ᐅ Screed on wooden floorboards over a crawl space, and more
Created on: 20 Sep 2021 12:55
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IdleWombat
Hey! We bought a single-family house built in 1938, renovated in 1988, and plan to move in by the end of the year. We’ll get the keys on November 15, and want to complete some renovations before that. The timeline is tight, so we urgently need advice on how and with whom to plan the renovations without going broke.
Some facts about the house: 125m2 (1350 sq ft) ground floor and upper floor, partially basement, under a 12m2 (130 sq ft) room there is a difficult-to-access crawl space with a wooden beam ceiling. It has a Buderus gas heating system from 2006, a 5kWp solar power system - self-consumption planned in five years - and solar thermal panels.
Plans and questions about the floors on the ground floor: The living room and bedroom have linoleum flooring over wooden floorboards, below which are wooden joists. Under the living room there is concrete, and under the bedroom (12m2 / 130 sq ft) the crawl space. The hallway has tiles that are tolerable, but ideally we would lay new vinyl flooring with cork insulation (8mm thickness) in all three rooms. Here the problems start: what would be a sustainable solution for the subfloor in these three rooms (total 50m2 / 540 sq ft)? Concrete screed in the living room? Concrete screed on wood in the bedroom?
Then the heating issue. Does it make sense to switch partially to underfloor heating while keeping some of the old radiators to convert gradually later? Does it even make sense to get rid of the gas heating because of the photovoltaic system and rising gas prices?
Regarding government incentives: we were told that most KfW (state development bank) grants are not worth it because the required standards are very expensive to meet.
We have many other questions and would probably need comprehensive consulting from people who understand the interconnections and dependencies. Who should we contact for this?
Some facts about the house: 125m2 (1350 sq ft) ground floor and upper floor, partially basement, under a 12m2 (130 sq ft) room there is a difficult-to-access crawl space with a wooden beam ceiling. It has a Buderus gas heating system from 2006, a 5kWp solar power system - self-consumption planned in five years - and solar thermal panels.
Plans and questions about the floors on the ground floor: The living room and bedroom have linoleum flooring over wooden floorboards, below which are wooden joists. Under the living room there is concrete, and under the bedroom (12m2 / 130 sq ft) the crawl space. The hallway has tiles that are tolerable, but ideally we would lay new vinyl flooring with cork insulation (8mm thickness) in all three rooms. Here the problems start: what would be a sustainable solution for the subfloor in these three rooms (total 50m2 / 540 sq ft)? Concrete screed in the living room? Concrete screed on wood in the bedroom?
Then the heating issue. Does it make sense to switch partially to underfloor heating while keeping some of the old radiators to convert gradually later? Does it even make sense to get rid of the gas heating because of the photovoltaic system and rising gas prices?
Regarding government incentives: we were told that most KfW (state development bank) grants are not worth it because the required standards are very expensive to meet.
We have many other questions and would probably need comprehensive consulting from people who understand the interconnections and dependencies. Who should we contact for this?
M
Myrna_Loy20 Sep 2021 13:41I would bite the bullet and fill in the crawl space, add good insulation, and be done with it. Anything else is a long-term mess. From above, it’s warm and humid due to living conditions, and vinyl creates a tight seal. This allows moisture, along with fungi and wood-boring insects, to really damage the floorboards and beams from the basement side.
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pagoni202020 Sep 2021 17:08So you have about four weeks until moving in and will only then find out the details involved, from floor construction to walls, ceilings, heating, pipes, etc.
If you are actually the tradesperson, have a month off, and have all the tools and helpers, you can start some renovation work.
If not, stop these ideas immediately, because my tradesperson is waiting on you, materials need to be selected, delivered, and installed, and one trade can only begin once the previous one is finished.
Maybe there is the option for a phased move, where you complete one or two rooms by then—preferably those that require minimal renovation.
You will be overwhelmed by materials, problems, waiting times, sudden changes during construction, etc.—don’t ruin your Christmas season.
It’s better to proceed slowly and thoughtfully. Start from the bottom to make it dry—seal the crawl space if necessary. On wooden beams (if they are still in good condition), you can easily work with drywall construction, such as OSB boards or floorboards; no screed is needed there.
If you are actually the tradesperson, have a month off, and have all the tools and helpers, you can start some renovation work.
If not, stop these ideas immediately, because my tradesperson is waiting on you, materials need to be selected, delivered, and installed, and one trade can only begin once the previous one is finished.
Maybe there is the option for a phased move, where you complete one or two rooms by then—preferably those that require minimal renovation.
You will be overwhelmed by materials, problems, waiting times, sudden changes during construction, etc.—don’t ruin your Christmas season.
It’s better to proceed slowly and thoughtfully. Start from the bottom to make it dry—seal the crawl space if necessary. On wooden beams (if they are still in good condition), you can easily work with drywall construction, such as OSB boards or floorboards; no screed is needed there.
D
Deliverer21 Sep 2021 12:28I don’t know the full circumstances, but I would also strongly advise against moving in too hastily. As you’ve correctly pointed out, gas heating is on the decline. However, converting to a heat pump requires careful planning. It helps tremendously if you have installed as much underfloor or surface heating as possible. Both are currently subsidized at about 45% by Bafa, including almost everything. Don’t miss this opportunity — it’s not something you want to do once you’re already living there.
In that context, you would remove the boiler from the roof, renovate it, and fully equip it with photovoltaic panels. The old system might be relocated to the carport or similar structure. Otherwise, please prepare it so that the area occupied by these panels can be retrofitted and connected to the new system within five years.
If the last renovation was in ’88, the electrical system and certainly much of the plumbing need attention too—also matters you won’t want to handle after moving in. You can get partial tax relief on electrical work if it’s linked to the photovoltaic system. Plumbing may be partially subsidized because it’s necessary for the new heating system (though, of course, not for a new toilet...).
You have an enormous, once-in-a-lifetime opportunity here. Don’t waste it just because you want to avoid staying in your rental apartment for half a year longer (or whatever the reason for your hurry is).
In that context, you would remove the boiler from the roof, renovate it, and fully equip it with photovoltaic panels. The old system might be relocated to the carport or similar structure. Otherwise, please prepare it so that the area occupied by these panels can be retrofitted and connected to the new system within five years.
If the last renovation was in ’88, the electrical system and certainly much of the plumbing need attention too—also matters you won’t want to handle after moving in. You can get partial tax relief on electrical work if it’s linked to the photovoltaic system. Plumbing may be partially subsidized because it’s necessary for the new heating system (though, of course, not for a new toilet...).
You have an enormous, once-in-a-lifetime opportunity here. Don’t waste it just because you want to avoid staying in your rental apartment for half a year longer (or whatever the reason for your hurry is).
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