Many people are unhappy with their neighbors, and in apartments, there are lots of neighbors.
There are strict rules for our complex of more than 200 flats. These include when you can build or play music and you’re not supposed to disrupt your neighbors.
We all have to change things as we remodel or replace kitchens and bathrooms, change floorings , and even have builders on site to work and do things. The first time we moved in to our apartment and began to make changes, we received complaints from a person who lived below us and was a writer who worked at home.
Super status conversion
Ten years later , we made the decision to undertake our flat renovation London and turn it into a “Superhome”. We sought the building’s management for their approval on what we would like to accomplish, and received a written confirmation. We replaced windows using double glazing, we also used secondary glazing, where the replacement was extremely difficult and also installed a fresh combi boiler.
Also, we added internal insulation on all exterior walls, and perhaps more somewhat controversially, to all ceilings. The insulation of our roof shared by the entire community was an issue. The roof is flat, solid and , we believe, not insulated, however in good weatherproof condition.
It was not in the table, but placing an insulation that was waterproof on top of the asphalt (an upside-down roof) could be a viable energy saving solution. However , it was not feasible to insulate just our area that was on top. Freeholders would have needed to protect the entire area including the flats surrounding us, and that wasn’t feasible.
Instead, we have chosen the less-tested method of lining the ceiling dry across the entire flat, and protecting it from the penetration of vapour. The work was done by a responsible contractor who was aware of the constraints that he was required to do his work. We were not in the apartment at the time, but there could be plenty of noise, to-ing and moving around with waste and materials. There were no complaints and as far as I know nor did the builders. We made no enemies.
Beware of the heated discussions
Certain experts believe that the wall insulation inside is the only way to prevent cold bridging unless it extends to the adjacent partition walls. It could cause noticeable changes on neighbouring walls of the party–the hypothesis being that the walls aren’t heated by the flat that has been renovated and therefore will be warmer and more susceptible to condensation.
We didn’t add insulation to the internal walls and now, five years later, there’s no evidence of mould or condensation at the point where the internal walls meet the exterior, and also there are no complaints from neighbors.
Inspiring interest from neighbours
Another benefit is that many (maybe most) of our neighbors are aware that we’ve completed improvements and are amazed in our efforts to do so much to improve our energy efficiency. We constantly speak about how cozy and warm the flat is . We’ve invited the entire residents to see the apartment. The flats next door should have the benefit of having a consistently warm neighbor.
The process of repurposing an eco-friendly home to create an energy-efficient flat doesn’t require any distinct from other improvements homeowners make from time to every day. That’s life. We’d certainly suggest that the entire building is eco-renovated same time, as it saves both money and time, and also prevents disturbance. However, individual energy projects are also worth the effort and should not have any negative impact on relationships with neighbors.
Five tips to ensure the most successful renovation of your flat
Talk about improvements you would like to make with the building’s manager at the planning phase
Make sure you hire a skilled builder
Follow the manufacturer’s guidelines when sealing and fixing the insulation inside.
Make use of extractor fans and avoid drying garments in the flat to decrease the humidity
If you are using wall insulation for internal use be sure to install blocks for curtain rails , or blind support
