Airtightness in new build

C

cowboy

Registered User
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26
Hi,

I am looking to get a new build as airtight as possible and am wondering if i should get a professional to fit the airtightness membrane.

house is a dormer bungalow and building direct labour.

Is the membrane hard to fit and does anybody know of a company that fits and tests the membrane as a service?

Thanks
 
Hi

Im just about to do the same, Im fitting it myself to a timber framed house- its fairly easy once you pay attention to detail - and ensure all joints are neatly lapped and taped

I asume you are putting in an air handeling unit, if so which one
 
Not fully decided on ventilation system. Have quotes from MTD and another from quality ventilation. Hard to know which to go with. both prices roughly the same.

do you think the better option is to fit the membrane yourself and spend money on blower door test and fix problems?
 
If you're building a block house you don't need the membrane covering the walls. The plaster makes them pretty much airtight.

Its at the junctions and openings that you will need to pay attention.

Talk to [broken link removed] if you haven't already done so.

They give good advice on how to achieve airtightness in various types of systems.

I intend doing any airtightness work myself. I wouldn't trust any Irish builder to get it even sort of correct. It will be very time consuming though so be sure you have the time to do it.

Good luck.
 
sas
Can you tell me how are going to get your block construction airtight. I am in a similar position and agree that the plaster work will make the house airtight but i am a little concerned about windows and doors and especially where the wall plate meets the roof timbers. I am planning to dry line all external walls with the 38mm plaster/insulation board and tape all the joints but this may be tricky around the opes. any advice on how I might achieve a really good airtightness. By the way I am installing a HRV system from a company in tuam so I'm not worried about ventilation problems in the house
 

Hi,

I'm not building block construction (don't know how I'm going to build it yet). I've just seen it done in articles in construct Ireland.

I'd recommend you ring www.ecologicalbuildingsystems.com as mentioned above. They are really great to talk to and give advice freely. They of course have something to gain because they sell the membranes and tapes but I've never ordered anything and they've always given me time.

If you are interested there is a seminar on Airtightness on tuesday 27th May in the Cultivate Centre in dublin by Niall Crossan from ecologicalbuidl... http://www.cultivate.ie/learning/green_building/green_building_seminars08.html
I was at the timberframe one last week by Duncan Stewart. Was pretty interesting. Was planning on also attending the passive house one in a few weeks.

I assume the HRV is coming from ProAir. I've been hearing good things about them recently.

SAS
 
Sas
you are right about the HRV system supplier.

I must give ecological crowd a call and see if they have any suggestions. I think I will go to this presentation thing on the 27th May

Keep me posted about any airtightness tips
 
Rahman,

Just talked last week to a Kilkenny based company Celtic Canadian who are into Canadian Super E construction / window supply. He gave me loads off advise, try him on 056 444 0612.

Reuben
 
Can anybody tell me the best route to take to make my dormer bungalow airtight. where would i run the membrane?
 
Hi, upstairs, every outer wall, i.e. in under the dormer roof, so behind the walls to your beddrooms, covering all slants, all over and around the trusses (sp?) and on the roof also, down the sides etc, downstairs all outer walls including around windows and doors. Basically anything that touches the outside.
We did a good bit ourselves in our own house, got really fed up with it, ended out our plasterer with his team of 4 layed the plastic first and then slabbed and plastered it for us for a slightly higher price. Worth it though, very tedious. You loose skin not to mention fingerprints on the tape you use!
 
thanks for that

what about where the internal walls and floor are now meeting the outside walls (timber frame)? we will not be able to place membrane here.
 
what about where the internal walls and floor are now meeting the outside walls
Click to expand...

This is the reasion that you have to plan this from the start of the build, during construction these areas are covered.

Its still possible - you just have to seal tight to the floor and sealing area
 
Mr Tayto....what product would you recommend to seal the membrane/polythene barrier to the floor? Would the regular tape that Ecologics (or equivalent) suffice, i.e. would it adhere to the screed? I can see a real benefit in spending time on this detail as its extremely difficult to get a good seal between the underside of the wall panels & the rising block walls (at least it was in my build).
 
Hi Apple

It depends on what the suituation is - see page 14 below, they recomend orcon F. I would still secure it with a batton, then the weight is off the joint.
[broken link removed]
 
Seen one of the episodes of 'About the house' last season, and they followed an airtight build in Wexford, a company did come and use a fan fitted into the doorway to pressurize the whole house and then proceeded around with a smoke gun to find ever little small leak and seal it............maybe look at the rte website?
 
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