Peter Heersema converted a former guest house into a double house. Optimal insulation was his goal. “When I do something, I like to do it well. I am very happy with the result so far. I notice how comfortable the front house is; I always walk through the house with warm feet.”
“Our house used to consist of several rental apartments. When we inherited it, we divided it into a front and back house. The front house is ready; Now we’re tackling the secret annex.”
Rigorous renovation
“I removed all the floors, ceilings and chimneys. You could look straight up to the roof from the sand. I made a new insulating concrete floor on the ground floor. The walls are insulated from the inside with false walls. All ceilings and the hood are also insulated. We then installed underfloor heating and low-temperature radiators. For the time being we still have a gas boiler, but the meter cupboard is already ready for a heat pump. I replaced the frames with old double glazing and fitted them with HR++ glass, and I made a new front door, without a letterbox. That also saves draughts.”
Before considering a heat pump, it is better to first insulate and reduce drafts
“In the front of the house it already feels pleasantly warm with the thermostat set to 19 or 20 degrees. For comparison: in our temporary house with half-brick walls, I set the thermostat to 24 degrees to get a little comfort. This is also due to the humidity; a damp home feels colder. It also stays warm in the front of the house much longer if I turn off the heating.”
Matching loan
“I have an architectural background and can do a lot of the work myself. That’s why I didn’t apply for any subsidies. With a plan, drawings and a budget, I was able to take out a suitable loan from the bank.”
TIPS FROM PETER
- Heat loss is also caused by drafts. So also tackle the seams and cracks. A front door without a letterbox creates less draught.
- Bedrooms are usually cooler. Therefore, also insulate between the living room/kitchen and the bedrooms.
- The old houses usually have a cavity of four centimeters. Insulating with false walls is then more effective.
- Damp homes feel colder. Ventilate well, so that the air is as dry as possible.*
ISOLATION MEASURES
- Ground floor: sandwich floor with concrete beams and ready-made EPS insulation
- Walls: insulated from the inside with PIR plate (12 cm thick)
- Floor: rock wool (16 cm thick)
- Roof: insulated from the inside with rock wool (18 cm thick)
- Windows: HR++ glass
- Underfloor heating, radiators for low temperature heating
