Loft dormer in brick or stud?

[simon martin]

Hi,
Im end of terrace and considering having a cheek of my new loft dormer in brick rather than stud as I am thinking this improves insulation. Does anyone have a view on how much or whether Im wrong? Thanks
Simon

 

[^woody^]

Brick or brick cavity?

Brick wont improve insulation.

 

[freddiemercurystwin]

You're wrong.

 

[JP_]

Mine was mostly insulation with bits of wood to hold it in place.

 

[^woody^]

Mine was mostly insulation with bits of wood to hold it in place.

Did Freddie do the plans?

 

[simon martin]

Thanks. Its a loft design and build co so im guessing they will do whatever building regs requires - perhaps breeze block with brick externally and insulation in the cavity. Would this not be warmer in winter and cooler in summer then? Its south facing. That surprises me. (The existing wall below is victorian london stock im guessing with little or no cavity).

 

[^woody^]

Timber frames can be made as thermally efficient (and even more so) than masonry.

The issues with dormer cheeks are those of future maintenance and harmonising with the existing building.

A dormer cheek is going to have little impact on heat in winter or cool in summer, so best on dwell on that too much when there are more significant things to consider.

 

[Ian H]

I’d be thinking of sound insulation. I have 200mm of Celotex in my dormer roof and I can hear the birds fart on the TV aerial.

 

[JP_]

I had pigeons/doves on my dormer roof, they made so much noise. If I did one again I'd probably put up some artificial grass for them. They used to wake me up, either shagging or running about or breaking some food they just found.

 

[^woody^]

I have 200mm of Celotex in my dormer roof and I can hear the birds fart on the TV aerial.

Did you get the option of building it out of brick?

 

[Ian H]

Did you get the option of building it out of brick?

I originally planned to built it out of brick but Toolstation were out of sky hooks so I couldn’t support them

 

[^woody^]

I originally planned to built it out of brick but Toolstation were out of sky hooks so I couldn’t support them

Why can't you support Toolstation? Are you a Screwfix fan instead?

 

[simon martin]

Woody - Can i just ask how you can have a non cavity brick wall in these regulated times? Ian H - you wait till the parrokeets arrive in your neighbourhood...

 

[^woody^]

Nothing wrong with solid walls, you just insulate internally or externally.