'Eco' building? Got questions? Need Answers? Offering a product or service? Visit our forum.

my barn conversion

Keep track of what's happening with my Progress Updates.

If you read only one book before designing your conversion or renovation, then I recommend that you make it this one. I love patterns!

Location, Location, Location! pah, that's old hat we all know that the new mantra of home-building is Insulation, Insulation, Insulation.

Read more about - Lime mortar, VAT on conversions and managing woodland for fuel.

Tiling tips - learn from my mistakes!

Around an ongoing barn conversion project, this website draws together advice, information and references to aid all would-be and current barn and non-residential building converters and renovators.

Our approach takes on board 'healthy house', sustainable, ecological & environmental concepts to as great a degree as timescales and budgets allow.

rss feed

Subscribe to MBC

Add to Technorati Favorites

About | Shop | Privacy | Forum | Gallery | Contact Us
Custom Search
Latest Posts

Built in bed

Building Progress ~ February 2010

Step 8 = roof

Step 7 = high level design

Stoneworks

Downstairs tiled floor

Coppicing ash trees

Tree Planting - Winter 2010

The four new English "eco-towns"

Building Progress ~ January 2010

Latest Comments

On Boxing Clever? by Built in bed | my barn conversion on March 12th, 2010
[...] of practicality and desire. Practical because part of the construction can be used to solve my tricky carpentry challenge...

On Travertine tiling - pictures by Downstairs tiled floor | my barn conversion on February 18th, 2010
[...] time and money in planning, sourcing and then fitting. It’s been completed for a while now (since August 2009),...

On Gas Pipeline Woes by The four new English “eco-towns” | my barn conversion on February 10th, 2010
[...] my first thought was ‘glad they’re not on my doorstep’ , but then I have a bloody big gas...

On Building Progress ~ August 2009 by Building Progress ~ January 2010 | my barn conversion on February 8th, 2010
[...] foray into the world of tiling can be quicker and more effective than the last one, the thought of...

On Insulation by Logs | my barn conversion on February 5th, 2010
[...] Location, Location! pah, that's old hat we all know that the new mantra of home-building is Insulation, Insulation, Insulation...

On Logs 2 by Future Fuel | my barn conversion on February 5th, 2010
[...] Logs 2 [...]

On The Healthy House by Green Business on February 2nd, 2010
Thank you for this checklist - I might use it in future when building a green house of my own!...

On Air Source Heat Pump by Feed-in tariffs … coming soon to a roof near you!? | my barn conversion on February 2nd, 2010
[...] On Air Source Heat Pump by Pete on January 12th, 2010I'm in a barn conversion with a GSHP supplied...

On Building Progress ~ December 2009 by Gina on January 22nd, 2010
My first visit here... great blog! I always say, if you want to be really green, don't build a new...

On Design Patterns ~ my choices by Alexanders Pattern Language | My Place Of My Own on January 21st, 2010
[...] also think I’d selected too many patterns, choosing mainly those that fit, rather than those that I really valued....


    follow me on Twitter


    What is a U value?

    Category: Essential information April 30th, 2007 by mbc

    Now often quoted in building or building part specification, a U-value is placed upon an assembly of components to rate how well that assemblage performs in terms of energy efficiency.

    It is important to note that the U-value relates to the performance of the assemblage as a whole. For example, the U-value of a window unit will be calculated with reference to the glass panes, frame, sealants etc. and their performance as a whole.

    The U-value gives a numeric rating of the amount of heat that passes through the building part, therefore the lower the value the better the energy efficiency.

    If you enjoyed that post, then read these...

    Peak Oil ~ what is it & what bearing does it have on green building? on April 27th, 2008
    Peak Oil is a notional point in time.

    title (2)

    BREEAM ~ Building Research Establishment Environmental Assessment Method on May 11th, 2008
    The term BREEAM is one that I've come across in various contexts over the course of this project and thought I'd better find out what...

    category: 'Essential information' (1)

    Cleaning oak beams on November 29th, 2008
    I wanted to minimise the use of steel in the building and I like the texture and appearance of untreated hard woods - that led...

    category: 'Essential information' (1)

    VAT for barn convertors - Update March 2009 on March 8th, 2009
    It's been a while since a VAT update so I thought I'd review the current position, especially in view of the pre-Christmas credit-crunch fuelled reduction...

    category: 'Essential information' (1)

    Code for Sustainable Homes on May 16th, 2008
    The Code for Sustainable Homes is an essential read for anyone considering a sustainable home building project.

    category: 'Essential information' (1)

    Posted in Essential information |

    Leave a Comment

    Please note: Comment moderation is enabled and may delay your comment. There is no need to resubmit your comment.