Green Building Forum - Retrofit: Checklist Wed, 10 Jun 2026 09:31:48 +0100 https://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/ Lussumo Vanilla 1.0.3 Retrofit: Checklist https://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/comments.php?DiscussionID=16607&Focus=281394#Comment_281394 https://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/comments.php?DiscussionID=16607&Focus=281394#Comment_281394 Sun, 14 Jun 2020 13:56:00 +0100 Doubting_Thomas
Of course there are exceptions to all of these, I’m just looking for general collective wisdom

So far I got:

Orientation/form:
South facing roof slope
Minimal North glazing
Compact form factor

Walls:
Ideally rendered or clap-boarded (so it can be externally insulated)
Else, large cavity for bead-fill insulation

Avoid:
Conservation area (!)
Overshadowed garden
Steep slope/retaining walls
Running water
Crawl Space
Timber suspended floor?

Any others?]]> Retrofit: Checklist https://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/comments.php?DiscussionID=16607&Focus=281397#Comment_281397 https://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/comments.php?DiscussionID=16607&Focus=281397#Comment_281397 Sun, 14 Jun 2020 16:16:30 +0100 tony
Either everything needs doing or don’t buy it

No roof work needed

Garden is as you want it, more or less.]]> Retrofit: Checklist https://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/comments.php?DiscussionID=16607&Focus=281400#Comment_281400 https://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/comments.php?DiscussionID=16607&Focus=281400#Comment_281400 Sun, 14 Jun 2020 20:08:13 +0100 Ed Davies Posted By: Doubting_ThomasAvoid:
…
Crawl Space
Timber suspended floor?When I was considering a renovation those were on my want list - if you're ripping lots out anyway then a suspended timber floor is probably the most straightforward floor insulation upgrade.

I had the option to buy the house I was then renting [¹]. It had a concrete slab for the ground floor and no foundations which would have made insulation a nightmare. That and a few other issues made it impossible for me.

[¹] https://edavies.me.uk/2012/09/so-far/]]> Retrofit: Checklist https://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/comments.php?DiscussionID=16607&Focus=281401#Comment_281401 https://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/comments.php?DiscussionID=16607&Focus=281401#Comment_281401 Sun, 14 Jun 2020 20:52:13 +0100 Fred56 No thatched roof
No asbestos
No shared access]]> Retrofit: Checklist https://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/comments.php?DiscussionID=16607&Focus=281405#Comment_281405 https://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/comments.php?DiscussionID=16607&Focus=281405#Comment_281405 Mon, 15 Jun 2020 07:59:29 +0100 jms452 Externally looks dated/dilapidated and ideally the rest of the street doesn't]]> Retrofit: Checklist https://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/comments.php?DiscussionID=16607&Focus=281408#Comment_281408 https://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/comments.php?DiscussionID=16607&Focus=281408#Comment_281408 Mon, 15 Jun 2020 09:01:36 +0100 Jeff B Retrofit: Checklist https://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/comments.php?DiscussionID=16607&Focus=281411#Comment_281411 https://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/comments.php?DiscussionID=16607&Focus=281411#Comment_281411 Mon, 15 Jun 2020 09:40:07 +0100 Doubting_Thomas
Posted By: Jeff BI would love to see the look on the estate agent's face when you guys tell them what you are looking for!


Fortunately this isn't us (having just finished a passivhaus new build), but a relative. Interesting to see the difference in priorities compared to what the estate agents are probably geared up to promote..!

Posted By: Ed DaviesWhen I was considering a renovation those were on my want list


Interesting point Ed. I was just assuming you could insulate over a concrete slab (albeit with a loss in headroom) whereas floor joists embedded in external walls seem to cause numerous issues with airtightness detailing etc. As you say though, if you rip the lot out it can be a lot more thoroughly upgraded.

Keep 'em coming everyone!]]> Retrofit: Checklist https://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/comments.php?DiscussionID=16607&Focus=281415#Comment_281415 https://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/comments.php?DiscussionID=16607&Focus=281415#Comment_281415 Mon, 15 Jun 2020 10:21:43 +0100 WillInAberdeen
Can't Easily Change:
Location
Access
Plot size
Views / privacy / aspect / outlook
Bad neighbours eg noisy/smelly industrial
House shape and size
Roof shape and aspect (tho subsequently we went off solar)
Wall material
Window sizes, aspects
Solid floors - more difficult to insulate
Drive/ garage space (builder's stuff, future car charging)
Planning issues / listed building / consv area / agri occupancy


Can change:
Roof, wall and suspended floor insulation
Boiler
Airtightness
Ventilation / damp
Lighting
Dilapidation / decoration / carpets
Kitchen, bathroom refit
Loft conversions, rear extension, etc
Move internal walls
Double glazing



We looked for places that ticked everything on the 'cant change' list, but we weren't bothered by the 'can change' list so we could consider places that were on the market a long time struggling to sell. Sadly, often the previous owner was deceased and the house was neglected.

Surprisingly there were several good opportunity houses from very different eras, 1980s, 1930s, Victorian, earlier.

Priced up everything we needed to change, and added that onto the house price plus contingency. Considered eventual resale/mortgage value.

In the end it's an emotional purchase and you have to get somewhere that you love enough to put all that work into it and you want to live in - checklists didn't help with this!]]> Retrofit: Checklist https://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/comments.php?DiscussionID=16607&Focus=281421#Comment_281421 https://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/comments.php?DiscussionID=16607&Focus=281421#Comment_281421 Mon, 15 Jun 2020 14:45:49 +0100 Ed Davies Posted By: Doubting_Thomaswhereas floor joists embedded in external walls seem to cause numerous issues with airtightness detailing etcAssuming EWI most of those issues go away, I think.]]> Retrofit: Checklist https://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/comments.php?DiscussionID=16607&Focus=281424#Comment_281424 https://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/comments.php?DiscussionID=16607&Focus=281424#Comment_281424 Mon, 15 Jun 2020 16:21:42 +0100 tony Retrofit: Checklist https://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/comments.php?DiscussionID=16607&Focus=281459#Comment_281459 https://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/comments.php?DiscussionID=16607&Focus=281459#Comment_281459 Tue, 16 Jun 2020 18:19:29 +0100 revor