Fabric-first retrofit in North Clare

What fabric-first means

Fabric-first means sorting out the building itself before anything else: the walls, roof, floors, windows and doors. If the house leaks heat through poorly insulated walls and draughty gaps, a new heat pump or boiler is fighting a losing battle. Get the fabric right first and the house needs less heat, holds it longer and any new heating system can be smaller and cheaper to run.

Airtightness: the part most people miss

A lot of heat in Irish houses is lost through air leaking out, not just through the walls. Gaps around windows, service pipes, downlights, attic hatches and where floors meet walls let warm air escape and cold air in. Airtightness work means sealing these deliberately with membranes, tapes and grommets, and running services in a cavity so the airtight layer isn't punctured.

It's careful, fiddly work that gets covered up, so it's easy to do badly. We do it as a specialist part of the job, and the result can be checked with a blower-door test.

Ventilation goes with it

A tighter house needs planned ventilation so moisture and stale air get out. That might be extract fans in wet rooms or a full mechanical ventilation system, depending on the house and the level of upgrade. Airtightness without ventilation leads to condensation and mould. We'll make sure the two go together.

Sequencing the work

1. Assess. Look at the house, its construction and its problems. A BER or advisory report helps set priorities.
2. Strip-out. Remove what's being replaced and expose the structure.
3. Repairs. Sort out damp, rot and structural issues before anything is covered up.
4. Insulation. Walls (external or internal), attic or rafters, and floors where practical.
5. Windows and doors. Fitted and taped into the airtight layer so the joints don't leak.
6. Airtightness and ventilation. Membranes, tapes and service cavities, with ventilation fitted to suit.
7. Finish and hand over. Plaster, render and finishes, then we go through the house with you at the end.

Old houses need a different approach

Stone cottages and older solid-wall houses need breathable materials, or damp gets trapped in the walls. Retrofitting them is about balancing warmth with how the building handles moisture. See our lime render page for more.

Other services

• Lime render & plaster
• External wall insulation
• Natural slate roofing
• Extensions & new build
• Photo gallery