tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-71534823091514826432024-11-01T07:36:59.998+00:00Households produce around 28% of UK CO2 emissions mainly through space heating, hot water provision and lighting. Here at Touchwood Homes we are passionate about reducing these emissions (and so running costs) in the home through improved quality in house design and construction methods. We hope to bring you both current industry news, and also company information and build progress in the coming weeks. Visit our website for further information at www.touchwoodhomes.co.ukCarlhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17739296268921694933noreply@blogger.comBlogger48125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7153482309151482643.post-2883349780581268172017-06-26T14:02:00.000+01:002017-06-26T14:02:05.525+01:00

We're pleased to say we have now gone live with our new website which has a fresh look and simpler navigation: www.touchwoodhomes.co.uk Shortly we'll also update the website with our new projects from spring / summer this year - it has been a very busy time for us with many varied projects going up!

Reubenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04328654726719998312noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7153482309151482643.post-91920427525913637392017-04-14T10:50:00.000+01:002017-04-14T10:50:07.290+01:00

Our Weyhill project has now officially been certified as meeting the new Passivhaus Plus standard - we are one of the first 3 houses in the country to reach this new standard. The Plus standard has the Passivhaus very demanding minimal energy requirements to heat the building, aswell as the house also producing as much energy as it consumes. Being Passivhaus, the building fabric requires

Reubenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04328654726719998312noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7153482309151482643.post-49284433672319004082017-03-13T08:29:00.003+00:002017-03-13T08:29:44.883+00:00

Whilst erecting our Hennerwood farm passivhaus project we produced drone footage of the timber frame. Please take a look at the footage of this stunning building in the Herefordshire countryside! https://youtu.be/szOrF01-Kgg

Reubenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04328654726719998312noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7153482309151482643.post-3199741274630468872017-02-06T10:30:00.000+00:002017-02-06T10:30:36.279+00:00

We have just finished the erection of our Chief's Farm Cottage project in Essex. For this project Touchwood designed and installed the strip foundation with our special thermally bridge free detail, to create a very thermally efficient slab suitable for passivhaus. The image below shows the 300mm EPS insulation installed: Following the powerfloat finished concrete slab on top of the EPS,

Reubenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04328654726719998312noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7153482309151482643.post-47327991076913300122016-10-20T11:39:00.000+01:002016-10-20T11:39:15.550+01:00

Towards the end of September we completed the frame erection work on our Tatsfield project in Surrey, which is a modern flat roof home constructed on a dramatic sloping site, see below an architect rendering of the finished scheme;   We successfully designed out all steel in the structure, to minimise the cold bridging. Instead we utilised complex box beams, and extensive glulam beams,

Reubenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04328654726719998312noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7153482309151482643.post-67004119316282982632016-09-12T17:29:00.001+01:002016-09-12T17:29:41.373+01:00

Our client's on our Porters project, which we completed 3 years ago recently decided to put the house through the Passivhaus certification process to formalise the performance of their home. The house was modelled with PHPP early on, but during the build the clients were focused on managing the build, so decided to leave the certification process till later. We have a number of projects where

Reubenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04328654726719998312noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7153482309151482643.post-50647786463582102172016-06-30T12:53:00.001+01:002016-06-30T12:53:11.478+01:00

The latest Fully Charged episode features passivhaus and low energy new builds - Robert Llewellyn explains them and the politics behind the lack of large uptake in the UK. No reason to not build one yourself though, get in touch, we have built many! https://youtu.be/Ym8emBsYdMs

Reubenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04328654726719998312noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7153482309151482643.post-89621360257103531732016-05-27T15:32:00.000+01:002016-05-27T15:34:24.788+01:00

Ben Adam-Smith recently visited our Fox Barn passivhaus project in Hampshire (which we erected 2012) to talk through the build with the owner, Lisa Jackson. Lisa explains the build process in detail along with the some useful advice regarding planning. She also explains our airtight frame construction, general advice regarding managing a self build and how comfortable living in a passivhaus

Reubenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04328654726719998312noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7153482309151482643.post-80126993720189886712016-04-14T12:11:00.001+01:002016-04-14T12:11:38.302+01:00

We are currently erecting our Chesham project, a new home featuring subtly curving external walls, and curving ridge beams.Curved walls and beams are no problem for our bespoke pre-cut system, any design is possible! The curved external walls create a very complex floor cassette, which also has to incorporate the ducts for the Touchwood designed PAUL MVHR system. This complexity is achievable

Reubenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04328654726719998312noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7153482309151482643.post-89014086896875678672016-03-04T10:30:00.000+00:002016-03-04T10:30:31.149+00:00

A previous Touchwood customer (Colin) wrote to us today saying how amazing the performance of his Touchwood house has been over the winter months with regard to minimal heat demand: "Still regarded by locals as "the best house in the village" and we remain absolutely delighted with everything. Dropped to -5 at night last week but never below 20 inside.  No woodburner lit (only twice for an

Reubenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04328654726719998312noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7153482309151482643.post-72952244598359823672016-02-22T15:50:00.000+00:002016-02-22T15:51:16.566+00:00

Touchwood supplied the new timber frame super efficient home for a client in Chepstow that is now near completion. The building is constructed on a hill side so has complex groundworks, and a connection to an existing dilapidated stone structure on the site that has now become part of the house.  Mr Francis sent the images below and commented: Many thanks for all your help with

Reubenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04328654726719998312noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7153482309151482643.post-33659767437706489742016-01-29T08:25:00.001+00:002016-01-29T08:25:23.142+00:00

Please note that after a transfer period of a year our old office number is now closed - please only use the new one : 01279 842675

Reubenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04328654726719998312noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7153482309151482643.post-32889871649299227842015-12-24T10:50:00.002+00:002015-12-24T10:50:33.267+00:00

The owners of the Touchwood built Porters house (on the gallery page) have been keeping a record of how many logs they use to provide all the heating and hot water requirements for their home, please see the graph below: the graph, which runs from summer 2014 to summer 2015, shows the solar panels provide all hot water during the summer periods, and some contribution during autumn / spring. &

Reubenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04328654726719998312noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7153482309151482643.post-33963577215991432052015-10-22T13:06:00.003+01:002015-10-22T13:06:47.691+01:00

We visited our Streatley project last week to install the MVHR machine and see how the build is going. The external and internal of the build is nearly complete and it looks stunning! The Oak integrates into the low energy structure very well to create the required look, and with the structure constructed from our usual super insulated and air tight I beam frame method the home is extremely warm.

Reubenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04328654726719998312noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7153482309151482643.post-37453149314577100372015-06-30T14:58:00.002+01:002015-06-30T14:58:10.210+01:00

We're interested in wind energy at Touchwood, and see it as one of the ways (along with PV and tidal) we can wean ourselves of fossil fuels. This short video of American walkers expressing how they feel about the look of the turbines we found refreshing and optimistic - most people in the UK also approve of onshore wind, but the media seem to focus on the moaners! https://youtu.be/wJ5S8X0Vo3c

Reubenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04328654726719998312noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7153482309151482643.post-1931457072527673032015-04-01T09:03:00.000+01:002015-04-01T09:03:54.092+01:00

Our works on the Banbury bungalow are now near completion - this super efficient timber frame building has traditional stone cladding so it fits into to the local area. We like this architectural approach - the house doesn't look like a low energy home but will perform exceptionally with minimal heating costs - contrasting to the traditional way a home of this look would have been built.

Reubenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04328654726719998312noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7153482309151482643.post-977211189535380812015-02-25T16:33:00.000+00:002015-02-26T10:57:56.621+00:00

Our new concept where we incorporate Oak features into our super insulated low energy homes is coming along well, please see the image below of the interior after plasterboarding: People often aspire to the traditional features of an Oak structured home but do not want the huge heating bills and air leaking envelope usually associated with Oak homes. They wish for a home built using our low

Reubenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04328654726719998312noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7153482309151482643.post-66500403564699533802014-09-10T15:53:00.001+01:002014-09-10T15:53:08.304+01:00

Please be sure you see the Grand Design episode on September 17th which features our Roundhouse project near Milton Keynes. This very dramatic circular building was ideally suited to our pre-cut timber frame system which allows us to build any shaped structure - there are no limits imposed such as  making the build fit into pre made panels. The main build was created with a Glulam

Reubenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04328654726719998312noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7153482309151482643.post-27468765687632936232014-06-17T15:03:00.000+01:002014-06-17T15:03:54.109+01:00

We are now nearing completion on our project in Kent. This large, complex timber frame home over a part basement will create a home with 480m2 of living space, with fantastic panoramic views over the Kent countryside. The frame features our rigid air tight board applied to the entire external surface to create a very robust, long term airtightness solution. Also a Touchwood Homes

Reubenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04328654726719998312noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7153482309151482643.post-33934595334457647072014-05-13T08:56:00.000+01:002014-05-13T08:56:21.952+01:00

Works on our Suffolk project are now complete, with the timber frame and air tight layer installed, and Rationel's RED installation team successfully installing the windows in just two days. The first fix works are also completed on the Touchwood designed PAUL MVHR system, allowing the project to be handed over to the local builder to organise the follow on works.

Reubenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04328654726719998312noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7153482309151482643.post-48174386786401155372014-03-25T10:48:00.001+00:002014-03-25T10:48:37.805+00:00

Touchwood Homes Offer Clients Free Project Consultation with Trunk At Touchwood Homes we have been in the vanguard of British low energy construction since the 1990’s when we worked on our first home utilising the early principles of Passivhaus.  We realised then that minimising energy use is the only way forward when building new homes!  Since then we have continued to be

Reubenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04328654726719998312noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7153482309151482643.post-69329426278706262312014-01-21T13:58:00.000+00:002014-01-21T13:58:23.212+00:00

BBC Radio 4 consumer programme You and Yours featured an interview with David & Penny Learmonth on 20th Jan 2014 who explained how little heating their Touchwood Home requires. In fact in their case, they have negative energy bills, with the electricity making an overall profit of £300 / year after the PV feed in tariff! David and Penny also clearly explained the concepts behind a passivhaus

Reubenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04328654726719998312noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7153482309151482643.post-25121089003284173542013-11-27T14:02:00.000+00:002013-11-27T14:02:16.707+00:00

The Telegraph website has a feature on Touchwood Homes for their Innovations at Work section where they focus on our low energy buildings and the quality required to achieve an air tight build. Please see the video featuring an interview with Adam at: http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sponsored/business/innovation-work/10459923/eco-friendly-homes-touchwood.html

Reubenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04328654726719998312noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7153482309151482643.post-81195137084321203072013-11-01T10:21:00.000+00:002013-11-01T10:21:10.475+00:00

With all the talk of energy costs in the media, we asked David and Penny, clients who have been living in their Essex Touchwood Home for a year how their energy costs are, particularly compared to their old house. David reports tiny running costs of only £59 / year, compared to £2,860 in their previous house! How was this achieved? firstly by designing and building the house structure to the

Reubenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04328654726719998312noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7153482309151482643.post-40040455055344141722013-08-27T16:00:00.000+01:002013-12-09T13:18:52.240+00:00

Our Fox Barn project in Hampshire has now received official Passivhaus certification from the Passivhaus institute. We are very proud to have achieved another certified project, a result which relied on our super air tight construction method - achieving an air tightness result of 0.13m3/m2.hr at our frame diagnostic stage, and 0.20 at final test. Fox Barn also incorporates a PAUL heat

Reubenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04328654726719998312noreply@blogger.com0