Mabws Uchaf Barns     Mathry     Pembrokeshire       SA62 5JA

LOW ENERGY BARNS.  Probably the most energy efficient barn conversion in Wales (or the UK). Nearing completion. Your chance to choose the finishes. Situated in rural North Pembrokeshire just south of the popular village of Mathry, between the cathedral city of St Davids and the ferry port of Fishguard.  10 miles from the County Town of Haverfordwest with excellent shopping and amenities. Close to the outstanding Pembrokeshire Coastal path with easy access to many sandy beaches and coves.

The barns were constructed between the wars using cast insitu reinforced concrete. The walls are 150mm thick with columns cast in at approximately 2.5m centres to support the “A” frame timber roof trusses.

The timber trusses and purlins were replaced with new structural timber and the roof reconstructed using Euromac 2 structural elements, which consist of galvanized “Z” purlins encased in 235mm insulation. These panels are tongue and grooved to form an airtight structure with no cold bridging and replace traditional rafters.

The roof covering is natural 7mm thick slate fixed using Nu-lok galvanized steel battens and stainless steel clips. This system has the advantage of allowing any slate to be replaced without damage to adjacent slates, and is designed to allow the slates to be replaced with solar PV cells at any time.

The walls were clad externally with Marmorit external wall insulation 140mm thick and then rendered with Marmorit render which contains lime and fibres and is reinforced with a fibre glass reinforcing mesh and protected with a textured silicon render to ensure low maintenance.

The external render is taken up over the ends of the roofing elements to ensure there is no air leakage at the eaves (tested air permeability 2.77 m³/(h.m²) with out using any tape etc.

The ground floor consists of 100mm thick dense self-leveling concrete, containing the under floor heating pipes, over 200mm thick insulation except in the sunroom area where the floor is 300mm thick over 200mm  insulation.

This construction has formed a very large and dense thermal store inside the externally insulated building, which results in very even internal temperatures and prevents any sudden temperature changes.

Two whole house ventilation and heat recovery units by Ventaxia have been fitted to provide fresh air.

A plant room has been provided to take the ground source heat pump and the large thermal store for the heating and domestic hot water. The heat source is an adjacent 4.5m deep water harvesting sump/well with the return water piped to another well 15m away. These water stores also provide water for wc flushing and all other non-potable uses.

Provision has been made to include vacuum tube solar heating tubes connected to the water store with any excess heat diverted back to the water sump for re-use by the heat pump.

The electrical lighting wiring has been designed and installed to ensure that it will use 100% LED low energy lighting, with multiple circuits to achieve variable lighting levels in each room.

The doors and windows are all composite timber units allowing low maintenance exteriors while retaining natural wood interiors. The glazing is all high performance low-e and argon filled and has “self cleaning” coating.

The south facing sunroom has been designed to capture solar gain during the winter and restrict it in summer.

There is provision for 5 bathrooms and the layout is flexible to allow many different uses.

All internal walls, partitions and ceilings are constructed using Fermacell gypsum fibreboard, which is far superior to plasterboard, it is impact resistant, fire resistant, and can take load bearing fixings.

There is an additional modern timber building of 100m² which has been divided into 2 rooms and has a wc and shower room.

A 12-person bio digester treatment plant installed.

A BT telephone line with Broadband connection has been installed (very rare this far in the countryside)

The shell is complete and the building is now ready for installation of the finishes to the specification of the purchaser.

The energy efficiency of the construction can easily be tested and measured by switching on a small electric heater and measuring the temperature difference inside/outside.

The barn is in 1.3 acres and does not have any adjacent working farm or animals.

South Facing Courtyard

East Facing Entrance

View to Gallery

Sun Room

Bed 1 B1

Main stairs

Loft