Planning ahead is vital in any construction project. This is especially crucial with internal wall insulation. We needed to plan for anything that will be fixed to the inside of the external walls.
The internal insulation is a build-up of three layers:
20mm Diathonite plaster;
60mm Gutex Thermoroom insulation (dense woodfibre); and
10mm of lime plaster.
Together these three layers provide airtight yet breathable internal insulation. We can’t fix things like heavy pictures or light fittings or kitchen units to this insulation. And we want any light switches or power sockets to be recessed into the Gutex, so that they sit within the wall in the usual way. So we need to plan where we want fixings and replace the Gutex with rigid structural insulation board at these key points to take the fixings. We’re using Bosig Phonotherm.
So we needed to know exactly:
where the kitchen units will be going, and what height they’ll be;
what curtains and blinds we’ll be using, what type of fixings are needed and where they need to go;
where electrical power sockets and light switches will be located; and
what else we might want to fix to the external walls.
20mm Diathonite plaster
Window reveal
Phonotherm ready for kitchen units
Socket mounted on Phonotherm
We need Phonotherm for one side of the kitchen (to which the units will be fixed) -this has been planned for some time. We also knew where the sockets and light switches would be. But we hadn’t yet sorted out the detail of exactly what sort of curtains or blinds, and where we would need to fix to the external wall.
There was another thing to throw into the mix: the old windows opened outwards – no problem with any type of curtains or blinds. Where they’re not fixed units, the new windows are inward opening tilt-and-turn. So any window coverings need to allow for the windows to open, with blinds being a problem in restricting inward opening.
In theory, of course, with Mechanical Ventilation and Heat Recovery (MVHR) I shouldn’t need to open the windows for ventilation. But there is a psychological element to opening windows – sometimes it’s just nice to hear the birds sing! And a health and safety angle: being able to escape from the bedrooms in the event of a fire.
20mm Diathonite plaster
60mm Gutex Thermoroom
Window reveal
Phonotherm located for curtain rail fixing
So the strategy is a mix of:
blinds fitted within the window reveal for the kitchen / dining area and the study, with the opening being tilt only – this means no fixings needed to the external walls; and
curtains for the bedroom and living room windows, with Phonotherm fixings for the poles.
The good news is that my Beastmaker hangboard (strength training for climbing) will not be going on an external wall, so no detailed planning is needed for it at this stage!
More details on the materials here:
Curious if the phonotherm blocks has been attached to the Diathonite / wall behind with adhesive or mechanically fixed?
Thanks for blogging your project. Always good to have more case studies. What internal plaster will you be using, lime or clay?