countrytalkandtips.myfreeforum.org

rool · Joined: 19 Mar 2007 Posts: 14 Location: South Limerick

I keep getting very tempted by either a wind turbine or a solar panel or two, however, I have come to the conclusion that there is no point spending all this money on getting cheaper energy when I can probably get a better return with better insulation in the short term.

I have one of the old tradition cottages, with the 2 ft thick walls, and have built a 50 ft extension to the rear. The cottage itself is just our living room.

Anyway, in the past the old bit has been the coldest room in the house. The builder who did our renovation (he would be done under the trade description act in the uk for calling himself that), just threw a single level of rockwool including the plastic wrapping in the loft but it made little difference.

After a bit of research I decided to go for sheepswool insulation for this part of the house. Now considering the area only measures 22 x 15 feet it seemed a little pricey at €700 euro but what a difference it has made. We have a geothermal heat pump which provides background heat to radiators but in the previous winter we had to have an extra fire in the room pretty much every night. We have had it on this year but only during the really cold spells and the room doesn't resemble an ice box like it used to the following morning.

I know have to take the plunge and redo the new bit of the house.

Camile · Posted: Thu Mar 22, 2007 12:40 pm Post subject:

Good morning ..

so the sheepwool insulation is good isn't it ?

we are in the process of building an extension on our old cottage too .. and were looking into it ...

can you tell us more about where you got it from and all ?

also, did anyone ever heard of the Ecobead insulation ? is it any good ?

Camile

rool · Joined: 19 Mar 2007 Posts: 14 Location: South Limerick

Hi Camile.

Yes I would thoroughly recomend it. You can read about it on the supplier website www.sheepwoolinsualtion.ie.

I thought that I would find it cheaper on a UK website but in fact they only purchase it from these guys anyway.

One of the major benefits is that it doesn't lose it's insulation quality as it gets compressed or just gets flat from age, unlike fibre glass. It is also a joy to work with as it doesn't choke you or make you itch.

I went to a seminar about the eco beads before christmas. it sounded good but our builder just put slabs of polystyrene in the cavity.

Something else we are looking at is some beads you put into paint and it gives a layer of insulation on the internal wall. I keep promising I'll paint this weekend but I never seem to get round to it Laughing

rool · Joined: 19 Mar 2007 Posts: 14 Location: South Limerick

that is of course www.sheepwoolinsulation.ie

sorry Embarassed

keithrawlins · Joined: 18 Feb 2007 Posts: 152 Location: banbridge

we just got ten inches of insulation pput in the oof space appaintly 6 isnot enough these days,atleast it was free, paid for by the goverment as oh has mobillity poblems.we are now just waiting fo the funding fo the solar panels ,hopfuly before i retiar (im 32)?

wayland · Joined: 14 Dec 2006 Posts: 1171 Location: Campile. Wexford

The bungalow that we have just moved into has cavity walls. There is no insulation in the three inch gap. At some point the walls were dry lined and two inches of insulation were put in between the plaster board and the wall. This leaves me with the vacant cavity to fill with something. Obviously this must be injected. Any advice on what would be the best stuff to use please?

Cheers.
_________________
Leave not a trace.

rool · Joined: 19 Mar 2007 Posts: 14 Location: South Limerick

wayland · Joined: 14 Dec 2006 Posts: 1171 Location: Campile. Wexford

That looks interesting Rool. I will have a look at it. thanks Very Happy

_________________
Leave not a trace.

blowin · Posted: Fri Nov 02, 2007 11:20 pm Post subject:

This may be a very stupid question but what would be wrong with using fleece just as it comes off the sheep ?
If one planned to do this presumably you could dip them close to shearing time to kill off parasites , and ask the shearer to set aside any really dirty horrible bits .
Would getting it dry be much more difficult than making hay ? Just hang it in a barn ?
Does it deteriorate quickly and/or go smelly unless it is properly treated ? Would a bit of smell even be noticed from a draughty attic ?
Building regs maybe ? It doesn't burn , does it ?
I am sure I was told that a fleece is only worth a few cents so the cost would be , what ? , a couple of euro per square yard ? That would be worth a bit of hassle ( most of which has to be gone through anyway ) .
I have a feeling that I must be overlooking something very obvious .

JayBee · Posted: Sat Nov 03, 2007 4:07 pm Post subject: