Keep Beams!
Utilise as much of the original structure as you can and make the most of it. Keep internal beams, exposed stonework (on fully internal walls only, building regulations prohibit exposed stonework on...
View ArticleBuild in Technology
Whatever the original structure, a conversion means major building work. Take the opportunity to build in major renewable technologies – PV, solar hot water, rain-water harvesting head my list. Invest...
View ArticlePassive Solar Design
The opportunities for truly engaging with and implementing Passive Solar Design may be minimal on a conversion project – the orientation of the building is set and there may be limited opportunities...
View ArticleStep 11 = space usage and purpose
… Rooms – what, where and why? I think in the UK we take a strange approach to consideration of houses, judging a potential home, first and foremost by reference to its number of bedrooms. Forget the...
View ArticleMaintain Space
Most conversion projects involve the division of large functional spaces in smaller, habitable spaces. But keep the space & enjoy it … allow for a full height atrium, keep large open plan living...
View ArticleMaintain Traditions, Maintain Integrity – materials
When working with an old building maintaining its integrity is essential. One of the cornerstones to the integrity of a building is the materials from which it is built and with which it is maintained...
View ArticlePointing with lime mortar ~ Part 1 = Tools
Lime Pointing Tips As I near the end of my repointing opus magnum I feel a little more qualified to advise on pointing with lime mortar than on most of the subjects I blather on about on this blog. So...
View ArticlePointing with lime mortar ~ Part 2 = Mortar
Lime Pointing Tips As I near the end of my repointing opus magnum I feel a little more qualified to advise on pointing with lime mortar than on most of the subjects I blather on about on this blog. So...
View ArticleInstalling Freesat – Starter for 10
Given the problems I’d had with the signal from the TV aerial I thought I’d look into satellite TV. There was no way I was going to pay and any escape from the clutches of Sky seemed to be liberating....
View ArticlePointing with lime mortar ~ Part 3 = Technique
Lime Pointing Tips Here’s my take on how to go about pointing with a lime based mortar – others may have differing guidelines – this is very much my take. This post is this third in the series. In the...
View ArticleStep 12 = heating – space and water
What are your input systems? Oh the headaches this one has caused me… The first thing to determine is which is your over-riding goal – keeping costs down or be ‘green’? With mains gas still the...
View ArticleSDS Max drill / breaker – bit removal
I hired a big SDS Max drill this weekend – really a breaker more than a drill. I’m fitting a juliet balcony to the old hay loft door (building reg’s) and I wanted to get as large a drill as I could to...
View ArticlePassive Solar Heating Systems – ideas
As I’ve posted previously: A direct gain system is one where the main means of thermal gain is through direct heating of the thermal mass by solar radiation entering the building through windows and...
View ArticleThe anatomy of…
Anyone who has ever experienced my struggling for a correct structural term, name of a tool or other fine point of building terminology will understand why I thought writing an ‘anatomy of…’ series was...
View ArticleSketchup
I’ve been dabbling with Google Sketchup recently. Sketchup is according to the blurb “3D sketching software for the conceptual phases of design” or as rather more grandly proclaimed by McCall &...
View ArticleLessons learnt the hard way – squeaky floorboards
Having spent a few hours cutting out tongues (from floorboards nothing more sinister), lifting boards, rummaging around underneath them, padding and separating copper pipes with insulation, rescrewing...
View ArticleForum update – March 2012…
A couple of interesting posts on the much neglected forum recently… Justin is a cabinet maker looking to gain experience from a barn conversion – post on his forum topic if you think you may have an...
View ArticleIn my absence…
In my absence the quality of the advice on this site has certainly improved… johnrush a ‘Chartered Building Services Engineer’ has made a couple of interesting comments on the forum. Firstly on the...
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Your barn conversion –"what you really wanted for yourself"
Thoughts on making YOUR barn conversion - "what you really wanted for yourself"
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