How do you start an eco refurb? As you mean to continue of course: with lofty environmental intentions.

In my case that means stripping out my home’s old fixtures and putting in steel joists and columns to improve its efficiency and circulation, and future proof it (more on that later).

For me this is the most nerve-wracking part of the build. As we take away walls and expose old structure I just pray we won’t find anything drastic, like damp, rot, vermin or major structural defects covered up by cowboy builders. That said it’s also the most exciting time as the true potential of the space reveals itself and drawing-board dreams become reality. My heart is in my mouth every time the contractors call, thank God we factored in contingency costs!

So just how are the structural changes going to make this house more eco? Our integral garage wastes valuable space (do we really need it to be full of junk boxes and bikes?), it also allows cold air right into the heart of our home! We’re planning to convert it into the kitchen and open it up to the living room, updating the layout and making it work for today's way of living - creating a mix of "family spaces" that allow us to relax, eat, and play both together and alone. The sliding pocket door that is to be fitted between the living room and lounge makes the space open yet flexible.

Incorporating new structure also allows us to open up the back of the house, removing the wasteful old patio doors (their ugly chunky uPVC frames and mullions block half the opening space) and increasing the natural light flowing in through the new slim profile doors by over 200%. Just think how much less artificial light we will need to use every day. It will also make our connection with the garden/allotment stronger.

Thinking in the long-term, adding steel joists will future proof the house in a sustainable way – allowing us greater flexibility as my two children get older by converting the attic space. This will add an extra 5 to 10 years on our use of the house without disrupting the ground floor living-space during the works. Before anything happens there's going to be a major clean-out of unwanted items. But where should all that rubble and those old kitchen cabinets go? Pouring them into a hole in the ground is a dead end for us all. Anything usable such as furniture, boxes of junk, old mirrors and shelves can go straight to the charity shop. My favorite is Emmaus (www.emmaus.org.uk ). What’s more they’ll come and pick it up. You can also try www.uk.freecycle.org.

Scrap timber will be picked up by the Brighton and Hove Wood Recycling project, a great sustainability initiative that diverts thousands of tons of timber from landfill. We’ll be visiting them again later on in the build to give our somewhat bland home a little character.

Unusable timber will be chipped and reused in gardens (see www.woodrecycling.org.uk). Reusable builders materials, such as the once glorious 60's pink bathroom suite, exterior wall hung tiles, uPVC doors and windows, are all off to Tiger Reusit .There’s always someone out there who wants this reusable, vintage stuff (especially in retro kitsch loving Brighton).
 
Eventually my worst fears are realized and that dreaded phone call comes from the builders. It’s the only thing we can't recycle; 12.5 m sq of Brown Amosite Asbestos on the garage ceiling which will cost £900 to remove. This is one of the costlier downsides of a 60s house, and one I’m not going to go near myself-time to call the experts and spend some of that contingency cash!

Find out more about Heath Design at www.oliverheath.com