2019-07-01 Homebuilding & Renovating

homebuilding.co.uk 173

image: hÖrmann uk

howcani keepmygarage-cum-gymwarm?

dAvido’mArAsAys:

Traditionalup-and-overgaragedoorsdon’thavethebestinsulation,

lettingindraughtsandmakingthespaceunsuitableforanythingother

thanstoringa car,soif youplantouseyourgarageasa homegymit is

worthwhiledoingresearchintothetypeofgaragedoorsavailable.

SectionalgaragedoorsoffermoreinsulationduetothePUfoam

sandwichedbetweentwosheetsofsteelandthesecomein42mmand

67mmthicktypes.(TheLPU 67 ThermodoorfromHörmannUK

offersupto10%improvedinsulationincomparisontothe42mm

version,forexample.)

Tofurtherhelpthermalinsulationyoucanoptfora productsuchas

Hörmann’sThermoFrame,whichis fittedtoa sectionalgaragedoor

andwillimprovetheinsulationvaluesbyasmuchas15%asit will

providea thermalbreakbetweenframeandbrickwork,stoppingthe

coldairenteringtheroom.

Another benefit of a well-insulated door is that it also helps to

regulate the temperature in the rooms above and to the side of the

garage, removing any worries of damp or mould forming with changes

in temperature.

Q

We’re planning to build a home with an

integral garage. As we plan to use the

garage as both a home gym and storage

space, it will be as well insulated as the main

house. We’re worried, however, that the garage

door will let in the cold. Is there anything we can

do when buying and installing a garage door to

ensure it does not become a source of heat loss

and draughts?

dAnielAndsUe dAvis

Q

ihavepurchaseda plotwithplanning

permission,locatednextdoortoa listed

buildinganda pond.we haveappliedfor

a garageandsomeminoramendmentstothehouse

design(asourpermitteddevelopmentrightshave

beenremoved).Theplanningdepartmenthave

contactedustorequestanecologyassessment.

Theoriginalplanningpermissiondidnothavethis

requirement;aretheyjustifiedinrequesting

thisassessment? jAmesBell

sAllyTAggsAys:

This suggests that there was an

oversight when the planning department

considered the original planning

permission. If the county ecologist

considers that there is the potential for

newts on site due to the existence of a

pond then they are within their rights to

request an ecology report.

If you liaise with a local ecologist they

will be able to evaluate the situation and

may be able to liaise directly with the

council’s ecologist, if they have one, or

the county ecologist, if your authority is

not a unitary authority.

isAn ecologyAssessmenTjUsTiFied?

A well-

insulated

door will help

regulate the

temperature

in the rooms

above and to

the side