The heat efficiency of a Grade II listed Georgian townhouse in Bath is set to be drastically improved due to the introduction of Spacetherm® Multi insulation
Many listed buildings encounter issues with heating inefficiencies, major heat loss and high heating costs. Therefore, the introduction of Spacetherm Multi should help to minimise these problems.
Spacetherm Multi is a high-performance laminate specifically designed for existing floors and walls. It consists of a Spacetherm Aerogel insulation blanket bonded to a 6mm Magnesium Oxide Board.
Property owner Mike Mower, explains: “I obtained planning permission to insulate the top floor of my Grade II listed Georgian townhouse as it is single skin 6” Bath stone (Oolite) and very heat inefficient, all walls have the original lime render and skim and so they need to breathe.
“The property was built in 1818 and has been in my family for 101 years since 1919! I am the 3rd generation to live in it and it was last renovated in 1935 so it needs serious upgrading.
“The architect originally specified another insulation but this would have required encroaching 100mm into the room and would necessitate moving door frames and rebuilding window reveals.
“After extensive research, I identified the Spacetherm Multi aerogel product from the A. Proctor Group.
“The architect was so impressed by the thermal efficiency of the Spacetherm Multi. With a total thickness of 20mm when rendered, this will not encroach onto the floor space, and the door frames and windows will not need to be altered.
“Subsequently we included Spacetherm Multi on the planning application as an alternative to the traditional insulation originally specified, which was approved by the Conservation officer and building control.”
The renovation of the listed townhouse is being managed and installed directly by the owner. A lime plaster finish will be applied professionally by a contractor upon completion.
At 16mm thick, using Spacetherm Multi has a small impact on floor space, making it ideal for projects where space limited.
Typically, a solid wall will have a U value of around 2.1 W/m2 K. The use of Spacetherm Multi, would allow a reduction to 0.8 W/m2 K, dependent on the wall structure.
Finally, Mower commented: “I think Spacetherm Multi is ideal for listed building insulation as it has a minimal effect on the infrastructure of the original building.
“It has the potential to be used extensively in old buildings such as we have in Bath where heat loss is at a maximum, the original walls need to be able to breathe when insulated and insulation has hitherto been impossible due to the visual impact encroaching on the listed building.”
