Garn Y Mor, Pembrokeshire Coast
Sue and Dick Russill were given the opportunity to create their retirement dream home - a beautiful cliff-top dwelling overlooking the Pembrokeshire coast. The couple chose to go beyond standard timber-frame specs by increasing the levels of thermal insulation to ensure comfort and energy efficiency.
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Start your U-value calculation >Celotex pitched roof, wall and floor insulation installed within coastal property
| Products Used: | Celotex XR4000 , Celotex GA4000 |
|---|---|
| Sector: | Housing |
The property, located just a short walk from Lower Town Fishguard, offered direct access to the Pembrokeshire Coastal Path - an added benefit for the keen walkers. It had already been approved for one building design, but Sue and Dick decided to start the process from scratch, focusing on their own priorities.
“Our main design considerations were to maximise the enjoyment of the views, to make the house eco-friendly, not to go overboard with technical gadgetry, to be able to accommodate visitors in great comfort and to ensure a non-obtrusive visual impact given the beauty of the surrounding countryside and coastline,” Dick told Self Build and Design.
The couple wanted the construction to be timber-frame with high levels of thermal insulation, and for the home to be able to make the most of passive solar gain. They also wanted to have plenty of glazing so that someone entering the house from the front door could come inside and immediately see straight through to the sea views out the back.
Working with Scandia-Hus, a designer and supplier of Swedish energy-saving homes, Sue and Dick were able to come up with a design that matched all their requirements, as well as their budget. Ken Pearson and his company Bluestone Builders were also able to help the Russils achieve their dream home and increase the already-high levels of insulation to ensure sustained thermal comfort.
The wall insulation comprised 70mm of rigid insulation panels using Celotex GA4000, along with a multifoil blanket enveloping the exterior frame. The pitched roof insulation included 120mm Celotex XR4000 boards, as well as bubble insulation membrane and mineral-wool cladding.
Both Celotex GA4000 and Celotex XR4000 enabled the pitched roof and flooring throughout the property to achieve lower U-values, with the inclusion of low emissivity foil facings further enhancing thermal performance within cavity air spaces. Both certified under BBA certificate number 17/5405 and 16/5352, with low global warming potential (GWP) and zero ozone depletion potential (ODP). Celotex XR4000 and Celotex GA4000 were not only easy to install, but crucially were able to future-proof the the energy performance of the Pembrokeshire property.
Aside from insulation requirements, the exterior was covered in fibre-cement cladding in a grey colour that complimented the contemporary appearance of the building, whilst fitting in well with the surroundings.
In May 2015, the couple moved into their almost-completed home. Only final touches like balustrading on the balconies needed to be finished. The Russills say their home surpasses their expectations, with its bright and airy rooms and panoramic views.
Sue also commented that visitors, “Can’t believe how warm and comfortable it is, even without the heating on”. She says this is the result of the high levels of thermal insulation, as well as the large amount of glazing on the eastern-facing side of the house, which maximises solar gain.
The cliff-top home, now called Garn Y Mor, spans 282 square metres across two storeys. The downstairs has an open-plan living area and a double-sided fire that acts as a partition between the lounge and dining room. Designed to make the most of the stunning vistas, Sue and Dick Russill can now enjoy the views from their energy-saving, stunning property.
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Key considerations
When using Celotex products, you need to satisfy yourself that use of the product meets all relevant national Building Regulations and guidance as well as local, national and other applicable standards relevant for your construction or application, including requirements in relation to fire and applicable height restrictions. In addition to the product datasheet, please refer to the following product documents:
- BBA certificates - where applicable to the application
- Declarations of Performance
- Health and safety datasheets
Celotex products should not be used in the external walls of buildings over 11 metres in height. Recent changes to Building Regulations mean that only non-combustible insulation or insulation of limited combustibility should be used in buildings of that height.
