What documents should I include to get a quote?
What type of insulation?
What type of insulation and why? We recently had a client with a large house that was being built on a small budget. We suggested full fill cavity PIR insulation for the walls. This has become more common in recent years as it has become more difficult to insulate a...
When Does a Building Conversion Need a SAP Calculation and What are the Requirements?
Changing the use of a building almost certainly will mean that different building regs apply. Let us help you understand energy and insulation requirements.
Why new houses get damp
Have you , like me, heard people who live in recently built houses complaining of damp? Such conversations have grabbed my attention especially where the houses have been recently built, according to SAP 2009 or SAP 2012 specifications (2010 or 2013 building...
Carbon Neutral in London
SAP ratings in London can be particularly challenging. Here Malcolm gives a few tips and tricks.
Insulated Lintels
When you replace one of your windows with double glazing, why doesn’t the house fall down? This is because there is a lintel above the window that holds up the bricks. This lintel has to go right the way through the wall. In an insulated cavity wall it holds up...
Building Your Own Home
Many people like to build their own houses. This is very attractive financially as the cost of land and materials can be a lot less than the cost of a finished house. Self building has become more difficult due to the increasing complexity of building legislation. To...
Get a SAP Calculation Before You Build Anything
A customer asked me if they should get the SAP calculation completed before they started building. The answer is yes. You should have a SAP calculation while you are still at the planning stage before you start building-I would advise even before you buy any...
LED Lights
The brightness of an electric light is measured in lumens. A 60 watt incandescent light bulb has a brightness of 800 lumens. The efficiency of an electric light is measured in lumens per watt. Incandescent light bulbs have an efficiency of 15 lumens/watt which means...
Smart Heating Systems
The central heating in my shared house is controlled by a white plastic box on the wall. This winter it broke down. I spent several hours downloading the 20 page manual from the internet and reading it. So far I have only managed to reset the clock and know how to...
Is Insulation Safe?
We’ve known about the kind of problems that happened at Grenfell Tower for years, so why has no one done anything about it? Some insulation companies have tried to do something about it, and much of the insulation used today has a high degree of fire resistance....