home-show-george-clarke. George Q&A

Expert Panel George Clarke Answers Your Queries

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Date Published:
02/03/2009

We asked you to put your renovation questions to George Clarke, presenter of The Home Show. Here, he answers a selection of the best.

4-fitting-insulation. George Clarke Q&A

Insulating Your Walls

Q: We are about to start the renovation of some old barns and are currently at the building regs stage. We do not under any circumstances want insulated stud walls with plasterboard, we really want to plaster the stone walls - this presents problems in terms of insulation regulations and attainable thermal values. Are there alternatives to stud work and insulation that are acceptable and that will allow us to keep the stone walls? We have been looking online at insulating paints and plasters - are these truly effective, are they a viable alternative? What else can we do?

George says: 'This is one of the biggest problems facing someone who is renovating an old building - how to balance current building regulation requirements with maintaining the character of a home. There are two ways of calculating heat loss values. One way is by calculating the heat loss through each element of the house (each element being the walls, the floors, the roof). Or, you can go for a more holistic method for calculating overall heat loss. Whichever you choose, you can work it to your advantage one way or another.'

'You'll need an environmental consultant who will do a heat loss calculation for your whole house. If, for example, you have an efficient boiler system and really good insulation elsewhere, that can be offset against the walls, which may not strictly comply. Look at it as a whole, then you might not have to insulate the walls at all. But you'll need your consultant to calculate how you can make this argument. The end result is, if there isn't enough efficiency in other elements within your home, you may have no other option.'

'You mention insulating paints and plasters - I wouldn't recommend them at all.'

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  1. CAN I BUILD ON TOP OF AN EXTENSION I BUILT AT THE BACK OF MY HOUSE TWO YEARS AGO.I HAD PLANNING PERMISSION FOR A SINGLE STOREY AND HAVE THE COMLETION CERTIFICATE. I ALSO MENTIONED I MAY BUILD ON IT LATER AND WAS TOLD TO PUT FOUNDATIONS IN FOR A TWO STOREY WHICH I DID.DO I NEED TO APPLY FOR PLANNING PERMISION OR CAN I BUILD IT UP ON BUILDING REGS.MY HOUSE IS 21"6X17"FLOOR AREA AND MY EXTENSION IS 10"X17"FLOOR AREA
    Posted by p m j on 31/10/2009 11:29:49
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  2. I have a very tiny galy kitchen and ahuge (long) back garden. I would like to have an extension built to accommodate a new kitchen however there is a mainhole and waste pipe in the way. I caled in anarchitect his plans were to build up and aroud the drain.After lots of advice I did not go ahead as the extra space on the small extesion was not feasable. Any advice with regard the drain - I don't like the idea of building over the drain!
    Posted by debra ilyas on 21/10/2009 22:11:12
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  3. Hello ! My opinion on renewing the property and my husband's are totally opposed and we can't agree at all, probably because this is a difficult situation as we bought the semi-detached at the very high of the property boom Summer 2007 ! Maybe if the advise came from George we'll stop debating. The property is in High Wycombe, but I want to move to Marlow and currently trying to get our toddler into a pre-school there. This is still a 5-year plan due to the property market being slow and we can't sell the property right now as it's loss so much value. There is room for improvement with 3 bedrooms & bathroom (bath shower), there's room for 2 large bedrooms in the loft, lots of garden space (could buils the house twice in there) and front parking for 3 cars easy, can still fit one more in the garage. Could do with a loo downstairs. My husband wants to convert the loft and extend the back, shifting the kitchen in the front and the dining & lounge would be looking at the garden and sunset (lots of sun in the afternoon). His ideas are very good but I am concerned this will not be worth it - we bought the property for 280K, renovations would cost 50K, to break-even we need 330K and this will never happen because nowadays (because of the recession), detached properties are currently sold under 250K in High Wycombe. Also means our plans to more to Marlow are getting away... My idea is to increase the size of my toddler's bedroom(it's a little small), put a loo downstairs & that's it, small improvements - all in 5K ! Because I think we'll lose money improving a property that will cost more than it could ever be sold for. I would really appreciate your advice on this situation - please feel free to ask any questions, I know it's a tricky one, the property agents in the area are hoping it will go up but they said to hold off on improvements... Many thanks, Rina
    Posted by Rina on 08/10/2009 12:50:48
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  4. Hi George, We've just bought a house which needs loads of work and were starting with a single story extension. It's a smallish 3 bed semi and I'm not a fan of pitched roofs so am thinking about a flat roof perhaps with sedum insulation. However everyone keeps putting me off flat roofs saying that they are prone to leaking and won't last as long. I'd really appreciate your thoughts.
    Posted by Julesholland on 07/09/2009 20:12:23
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  5. Hello George, I want to ask you what sort of spray gun he used when he painted the properties white, and do you use ordinary paint in it? Janet
    Posted by jr on 04/09/2009 10:57:58
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  6. Hello George, I live on the top floor of an old mansion in Berkshire that has been converted to apartments. In fact one of the apartments was on that show "I own Britain's best home". I've been renovating my apartment slowly for the last two years however I have a water pressure problem. I am not on mains water as the water is pumped to a massive tank on the roof and the drop is very small to my water tank. Could you give me some information on a pressurised water systems please. Thank you in advance, David
    Posted by David on 24/08/2009 22:42:58
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  7. Dear George, I like to watch your Home Show and the way you improve people's homes is great. I wonder if you can tell me which spray paint machine you use for painting the interior white and where I can buy it. Kind regards, Peter
    Posted by peter on 06/08/2009 21:23:29
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  8. An extension at the back is stressing the building on the right hand side. There is a large crack in the extensions 7-8ml and the main building also shows signs of cracking. If I have to get it repaired but want to create a modern glass extension. However, from the back the dining room to the right, (which is not included in the extension) has old shutter style windows and three steep steps down. Also on the right the neighbouring property has a high wall extension. So I could take the extension straight across to the neighbour's wall. My problem is that I don't want it to look like a glass lean to. How can I get it to look modern and stylish and what building procedures need to be used because the extension is cracked and is cracking the main building?
    Posted by Millicent Taffe on 14/07/2009 10:11:20
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  9. We are slowly renovating our Victorian farmworkers cottage. I think we would like to take off the old lath and plaster on two interior walls, in the bedroom and bathroom. I think the bathroom wall used to be an original brick exterior wall. Both walls will probably need repointing with lime mortar but the brickwork will need to be sealed to reduce dust. Is this advisable and what is the best sealant? I assume that the walls need to breathe still. many thanks for your advice.
    Posted by Di Drummond on 09/07/2009 22:14:51
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  10. Why do you always insist on bi fold doors? You had to extend the budget to knock a wall down just to install them. Do you own a bi fold door company?
    Posted by Stuart on 08/07/2009 11:23:51
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  11. Dear George, We saw your programme last week it was our first time and we both thought it was very interesting. It was so that my husband and i got talking about doing up our house. Its a 2 up 2 down mid terraced, built around 1900 and it seems every cowboy builder has been and left their touch. Who would we need to get in touch with first? like to do plans and stuff, would that be a builder?
    Posted by LYNNE O'NEILL on 08/06/2009 19:52:31
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  12. Dear George, I have a beautiful building, with stunning views, which was a B & B for many years but has laterly been very neglected due to circumstances but I would love to restore it into a family home. Unfortunatly find every project I undertake needs much more expertise than I have and always seems to be a disaster. Watching the way you transform buildings is wonderful - breathing life and light into them. I do have a budget, but would be so grateful if you could consider helping me to keep this property rather than hand it over into the hands of developers who wish to remove all its lovely character and turn in into flats when it could be a wonderful home. I love this house and it never fails to give me a warm feeling, dispite the draughts! If possible I would love your help. The House is on 5 floors, has a garden and wonderful sea views. It is about 100 years old. Thank you. Deborah Wardman
    Posted by Deborah Wardman on 05/06/2009 17:45:23
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  13. Dear George, I saw your interview on TV yesterday morning and thought, at last a homes show that really does inspire! I live in a Victorian Manse in Scotland, 7 miles from St Andrews. It was built in 1898 for the Church Minister and has been in the posession of the church until I bought it in 2002. Although I upgraded it 7 years ago the area at the back of the house that includes the kitchen and laundry and upstairs maids rooms is sadly lacking. The garden is lovely but the house has no aspect onto it. I would love to have a 'go' and the clips I have seen about your program look fabulous, but I don't have a clue where to start. If you are considering making any more programs, I wonder would you consider taking a look. I considered selling the property last year but decided against it at the last minute because I love it so much but just miss the connection with the garden and nature. I know if I go ahead and do this I have to get it right. Any advice you can give will be really appreciated and very valueable, but the question I really want to ask and feel quite cheeky in doing so is, if you are going to do another series would you consider my home, it really is lovely, but could be so much better. I can't wait to see tonights program, really looking forward to it. Best wishes, Debra Simpson
    Posted by Debra Simpson on 21/05/2009 13:59:56
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  14. I have always wanted to build my own home and have a good grounding in construction due to my experience of working within the industry. The problem I have always come across is finding the land to build it on. Would you please advise what sources of information there are to help me find land in my area or any associations that I can register with where resources could be 'pooled' togther.
    Posted by Edward Docherty on 15/04/2009 21:09:13
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  15. You always seem to use very substantial protective floor covering when renovations are undertaken, that seems to cover existing carpets securely and withstand the duration of the works involved, what do you use as we have some expensive carpets to preserve when undertaking a loft conversion?
    Posted by karen on 25/03/2009 20:27:49
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  16. We have recently bought a Victorian house which has deep and ornate cornicing in the reception rooms.We want to strip them back to their original plaster and remove the layers of gloss paint.Can you tell me the name of a product I can buy that will remove the paint without damaging the plaster detail beneath it? Apparently a similar product was used on a project on a recent Grand Designs programme but I am unsure of the name of it. Hope you can help. Many thanks, Kate Bailey
    Posted by Kate Bailey on 21/03/2009 21:16:29
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  17. I want to divide my living room with a false wall but I need to know how to create a false wall. I found the idea under Living Room Contemporary living room Designs Image 6. Thanks vivian
    Posted by vivian on 18/03/2009 18:59:14
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  18. Soundproofing Hello, What is the best soundproofing available for floors and walls? Is there a factor such as depth we should look out for? We want to screen out maximum amount of noise. Thank you in advance for your help.
    Posted by Shona Shah on 02/03/2009 19:26:28
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