Eco Build
The use of building materials is a strange one across the world, especially when looking at older homes. We have become a nation of builders who use ubiquitous materials rather than local ones and many of these were not designed for use in older houses. Traditional materials are seen as out of date and not as good as more modern ones, yet it is the more modern ones that are causing many of the problems in homes across the land. So for example:
Leaking gutters and downpipes? Plastic gutters are notorious for being unreliable (cracking, leaking, creaking) and this can cause no end of damp problems, yet because they are cheap we put up with it (even if it means regular repairs, replacement and damp treatment). Make life easy - fit Lindab Steel Guttering. Solid, reliable, well made and easy to fit.
Ugly uPVC windows? uPVC is not a maintenance free product and neither are uPVC windows necessarily efficient. Wood however is a low maintenance material (every 4 or 5 years) that is beautiful, naturally insulating, recyclable and has a much lower embodied energy. If you go for inward opening ones even the maintenance is easy (no ladders required here!)
Draughty windows? Modern methods of fitting are not reliable in the long run no matter which type of window you fit. Mastics, expanding foam and covers will eventually fail due to weathering, however expanding tape will fill around the window and provide you with great airtightness, weatherproofing and insulation. So use Iso Chemie Iso Bloco One tape for a fail safe and easy window install.
Insulation made using lots of energy? We all agree that insulating your home is the top proirity, however we tend to use products that have a high embodied energy - mineral wool, glass, phenolic foams whereas for most of the time we could be using natural and / or recycled products that are equally as efficient to use, but have a much lower energy input to start with. Warmcel is actually regarded as a Carbon Negative, what could be better?
For more informationa nd advice on what to use where, please contact Peter in the office on 029 20373094 or info@rounded-developments.org.uk
