Deep Retrofit, Extension and Loft Conversion – Somerset
Opportunities to completely revitalise an existing home are relatively rare, which made this deep retrofit in Wells, Somerset particularly exciting. The project combined a full thermal upgrade of the property with a large rear extension and a comprehensive loft conversion.
We were initially contacted by the customer to provide a Thermal performance study on the potential of converting the property to an EnerPhit standard eco house. The property was outdated, energy-inefficient, and suffering from damp issues. The client wanted to transform it into a vibrant, spacious, and efficient home that would serve them well into the future. The findings of the report fed into the design, and after planning was achieved we took on the detailed design of a high performance, low energy retrofit. The new loft conversion and extension are aesthetically tied together with zinc cladding, adding a contemporary twist to the existing house,and contrasting with the natural stone. Internally, the layout was opened up to create larger, more harmonious spaces with less area lost to circulation.
The large rear extension was constructed to near Passivhaus standards and now accommodates an open-plan kitchen and dining room. It features areas of exposed oak framing and a pitched, vaulted ceiling — a subtle homage to the building that once stood in its place. Two generous skylights flood the space with natural light.
To preserve the historic appearance of the house from the street, the front elevation was insulated internally. The gable and rear elevations were externally insulated with breathable woodfibre insulation, significantly improving the home’s overall thermal performance.
The loft was converted to EnerPHit standard, using a timber frame filled with cellulose insulation. Triple-glazed windows bring abundant daylight into the space while keeping heat loss to a minimum.
Internally, We renovated the bathroom into a fully waterproofed wet room and carried out a range of bespoke joinery throughout the home, including an oak herringbone parquet floor to the whole of the ground floor. From design, to construction, to the final finishes, we delivered this deep retrofit to a standard we are extremely proud of.