Velfac UK - Case study: Tatton

VELFAC windows were an integral part of the transformation of a cold and damp 1960s chalet bungalow into a contemporary EnerPHit-standard home filled with light.

It was while on a walk with their dogs, exploring the Wiltshire countryside, that homeowners Tom Evans and Louise Howson chanced upon a very tired looking 1960s chalet bungalow in desperate need of renovation. They had completed an eco-self-build in North Wiltshire a few years earlier and had been thinking about downsizing. When they saw the bungalow, set into the side of a hill and with a large garden to the rear and incredible views to the front, they could see its potential.

Building an eco-home

The couple had moved to Wiltshire from Surrey, drawn by its quiet villages and beautiful, rolling countryside. They were also keen to live a different lifestyle with less reliance on fossil fuels. After finding a plot of land, they set about learning as much as they could, not only about building house, but about building an eco-house in particular.

“Building our first home was an incredible experience,” explains Tom, “We learnt so much, making several visits to the National Self Build & Renovation Centre (NSBRC) in Swindon before and during the build. We’re lucky in that Swindon isn’t too far away, but for anyone thinking about building or renovating their own home, I can’t stress enough how useful it is to go and talk to the suppliers there and to see and discuss first-hand some of the brilliant innovations available.

“We bought the bungalow in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic, so we made the most of the online surgeries being run by the NSBRC. They now offer virtual courses as a matter of course, well as in-person workshops.”

Tom and Louise built their first home to near-Passivhaus standards and were keen to achieve similar or better for the bungalow.

“Renovating a house can be a much more complex process than building from scratch, so we’re glad we’d had the opportunity to gain plenty of useful knowledge and skills on our previous home,” says Tom.

An upside-down house renovation

The original layout of the bungalow was far from ideal. It was a series of boxy rooms on the ground floor that lacked flow, while the bedroom and bathroom located in the roof space were awkward and dark.

Working with Steve Way architects, Tom and Louise decided to flip the living and bedroom zones. The bungalow is located on a hillside, which allowed them to extend the upper floor while retaining the original footprint of the ground floor, which would house the bedrooms.

Creating a light, comfortable, and energy-efficient home

“Our architect had the idea of a glass wall that would connect the house with the garden and fill the space with light,” explains Tom.

This new upper space is now a beautifully light and airy open plan kitchen-dining-living area. The six-metre glass wall is made up of fixed glass-to-glass lights and side-hung casements. The wall faces south, so it was important to minimise solar gain, which they achieved by installing a sunshade and reflective blinds.

“The house is incredibly efficient, and the energy performance of our VELFAC triple glazed windows is a key element in that. We’ve also installed solar panels and, crucially, a Mechanical Ventilation with Heat Recovery (MVHR) system that keeps fresh air circulating and at a nice, consistent temperature, so the house never gets too warm or too cold.

“The original bungalow had an EPC rating of E. With the work we’ve done it is now rated B. It means our home is easy and cheap to run, with no electricity costs in the summer and only a little in the winter,” says Tom.

Using windows to create focal points

On the bungalow’s north-facing front elevation, Tom and Louise had originally wanted to fit a large picture window to make the most of the view. Unfortunately, they were unable to gain consent from the parish council. Instead, however, they have been able to include a smaller, round window which, with a 1.5 metre diameter, still lets in plenty of light and makes for a striking feature from within the house and from outside.

“The bungalow originally had a round window, albeit a smaller one, at the front, so our new round window is a nod to that. It’s created a real feature within the house, and the dogs in particular love looking out of it, watching the world go by,” explains Tom.

Reassuringly secure windows

One of Tom and Louise’s favourite things about their VELFAC windows is the way they open and close: “With their composite aluminium and timber structure, they look great, feel solid, and open and close so beautifully. It’s a subtle thing, but I particularly like how the doors in the glass wall can only be opened from the inside – it gives a reassuring sense of security without the feeling of being locked in.”

Tom’s advice for anyone thinking about taking on a home renovation project?

“Without a doubt, the NSBRC is the reason our renovation has been such a success. They run excellent courses and the opportunity to go and speak to so many suppliers in one place is incredibly helpful. It’s how we found VELFAC and some of our other suppliers. And I’ve even done an online talk for them on the differences between approaching a new build project and a renovation!

“And be prepared to change your mind. Our original intention was to downsize our home, but working with our architect, we recognised that we could make this into our dream home. So, while we might actually have ended up upsizing, we’ve created a really special place that we’re able to share with our guests who love it as much as we do.”

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