Mews House in Hove

The property was an 1840′s Mews house that was in need of general redecoration, was difficult to heat and suffered from a degree of dampness. The property was in a conservation area and so any changes to its external appearance would require planning consent.

The owner wanted to give the property a modern look and create some new contemporary spaces within it to fit with a 21st century lifestyle whilst greatly increasing thermal comfort. Central to the refurbishment were new bathrooms and kitchen both of which required major structural work.

The owner planned to live in the property, undertake 80% of the works over a short summer period and then complete the project as and when financial resources would allow.

Period/Age of House: 1840s

Type:part-terraced/part-semi

No. Bedrooms: 3
No of floors: 3
Floor Area: 150m2
Cost: refurbishment work £100,000
Wall: mixed – Solid brickwork/bungaroosh

Features:

The energy efficient measures installed include:

resolution of the damp problems
internal thermal insulation to the external walls
underfloor heating systems and underfloor insulation – to reduce hot and cold spots in the house
loft insulation and pipe lagging
new heating controls to better regulate temperature in different rooms
new condensing boiler – to recapture heat from the flue
double glazing to match the needs of the conservation area
a new thermally insulated glass wall – to reduce the need for artificial lighting
low energy lighting throughout
air tightness measures
natural paints and furnishings

The first stage in the project was to make sure that any damp in the walls was properly understood and dealt with before the addition of any insulation. Walls have been insulated with a mixture of plaster-backed insulation board and wood fibre insulation. Wood fibre, apart from being a natural and non-toxic product is also able to deal with changes in moisture levels in the property, thus making for a very pleasant living environment.

The ground and and first floors were insulated underneath to allow minimal heat loss when underfloor heating systems were installed. A new gas boiler and heat controls were subsequently added to ensure that the whole heating system of the house worked optimally and that the temperature of each room could be individually monitored and controlled.

The kitchen was remodelled and a new glass wall adjoining the garage was made to bring in more light and reduce the need for artificial lighting. To this end, a glass wall was designed to have low heat loss as well as conform to Building Regulations.

The property has been refitted with Slimlite double glazing to retain the original character of the Georgian sash windows and adhere to the Conservation needs, whilst cutting heat loss. Tightly fitting blinds have also been fitted to further reduce heat loss through windows.

Being near the sea, wind driven air leakage from the property was a significant contributor to heat loss. Doors, windows and air gaps have all been addressed to reduce uncontrolled loss of warm air. Humidity levels in the house are monitored to make sure that this increased airtightness does not lead to a build up of moisture indoors.

The house has been finished with non-toxic fillers, paints and natural carpets.