A homeowner who spotted George Clarke and a TV crew filming a property conversion in a Northamptonshire village was so impressed with the Actis Hybrid insulation specified that he appointed the same designer – and insulation products – for his own barn conversion.
And the end result of that second project – a 6,500 sq ft home near Towcester – is seeing the owners enjoy minimal heating bills, despite the size of the building.
The barn conversion adventure began when the owner drove past a former village hall not far from his redundant farm building and discovered TV home design darling George Clarke creating a Remarkable Renovations episode starring architectural designer Stuart Ellis who was creating a home for himself, his wife and visiting grandchildren.
That project resulted, in true George Clarke style, in a dramatic denouement showcasing its double height living area, mezzanine playroom and feature staircase, with the added dose of jeopardy – the need to complete the project before Stuart’s son’s imminent wedding.
Stuart recreated the George Clarke experience, without the frisson of the deadline or the TV crew, for his new client, who wanted to live as sustainably as possible.
All external walls were fitted with an 89mm stud and a combination of 50mm honeycomb style insulation Hybris, insulating vapour control layer H Control Hybrid and insulating breather membrane Boost R Hybrid to achieve a U-value of 0.19W /m2K.
The barn, which has an air source heat pump, solar panels and underfloor heating, has an impressive living/dining/kitchen, sun room, study, four bedrooms and a selection of bathrooms.
Not only does the owner now enjoy free electricity, he also earns around £1,000 a year from the surplus generated by the solar panels, and effectively charges his electric car free of charge!
“Using Actis products is the thinnest way to achieve the desired U-values – and it’s really easy to fit. Using PIR board alone would have made the walls around 25mm thicker,” explained Stuart.
“There’s also less waste than PIR board, which has the added benefit of taking up very little skip space.”
“I specify for a lot of listed buildings, which are really cold, so I build a stud wall inside into which to put the insulation. Obviously, I need to ensure the building is correctly ventilated to avoid condensation so external air bricks can be added to ensure the stone can still breathe.
“I believe this is the way forward for listed buildings.”
The owner added: “We wanted to be as carbon neutral as possible regarding electrical energy use. Allied with the Actis insulation we now are completely independent and all our internal electricity needs are met.
“The thermal benefits of Actis are not the only benefit. It’s very cost effective, easy and non-toxic to fit and generates minimal waste. A sharp-bladed cutter is all the is required to cut it.”
Stuart is now using Actis’ new two-in-one Eolis HC, a reflective insulation with an integrated vapour barrier, in loft conversions and pitched roofs, so watch this space for news on those.
“I’m hooked on it,” he said. “It keeps the depth down as the Eolis has the dual function of insulation and vapour barrier. It’s so easy to fit and again produces less waste than using PIR board.”
