Mon, 20 Apr 2026 13:18:47 +0100 https://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/ Lussumo Vanilla 1.0.3 https://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/comments.php?DiscussionID=3980&Focus=53578#Comment_53578 https://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/comments.php?DiscussionID=3980&Focus=53578#Comment_53578 Thu, 07 May 2009 09:26:05 +0100 Chris Wardle https://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/comments.php?DiscussionID=3980&Focus=53662#Comment_53662 https://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/comments.php?DiscussionID=3980&Focus=53662#Comment_53662 Fri, 08 May 2009 13:37:09 +0100 tony https://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/comments.php?DiscussionID=3980&Focus=53681#Comment_53681 https://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/comments.php?DiscussionID=3980&Focus=53681#Comment_53681 Fri, 08 May 2009 16:49:10 +0100 tony
I think your prices are great and approve of what you are doing but would like to see higher levels of insulation used.]]> https://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/comments.php?DiscussionID=3980&Focus=53943#Comment_53943 https://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/comments.php?DiscussionID=3980&Focus=53943#Comment_53943 Mon, 11 May 2009 15:28:45 +0100 Chris Wardle https://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/comments.php?DiscussionID=3980&Focus=53955#Comment_53955 https://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/comments.php?DiscussionID=3980&Focus=53955#Comment_53955 Mon, 11 May 2009 17:15:07 +0100 tony https://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/comments.php?DiscussionID=3980&Focus=53956#Comment_53956 https://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/comments.php?DiscussionID=3980&Focus=53956#Comment_53956 Mon, 11 May 2009 17:18:46 +0100 MarkBennett Posted By: Chris WardleWas impressed that the construction in the article appears to single skin 140mm concrete block, i.e. a sensible sized blockyou can actually handle. The extension appears to be a stand alone structure suggesting you can build houses this way, with external insulation. Good idea?

I hope so, since this is how I'm planning to construct our new build (~300m2 above ground on two floors plus ~80m2 in a basement)). Gives the benefit of thermal mass inside the house combined with maximising insulation for a given wall thickness and minimising thermal bridges. Should help with airtightness as well.]]> https://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/comments.php?DiscussionID=3980&Focus=53962#Comment_53962 https://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/comments.php?DiscussionID=3980&Focus=53962#Comment_53962 Mon, 11 May 2009 18:43:49 +0100 jamesingram Chris
I feel sorry for your labourer , the dense 100mm are bad enough!]]> https://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/comments.php?DiscussionID=3980&Focus=53974#Comment_53974 https://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/comments.php?DiscussionID=3980&Focus=53974#Comment_53974 Mon, 11 May 2009 20:33:58 +0100 ralphswallow
The wall construction for the main part of the extension (the white rendered box) was the most elegant form of construction we could come up with i.e. space efficient, buildable, low U value and high thermal mass. Definitely better than the brick veneered timber frame used on the smaller adjacent part of the project.

Although architecturally the white rendered block is part of the overall house it is "standalone" from a structural point of view as was mentioned above.

The concrete blocks were managable as they were smaller than normal format, as specified, although still 140 thick and 7N/sqmm strength. From memory I think the blocks cost about £1000 for the whole thing.

Please don't assume that 140mm single leaf is suitable in all cases - as implied in the article close attention has to be paid to wind loadings for the site and how these are carried past or around door and window openings, i.e. check with an open minded structural engineer. (Fortunately in this case the self builder was one of those....)

Hope this helps

Please email if specific queries

Ralph


PS - Mark - we had planned on a basement as well, but when we saw what the ground was like at 3m down decided to reign in a bit.....]]> https://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/comments.php?DiscussionID=3980&Focus=53991#Comment_53991 https://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/comments.php?DiscussionID=3980&Focus=53991#Comment_53991 Tue, 12 May 2009 09:02:05 +0100 MarkBennett Posted By: ralphswallow
PS - Mark - we had planned on a basement as well, but when we saw what the ground was like at 3m down decided to reign in a bit.....

Hi Ralph,

I'm sat in waiting for the soil survey man to arrive to dig a couple of 5m test holes this morning. Seems like we could be on the boundary between clay and cornbrash, and I'm hoping that we don't end up with one half of the house on the brash and the other on clay.

Cheers,
Mark.]]>