Building Control, small lean-to roof, rafter replacement

hatt55

WIAWSNB said:

hatt55 said:

I think that having written this post, I did a bit more research and it suggests that yes, it would be treated separately. I suppose that sort of makes sense because I don't imagine very many Victorian houses have everything to current spec so you could never let a BC officer in or would have to do a full renovation as soon as they cross the threshold. 

In respect to the door - sadly its just an internal door. The upvc external door is in the utility room itself to get out into the garden, but between the kitchen and utility its just a standard door. So I guess they can't be classed as thermally separate. It may have been triggered by reading something earlier in this thread, but I did briefly consider getting a decent spec door which would then make the utility room separate and all of this stress would go away!

I'm pretty sure you are overthinking this

By all means, provided it isn't prohibitively more costly, or adds significantly onerous conditions, have your roof done under a BC building warrant. That is always good, and it's one step towards making that room a habitable space. 

Don't worry about the use of an internal door - no-one can force you to retrospectively 'conform' with current regs like that. That lean-to has been there for donkeys, and was always thus. It's poorly insulated, but - hey - so are countless such 'lean-tos' around the country.

The BCO may point out, if so minded and with best intentions, other improvements whilst he's there, but will - should - be impressed that you are doing stuff properly, and will be assured by your commitment. 

You will add further insulation as and when. 

"I'm pretty sure you are overthinking this " This statement could be made about almost everything I do! Its most annoying. Part of me imagines all the people that don't think or worry about this kind of thing and just get this kind of building work done. There are probably no consequences and they have a lot less stress.

This message/thread has made it seem a bit less intimidating, so thanks all.

WIAWSNB

Overthinking is certainly better than under

Please keep us updated with how it all goes. 

Section62

hatt55 said:

Putting to one side the pros and cons of insulating the walls at the same time (currently not planned), am I right that if the Building Control Notice is just for upgrading the insulation roof (i.e. the roof is the thermal element), they can't then demand that I add insulation to the walls as well? Because those would be separate thermal elements, which are only going to have some minor plaster repairs and the skirting changed. I suppose for the roof rafters there is also the structural element, but essentially it is still just the roof as a self contained bit of work. 

They couldn't walk in and say, you need to insulate the walls as well, plus you need to an external vent to the cooker hood and those plugs are too close to the cooker etc etc. There are many things wrong with the house in respect to current regulations that I didn't do, but it doesn't just become open season for everything does it? They would only comment on the insulation upgrades and rafters, because that is what the notice would be for?

Yes, don't worry.  If the BCO visits (these days they often just ask for photos) they are there to look at the work you are doing in accordance with the notice, not things you aren't doing.  It isn't a house MOT where everything is inspected and has to comply.

A friendly BCO might mention things they see which are concerning - but unless there was an immediate threat to life or other property (like the wall was about to collapse) then other things are outside their remit to deal with.

If you were converting a lean-to outbuilding or conservatory to become a habitable space then insulation of the walls would be necessary.  But you aren't doing a conversion since the space is already part of the house and isn't connected by an external-type door.