 sqm outbuilding named ‘Pippin’ is believed to be some 300 years old, having originally served as a shop for the Old Smithy across the road, and being part of the Dartington Estate. It had been used as a workshop for a lawnmower repair business, and the old door onto Cott Road had once served as the village noticeboard. The conversion was carried out in 2009, and included new service connections, partial tanking, re-roofing, insulating, making the internal envelop airtight, installing a wet room and mezzanine loft, new rooflights and glazing the existing openings. It now serves as a workspace with phone and wifi, and as overnight accommodation for guests.
The conversion was allowed under Permitted Development Rights, but the depth of insulation in the roof required raising the ridge height by some 20cm, which required planning permission. A proposal for a woodburning stove was turned down due to the visibility of the flue.
Annual Energy Use
Minimal heating is required over the winter, which is provided by a 2kW heater.
Heating & Power
Space heating is provided by a 2kW electric heater, and the wetroom has an electric shower. We have not added a further electric heater for a hot water tap to the sink, but this could be added in the future. With hindsight, the wetroom would have benefited from a small underfloor heating mat. I fitted 12 reclaimed glass bricks into the wall of the wetroom to try to allow natural light, but it is insufficient. All lights are fitted with low energy bulbs.
Insulation
The wall build up is as follows to achieve U value of 0.2
400mm solid limestone 100mm polystyrene insulation ‘Yelofoam’ 100mm wood fibre insulation ‘Pavatherm’ 12mm OSB with proclima air-tight tape 5mm service void 11mm plasterboard
The roof is a warm, unventilated roof using 60mm Isolair as combined sarking and insulation, and a further 175mm of hemp batts - U value 0.17
Windows are Ecoplus triple glazed argon filled fsc redwood - U value 1.0
Floor has 130mm ‘Yelofoam’ beneath GGBS slab – U value 0.23
Costs when installed
2009 prices per square metre
Woodfibre insulation boards 60mm Isolair roof sarking board £18 100mm Pavatherm £18
175mm Hemp batts £14
Yelofoam PIR insulation £10
Reroofing incl labour £60
About us and why we did it
The outbuilding was a large part of the appeal of our property which had been in the same family since the bungalow was built in the 1960s. As we work from home, it lent itself to being used as a quiet place to escape the noises of a young family, doubling as a spare room for overnight guests. As we intend to live here for many years, we tried to build in flexibility for future uses.
Who did you go to for advice & information?
Rob McLeod – Building Research Establishment www.bre.co.uk
Independent Building Inspector - JHA Building Control www.jhai.co.uk
Centre for Alternative Technology www.cat.org.uk
Who did each part of the work?
Architect: Francis Crow 01803 847632
Main builder: Ross Greenwood – not available
Roof: Totnes Slating and Tiling 07850984620
Electrics: Argyle Electrics 07793884203
Suppliers
| Item
GGBS slab
Floor – reclaimed ex-gym maple
Glass bricks, ladder, wetroom door, sink, balustrades, furniture
Triple glazed Eco Plus windows, Paint, Ifo Cera siphon toilet, air-tight tape
Reclaimed timber (loft supports ex-Plymouth docks)
Woodfibre insulation Pavatherm, Isolair
Yelofoam X insulation zero ODP extruded polystyrene
Gen Building Supplies |
Name
J&J Sharp
Salvoweb
Green Building Store
Natural Building Technologies
Cellecta
ECOS Paints |
Contact
01805 603587
www.salvoweb.com
www.greenbuildingstore.co.uk 01484 461705
www.cellecta.co.uk 08456 717174
www.ecospaints.com 01524 852371
www.reclamation-builders.co.uk 01626 833564 |
Transition Town Totnes 