In reply to A newbie all over again! by Annec
In reply to A newbie all over again! by Annec
Radiant floor heating is fairly common. What sort of solar panels? Hotwater for the heating or?
In reply to A newbie all over again! by Annec
welcome to the forum and congratulations for making such a good choice by buying in Abruzzo,
I
In reply to A newbie all over again! by Annec
Good luck!
Maybe you could enjoy having a look at this: [url=http://www.latoca.co.uk/casa%20Metti.html]Casa Metti[/url]
a restoration project almost completed! We will follow yours with interest!
Paola
In reply to A newbie all over again! by Annec
Welcome, and good luck!
Underfloor heating is quite common, solar panels require the roof to be strengthened to take the weight, but that's normal anywhere in the world. It all depends on what your comune find acceptable, and if there are any restrictions on building - where we are in Chieti, we have to have the outside shutters painted green, because it is part of the centro storico.
It depends what you can afford - double glazing and insect screens are invaluable, and consider perhaps having one or two rooms with air-con fitted, as it's easier to do this when the building hasn't really started, rather than later. But that's just my one-penn'orth!
all the best to you,
SW
In reply to A newbie all over again! by Annec
[quote=She-Wolf;89084]...solar panels require the roof to be strengthened to take the weight, but that's normal anywhere in the world.[/quote]
Sorry, but that's just not true.
Have a look [URL="http://www.telegraph.co.uk/earth/main.jhtml?xml=/earth/2007/05/29/easolar129.xml"]here[/URL] for a brief summary of various solar water heating systems. The heaviest panels cover an area of three square metres and weigh around 75 kilos.
That's equivalent to something like 15 traditional roof tiles.
If your roof can't deal with that amount of additional weight, I wouldn't want to be under it when the tiles get a good soaking in a thunderstorm! :eerr:
However, the systems cited in that article are the type one normally sees in Britain with exterior panels and a hot water tank inside the house. If you're thinking about the solar systems one sometimes sees in Mediterranean countries which consist of a large stainless steel water tank above panels, then the weight would indeed be significantly greater. But then I question why anyone would choose to mount one of those visual monstrosities on their roof in the first place. :eeeek:
As to kaydee's question about getting permission to have solar panels on the roof, I believe this should not be a problem. If the coumune should decide to be awkward for some reason, it would be possible to do what one of my neighbours here did and create a pergola with a solar panel roof. (He didn't take this route because of comune-created objections to him putting panels on roof, but simply because it made for shorter pipe runs to the heat storage tank in basement.)
Al
In reply to A newbie all over again! by Annec
[quote=AllanMason;89115]
However, the systems cited in that article are the type one normally sees in Britain with exterior panels and a hot water tank inside the house. If you're thinking about the solar systems one sometimes sees in Mediterranean countries which consist of a large stainless steel water tank above panels, then the weight would indeed be significantly greater. But then I question why anyone would choose to mount one of those visual monstrosities on their roof in the first place. :eeeek:
l[/quote]
Room etc. The only place I could put inside would be three floors down in my wood store room. :no: Nobody but the birds could see it on my roof. But I'm worried about freezing. It doesn't get that cold here but freezing snaps do happen.
Even so once the new kitchen with termocucine is put in the next item is the solar tank.
To the OP. No power most likely means no mains gas. You really should consider a backup heating source if it's a year round place. A termo something [stove,fireplace,cucinca] wood or pellets would be my choice. Assuming you don't want a propane tank. But with 7.5 acres you must be getting some wood?
In reply to A newbie all over again! by Annec
Hi and thanks for all your responses they are really helpful but make one realise what a daunting task this is all going to be. So all input is greatly appreciated.
Welcome to the forum and best wishes with your plans.