Brickwork & Insulation | Building an Extension #4

In Part 4 of our series following the building of an extension we cover the brickwork and insulation stage and some points to consider when insulating your home.

In this episode Roger Bisby explains the benefits of using Rigid thermal PIR insulation, an alternative to mineral wool fibre insulation. Installing insulation such as PIR board insulation can help make a home warmer and reduce energy costs.

Thanks to its high rate of return per square metre Rigid thermal PIR home insulation can help increase energy efficiency and achieve part-L compliance.

EcoTherm insulation has a lambda value of just 0.021 – 0.027 W/mk. For example: By using a 100 mm thick Eco-Versal board you can achieve a thermal resistance (R value) of 4.55m2K/W . To achieve the same value with traditional insulation you may require up to 200mm thickness of insulation.

In the case of this project using Ecotherm Insulation Boards has helped the homeowner to significantly exceed the insulation requirements which means they can increase the extensions's glazed area with the addition of large windows and bi-fold doors. This made this sustainable insulation material the best insulation for their requirements.

As ever this episode of the extension series covers technology, tips and techniques designed to help anyone undertaking building work.

Episode 4 features:

Building a brick pier to support the steel beams
Putting in wall ties
Cutting a thermalite block with an Irwin block saw
How to cut a block with a hammer and bolster
Damp proof course going in on the outer skin
When and why you need an expansion joint in your brickwork to prevent cracking
The insulation installation

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[terencemanthorpe]

You explained everything clearly, I’m a sixty six year old retired chippy and I love your channel and changes to the building good and bad as the years go ; thank you 👍🍺

[bikerchrisukk]

I do like the subtle skills that come with time, like at 49 sec where the brickie throws a snot back on the mixing board without a second thought. Great video.

[mmmbbop]

0:45 That was one of the greatest mortar spreads i have ever seen in my life. Craftsman.

[BK-photography]

roger, i could listen to you talk forever. keep up tthe good work matey.

[jamesosullivan]

Another great video, cheers Roger, you're always very informative and knowledgeable.
I look forward to your videos being released, keep up the great work!

[MRKUSS]

Addicted to this series. Fantastic job guys, I'm learning a lot

[PizzeyTechnology]

Another great video. And thanks for mentioning the slip ties as they will be needed in a job I have planned.

[mikewManhattan]

yet another blinding vid from the SB library - thanks boys

[rss]

Great video as always. Good insight on property development and what to watch out for with these half a job builders.

[psymon]

just found this channel and thanks for the details on expansion gaps that was so useful, many thanks and will be cramming in alot of these videos now :D

[shahjahanahmad]

I work in development but mainly on the finance side. Though let me tell you, nothing makes me happier than a good bricky and his brickwork.

[MrHenkeeper]

Just come across your channel from this extension. Looks like you’ve got a decent gang. Cracking job. And skills. Credit dude

[mikegalway]

Just came across your vids now on the extension..great vids. Love the knowledge dropping on the insulation and brickwork. Would love to learn more of these little details on building in future vids

[ckuk]

I always check things before builders do something. But I trusted our architect/engineer when he provided the specification drawings. Once the footings were finished I learnt that now the building regs require 150mm cavity instead of 100mm. Our footings were done with 110mm cavity (103mm brick + 50mm residual cavity + 60mm PIR insulation + 100mm blocks). Now I wonder if the building inspectors would ask to break the footing and redo with 150mm cavity :(

[Eldorado]

Nice to see the DPC bedded on properly mortar above and below many brickies dont do it like that Roger this could be a point you could raise in one of your videos

[volkhen]

Interesting how the methods are different in Poland. Double walls are very rare here. Most popular is to build a house from air concrete blocks and then put 20cm styrofoam outside and then put plaster with mesh inside out 4mm thick.

[kestutisrusas]

Well done guys, a really interesting video.

[chiwong]

This guy really knows his craft. Would hire u in a heartbeat to do work on my house. In Scotland though, bad luck for me.

[толкочёрныеноски]

Thanks for the video, and the most important explication you give to us

[john-doe]

Expansion joint.. Interesting how we tend to forget and then "rediscover" things. Ancient Inca ( Maya, Aztec ect ect) were using something like that. Basically, on top of granite blocs there were T carved out and when they connected two blocs it created double T which they were filling in with molten lead. This is also why these structures were so durable.