I put it down to the additional heat radiating off TI after getting the final construction bill.

Pretty good indeed! The kind of house where you'll never see your breath steam out of your mouth as you wait for the kettle to boil in the morning..

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Could I ask what the architects view was on internally insulating a solid (brick throughout?) wall. A scan back through the thread indicates rigid insulation and airtightness considerations - which would appear to fly in the face of the purist/Heritage-Nazi view which demands the wall be allowed breath.

To my mind, permitting the wall to "breath" isn't such an issue where the walls aren't exposed to weather - I've insulated such walling myself with no apparent detrimental effect, but I can see the sense where they are exposed.

How was this detail approached. I'm likely to trip across this issue myself again so any info to help decide my approach appreciated.

Here's an Irish Times article about refurbishment/extension costs...

http://www.irishtimes.com/life-and-styl ... -1.2728290


Anyone here any thoughts?
Thanks

I think it is unbelievable expensive, but this is inline with what I was seeing with my own extension last year.

Adding an extension of 45sqm will bring this 133sqm house to 178 sqm or 1916 sqft.

The builder is suggesting that a complete renovation with extension would cost €280,000 or €146 per sq ft.

From my figures earlier in the thread I think this is at the lower bound of the range that it will cost. it probably won't include VAT, professional fees and permit and planning costs.

We only used solid in the new build extension, we used a breathable option in the original portion of the house.

If you use solid insulation you will get away with it for decades probably but by 50yrs the house will be in rag order with rotted floor joists, damp walls, plaster that needs replaced and crumbling brick work etc. you can look around town an see lots of examples where the building is in a terrible state of repair.

If you want a building to last do it properly at the start. I like to think of myself as the custodian of a building for future generations

Yeah, when they knock it to rebuild they want it to be in good condition first.

Fantastic thread - I'm sure this will help many people like myself who are contemplating refurbishments and/or buying a property in need of refurbishment/extension. Is it possible to list the professionals you used on this project? I've been lurking around reading different threads and it seems you've had a very positive experience with your refurb regarding the builder, engineer, surveyer and insulation specialists

Hi TI
|Great thread
We have a similar sized period property 4000 SF and we did a renovation job recently too (although not as smart as your one by the sounds of it) and our gas bill for that period was just over 700 Euros
I will preface it by saying we both work so generally heat is not on during the day and we have zoned heating so only the bottom and top floor heating is used 99% of the time.
We have a stove too but find it useless, need to be practically sitting on top of it to get any heat out of it

Glad you enjoyed the thread.

It feels weird to have had a full year without needing to renovate anything or to burn cash like it was going out of fashion.

Perhaps you should go on an expensive holiday

Or get a boat!

I'm in favour of the boat !
Have beer, can sail.