Renovate sensibly

  • Erstellt am 2013-03-12 15:36:30

kavenzmann

2013-03-12 15:36:30
  • #1
Hello everyone.

I am planning to purchase an existing property, built in 1960, in the Lower Rhine region.

The concepts from renovation consultants range from 16cm external wall insulation all around plus new triple glazing and a complete heating system to "for now just insulate the roof, tackle thermal bridges, and get moisture in the basement under control."

As a layperson, I look completely clueless...
I want to renovate as ecologically as possible, i.e., change as little as possible, as much as necessary, and use as little plastic and toxic materials as possible. Besides, I basically like the existing structure (33cm exterior wall: plaster, hollow block brick, plaster, solid clinker brick).

The detached single-story, fully cellar basement single-family house has just under 140m2 of living space, half of which is under the roof. The basement and attic are initially unoccupied.

The oil central heating is from Viessmann, built in 1975, with 3 plastic tanks of 1500 l each.
The radiators are gravity-flow and from the construction year, like all other technical equipment. These will certainly need to be replaced.

The tile-covered roof is insulated with mineral wool. I don’t know the exact details yet. Due to an overhanging upper floor ceiling and a loggia facing south, several thermal bridges are present. The wooden windows are mostly from the construction year and single-glazed. In the upper floor, some new windows with insulated glass from 1993.

The basement shows partially swelling plaster and flaking paint above the skirting boards on the exterior walls. These were supposedly protected against penetrating moisture by mining activities (which were active there) around 15 years ago using bitumen mats or coatings as a precautionary measure throughout the entire settlement.
The surveyor suspects moisture transport in the plaster on the inner exterior walls and recommends an "extension" of the horizontal barrier at the height of the skirting boards beyond the plaster layer.

My idea of renovation would be to combat the thermal bridges, install new windows with max. double glazing (in coordination with the exterior wall’s k-value), and a new heating system. Possibly new insulation of the roof with cellulose or similar, if the current insulation is insufficient.

Does that make sense?

Which type of heating supported by a wood stove in the living room (already there, but open and without a water jacket) would be recommended?

By the way, the floors will mostly be real wood parquet and tiles in the bathrooms, kitchen, and hallway. The bathrooms will probably also be new, unfortunately, and are also from the 60s.

Either stick with oil and use a modern condensing boiler or throw everything including tanks out and work, for example, with radiant heaters?

That’s my idea as a layperson (I’ve bought the "Building in Existing Structures - Atlas").

I would gladly have a paid consultation on site. However, only if someone really knows what they’re doing and does not just present insulation value calculations...

THANKS in advance!
 

kavenzmann

2013-03-12 15:51:13
  • #2
Oh, I almost forgot.

Real estate acquisition costs: approx. 200,000 + the usual 10% ancillary acquisition costs

Then about 80,000 remain for the renovation. But I don't have to blow it all... ;)
 

kavenzmann

2013-03-12 18:41:27
  • #3
Again me:

Since I have not yet had the actual consumption or demand values determined, I have done various simplified demand calculations with the online calculators (I know, but better than nothing!).

So I estimate the current demand at about 320-400 kWh(m2*a)
Through my planned measures, the demand can be at least halved.

The question about the type of heating is by no means answered yet. But a heat pump probably does not make sense with that demand. I think that a water-based wood stove combined with an optimized oil heating system is certainly not the worst option. I also don't believe that an environmentally friendly effect can be achieved with a pellet heating system...
Or as said, a rather unpopular but fuel-independent radiant heating system with electricity.

Any opinions on this?

Currently: oil (unfortunately, gas is not available on the street)
 

K.Brodbeck

2013-03-13 07:09:43
  • #4
Hello Kavenzmann,

I will not address your questions yet, only one concerning the on-site analysis.

This is certainly the most important point. In this forum you can get suggestions, but only a professional on-site can assess it for you. I can recommend that you contact a building biologist with the appropriate training. For example, I am an architect myself and completed a distance learning course in building biology at the Institute for Building Biology and Ecology, which seemed very reputable to me and still does after my training.

In this training you also learn the basics for sensible building renovation. I would be very interested in your property and would also like to advise you; I even live on the Rhine, unfortunately on the Seerhein at Lake Constance, which is why I think the distance is too great. Therefore, I can recommend two websites you can google: one is the Institute for Building Biology and Ecology. They have a link to consulting offices on the left side of their webpage where you can get recommended a building biologist trained at the IBN near you. Go to their websites, have a look at which ones you find appealing, then if you want to know more, you can arrange a consultation with the colleagues.

The Association of Building Biology also lists addresses of building biological measurement technicians, but it is very connected to the IBN because it originated from it (though it is now probably independent). Finally, there is the Professional Association of German Building Biologists, where you can also research addresses and information about building biology.

All these institutions are independent, which means they are neither state-funded nor subsidized by the industry. The consultants who are recommended work independently, so they are not employees of the respective institutions but contractual partners.

Best regards

K. Brodbeck
 

€uro

2013-03-13 12:56:16
  • #5
What skills/training/experience/competence does an architect or building biologist have regarding plant engineering? The overall reciprocal and significant connection between the building structure, climate/location, plant engineering, and user behavior should be known by now ;-) best regards
 

K.Brodbeck

2013-03-13 13:32:36
  • #6


There is nothing better for an architect than to have competent partners, so a building services engineer who has also completed training as a building biologist is my dream partner!

Kind regards

K.Brodbeck
 

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