27th September 2010: Solar Gain Heat Pump Update

Layout for the panels has been finalised and the factory has confirmed that this is acceptable and will not compromise the efficiency of the system in any way.

Paul from Carbon Energy Solutions is on site now attaching the threaded bar into the gable end of the building. This should be finished today whereupon the rending can continue tomorrow as discussed.

The panels have arrived safely on site and the pallet with the thermodynamic block, fixing brackets and copper distributor pipework will follow later today.

Stuart Dixon
Managing Director
Thermal Reflections

Week 8 Report - 17th September 2010

The dining room was handed back to the resident on Tuesday which is a notable milestone. From the photos it can been that in this room things are returning to normal.

We have now moved on to the living room and in here there has been some unexpected works. With full access to the room an inspection was made by a damp and timber treatment specialist on Wednesday. They recommend improvements to the ventilation of the under floor void, this was work was undertaken and completed within 24 hours. Arrangements had been previously made for the under floor heating to be installed on Friday morning and postponement was not option.

The photos show the under floor heating during its installation on Friday.


Materials for the external wall insulation system were delivered to our yard on Friday and will be transported to site as progress requires. It can be seen that the volume of material is considerable and that storage on site was not option.

Week 7 Update - 10th September 2010

This week has been pivotal with the removal of the top lift of scaffolding in preparation for the installation of the external insulation system. With the top lift of scaffolding out of the way it has been possible to photograph the PV panels from ground level. A photo is attached of the meter showing the units feed back so far.

Very good progress had been made on the dining room. The walls have been re-papered, the floor insulation laid, under floor heating fitted and the new flooring installed. The decorations and re-laying of the laminate flooring is to continue over the weekend and the room will be ready for Tuesday.


The completion of this first room will provide the resident with an undisturbed area were things can get back to normal.

Of other interest we have included photos of the resident’s roses which are spectacular, the photos do not do them justice; the garden is a feast for the eyes.

15th Sep 2010 Update : Damp issue

On stripping the floor and wall in the living room, an area of damp has been revealed. Arrangements have been made for a specialist to visit site tomorrow afternoon to survey and provide a report. Whilst we are anxious to speedily progress the works, it has been decided that it would be best to take expert opinion before agreeing a way forward.

Week 6 Update - 3rd September 2010

The final inspection of the PV panels has been completed and they are now happily generating electricity. Painting of the fascia boards has been undertaken after completion of the roofing works.

The making good of the decorations to the dining room is now in hand. This has proved to more than was expected as the existing wallpaper cannot be matched, it has been agreed to strip of the existing and re-paper with new.

This is to be followed by the installation of the floor insulation, under floor heating and flooring.

All being well in the very near future will shall be handing the completed room back to the Resident.

Included in the photos this week are the German manufactured insulation panels.

Week 5 Update: 27th August 2010

The roof works were completed early in the week ahead of the torrential rain that was experienced. On a positive note the new roof coverings and PV panel passed this impromptu testing. The internal electrical installation for the PV panels was fitted ready for commissioning early next week.

With completion of the roof works the top lift of scaffolding can be struck and the external insulation commence. Prior to this a final inspection is to be made and any minor items dealt with. In preparation for the external insulation the rear and side walls below ground level have been further exposed.

Again the internal works continued with the finishing and decorating of the Spacetherm wall boarding that has been installed in the dining room. The making good and decorating of the reconfigured airing cupboard has been completed. As the Resident could not be left without hot water reinstatement had to be worked around the new equipment. Unfortunately the opportunity for the painter to have an empty cupboard to work on never arose.

Delivery of the German manufactured floor insulation panels has been confirmed for next Tuesday, this now enables the installation of the under floor heating and new flooring.

Week 4 Update: 20th August 2010

Works to remove the existing roof coverings got underway this week, inevitably the dry weather of the previous weeks was in retreat. As described in last weeks report the existing slating, battening and felt had to be removed and insulation board installed between the rafters.

Although a couple of days was lost to rain good progress was made with the in roof PV panel being installed.

With the new windows now in place the installation of the Spacetherm wall boarding commenced. The first room to be tackled was the dining room, whilst this is a high performance material it is also dusty when handled and worked. As suspected this was a relatively slow process and great care was taken to keep dust levels to a minimum.

Reinstatement and decoration of the internal reveals to a number the new windows was also completed.