First bit of important information: we have NO big/extra money. We will hopefully realise a (small in this context) amount from a forthcoming property sale. We'd love to do a full on renovation of our old drafty house but we're stuck with quite a lot of limitations, not least lack of savings and three big hungry expensive children.
So we might have 30k or so maximum in a few months.
We have a 5 bedroom 1950s house with old crittall style metal framed windows (might as well throw the fivers out those open windows even when they're closed etc). We have LOTS of windows so cannot afford to double glaze. We solve that problem with a DIY hack of removable clear acrylic panels and magnetic tap. Works a treat though isn't gorgeous.
We think the walls are cavity walls but no real idea if they're already insulated. How do we find out easily?
We have solid concrete floors on ground floor, on various levels.
The heating system is a newish (4-5 years, can't remember exactly) gas condensing boiler and immersion tank (which also has electric input) fitted onto the ORIGINAL and ancient sealed system heating. It's basically a single unvalved massive cast iron pipe running around the whole of the house with some cast iron radiators. Some of these cast iron pipes run under/in the concrete floor. There is no thermostatic control per radiator: it is either on or off in every room, but there is an overall thermostatic control.Though we love the radiators, they are all in terrible places and can't be moved without refitting whole system. Where the big pipes are not buried in the floor, they run round bits of every room, making placing furniture very difficult - eg it can't be up against a wall because the giant pipes are in the way.
No plumber in the world - or at least round here - will agree to meddle with it to fix or change anything. They are terrified and only offer to rip it all out and start again.
We think we are at that point.
We also want to knock down a wall (between kitchen and dining room which has one of said radiators on it.
And we are considering doing up our very small family bathroom (the only one) moving and replacing our water tank (which is in the bathroom airing cupboard for an unvented one maybe so we have enough water flow to put in an extra shower in a converted cloakroom downstairs. We would need to put unvented cylinder either in loft (strengthening joists?) or in ground floor utility room next to boiler (would we then need pump for upstairs?)
We might also need to reorganise a bit of space around cloakroom/utility room in an ideal world to fit everything in.
I know we won't be able to afford most of this all in one go, but we're thinking if we can do the heating system and cylinder first, we might be able to do some of the other bits after we've saved up more money later.
And I'd really like to be able to (later, if the govt ever revives its green energy loan scheme) be able to plan for adding in some renewable options. I'm particularly interested in solar elec and thermal, and biomass boiler options. We have the space and a southfacing roof, though lots of big trees around.
So, that was a very long intro to my actual questions.
Would you agree that given we can't do a major renovation all in one go, best to focus on heating system, cylinder first?
Does anyone know - given all the digging out that is likely to be involved - what best option for new heating system would be? eg given concrete floors is it going to be horrific to try to install normal radiators without having copper pipes everywhere? What about an underfloor system on ground floor - would that be loads more expensive?
And any clever people with an idea of how much these things cost? I'm in Midlands so not London/SE prices! Any advice/suggestions/thought gratefully received. Thanks
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Musing about green retrofit heat/water and bathrooms etc Help me solve various problems?
9 replies
WilfSell · 03/07/2016 16:03
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