ᐅ Convert a paved extension into living space

Tina1979 schrieb:

Thank you! Well, actually the living room was planned there, and I like it nice and cozy... I know, that’s a problem! But where do I start now?

Tina1979 schrieb:

The budget for that is rather tight...

Then I would quickly abandon the idea of the living room altogether.

Tina1979 schrieb:

But I’m overheating myself to death as it is now.

Close the door to the covered terrace again and only live inside the house.

Otherwise: excavate the floor and install an insulated foundation slab (whether concrete or a timber structure). But with that, you’ll only solve a small part of the problem. The walls, especially the windows, are major sources of energy loss. The roof will be as well.
If it’s going to serve as a living room and you don’t want to overheat yourself to death, EVERYTHING should be redone.

What were the heating costs like in the past?

Please share the floor plans. It might be possible to live in the house without major renovations. The previous owner managed it that way as well.

I have attached the floor plan. The areas labeled as conservatory and hallway are fully paved. I have no information about the heating costs. The house was built in 1960, with an extension/conservatory added in the 1990s. Heating is provided by a 30-year-old gas boiler. Of course, it would be possible to simply separate that area and use it only in the summer, but I don’t really want to do that. Would it be possible to remove the tiles and install insulation panels instead?

Tina1979 schrieb:

Couldn’t you remove the bricks and cover it with insulation boards?

And then? a) You’d have a nice and cozy floor, and b) what about the exterior walls and the roof? They would insulate just as poorly as your current floor. Do it properly and invest some money. Anything else will just be a mess.

Tina1979 schrieb:

Couldn’t the bricks be removed and covered with insulation boards?

The issue is physics. Heat will be lost everywhere—and mostly through walls and the ceiling.

Focusing only on the floor would be like wearing a T-shirt with heavily insulated boots in winter. You can do it, but you’ll still feel cold.
(The reverse—thick winter clothes with sandals—is also not practical, although the heat loss, aside from a few toes at risk of frostbite, will probably be less.)

First, it’s important to determine how much heat is lost through the walls, windows, and ceiling. I’m afraid the floor is the least of the problems here.

I would recommend consulting a professional first to get a clear understanding.

Interesting floor plan. From the kitchen through the conservatory, then through the bathroom into the living room? Who designs something like that?