Insulating a Cob Cottage - 1

Jason our mechanical and energy engineer has recently been taking some time off from work to renovate and insulate his own cob cottage.  Having already plastered internally using traditional methods and lime based plasters it was now time to apply what was learnt to the external facade.   In its existing condition the cottage had cement render which needed to be replaced due to cracking and movement.   This presented an ideal opportunity to also apply some form of external wall insulation system.  Having researched various different ways of insulating cob walls ranging from hemp products to EPS systems to wood fibres Jason deciding on using a lime based insulating render system containing perlites.  A render system called Unilit 20 with a  thermal conductivity of 0.066 W/m.K.   Whilst  not as good as some modern insulants this is still a significant improvement over applying nothing.   A balance had to be found between maintaining the aesthetics of the cottage and cob, vapour permeability and cost.    In addition the render system  has extraction qualities which promotes the drying out of the humidity and moisture in the walls which in turn ensures the walls stay warmer for longer.

Cob Cottage with cement render

existing cement render condition

monitoring instruments

Prior to the work taking place SPAB (Society for Protection of Ancient Buildings) decided to use the cottage as part of a research project they were conducting.  This  research project, which is part funded by the Dartmoor National Park Authority's Sustainable Development Fund is concerned with investigating the thermal performance of traditionally built walls and what can be done to improve them.  

The SPAB Building Performance Survey, prior to the works taking place, looked at:

• Fabric heat loss through the U-value measurement of wall elements both in the form of in-situ and calculated U-values.
• Air infiltration through air permeability testing and thermographic survey.
• Moisture, room and wall moisture including wall surface and interstitial moisture behaviour.
• Indoor air conditions and comfort levels via the measurement of CO2.
• Interior temperature and relative humidity.

Once the insulating measures have been carried out SPAB will return this winter to carry out the tests again.  In addition to the external insulating render it is intended to dig out the ground floors and insulate them, increase the roof insulation and make the cottage more air tight.

Extract from SPAB interim report (draft)

Open publication - Free publishing - More cob cottage

cement render removal

lovely bit of cob

now with skat coat

first coat of insulating render

G&S obtain funding through TSB Design for Future Climate: Adapting Buildings Round 2

Gale & Snowden are pleased to announce that we have been successful in winning significant funding for two clients' projects from the Technology Strategy Board (TSB) - Design for Future Climate: Adapting Buildings Round 2 competition. The projects are a new public swimming pool facility and a new office complex, both to be designed to Passivhaus standards. The funding is to allow the practice to investigate solutions to deal with future climate change by employing our skills in building physics and low environmental impact, passive design.

The award of the funding comes after the practice was successful last year in the Round 1 funding from the TSB for investigating and designing in climate change adaption for an Extra Care Facility in Exeter, Devon. This Round 1 work will be completed in October 2011 and the results will be made available shortly afterwards.

If you are interested in finding out more please feel free to visit our website and contact us.