Building regulations for insulation and doors

purplestar133

I am thinking of buying a house that has real wood floors in the living room- the original floorboards are varnished. There is a cellar below the room and I can see a couple of gaps here and there. I'm concerned about energy efficiency. Basically, I don't want to pay for heating a room when the heat is going to disappear through the floor. My father in law has said he can insulate the floor, putting insulation in the ceiling of the cellar as I understand it, but I've just looked at the energy saving trust website and it says you need to get building regulations for that.


The house also has two wooden doors that I would want to replace with UPVC doors which I've also just found out I need building regulations approval for.


I am a first time buyer and am clueless with regards to anything like this - but I am learning! My question is, how easy is it to get building regulations and is it likely to add a major cost?


I understand if you put an extension in or do a loft conversion it is a major project and there would be more rules to follow for building regs, but is getting approval for self installed insulation likely to be a problem?

Mollyb

You would be best speaking to your local council about the work you're planning. They can best advise you on fees and how to apply.
Speaking from Northern Ireland Building Control point of view however, installing insulation and changing doors are small jobs which wouldn't be costly. Fee's change from place to place but an application with an estimated cost of works below £2,000 would carry a building notice application fee of £60. You make the application and pay the fee to your local council, one of their inspectors call out to check the work and then issue a completion certificate to you confirming that the regulations have been met. Easy peasy. I wouldn't let it put you off a place unless there were major structural problems.

martinsurrey

purplestar133 wrote: »

I am thinking of buying a house that has real wood floors in the living room- the original floorboards are varnished. There is a cellar below the room and I can see a couple of gaps here and there. I'm concerned about energy efficiency. Basically, I don't want to pay for heating a room when the heat is going to disappear through the floor. My father in law has said he can insulate the floor, putting insulation in the ceiling of the cellar as I understand it, but I've just looked at the energy saving trust website and it says you need to get building regulations for that.


The house also has two wooden doors that I would want to replace with UPVC doors which I've also just found out I need building regulations approval for.


I am a first time buyer and am clueless with regards to anything like this - but I am learning! My question is, how easy is it to get building regulations and is it likely to add a major cost?


I understand if you put an extension in or do a loft conversion it is a major project and there would be more rules to follow for building regs, but is getting approval for self installed insulation likely to be a problem?

getting approval wont be a problem, BUT if you do it by the book, your improvements will have to meet certain standards of insulation.

read part L1B of the building regulations
http://www.planningportal.gov.uk/buildingregulations/approveddocuments/partl/approved

The work you do would have to meet certain U values, subject to payback constraints and feasability.

Its not the kind of thing a building control officer would be bothered about if you just did it (but dont take my word for it).

System

interesting… it could be argued that you are only insulating and internal floor which wouldn't require regulations, the ground slab of the cellar is effectively forming the insulation envelope, all you are doing with new insulation on the floor above is draft proofing!
But best to have a discussion with a local building control chappie

purplestar133

Thanks for the replies everyone. My father in law has suggested I try for a grant for the insulation as it would be done properly by a professional. Not sure where to start with that but will have a look.

MX5huggy

If you're doing it yourself don't bother with building regs. Your not "renewing a thermal element" the regs require you to insulate when you are. They don't require building regs when adding insulation else everyone who installed loft insulation would have to get them.

For the door use a FENSA Registered firm then that covers building regs.

purplestar133

MX5huggy wrote: »

If you're doing it yourself don't bother with building regs. Your not "renewing a thermal element" the regs require you to insulate when you are. They don't require building regs when adding insulation else everyone who installed loft insulation would have to get them.

For the door use a FENSA Registered firm then that covers building regs.

Good news - thanks!

DRP

agree with MX5.

I've celotex'd the ground floor in my last 2 houses. No way would I involve BR.