The owners of an idyllic former farmhouse on the Cornish coast can now sit back and enjoy views out across the bay thanks to a new roof terrace, insulated with the Kingspan OPTIM-R Balcony & Terrace System.

The terrace forms part of a much larger extension to the property which is situated in the rural outskirts of Falmouth. The original ground floor kitchen has been extended and a utility room created, whilst upstairs a large dayroom opens out onto the spacious terrace. The work, overseen by main contractors AMJ Renovations, is sympathetic to the original farmhouse using a range of traditional materials such as stone and lime render.

To minimise heat loss through the roof terrace project architects Charles Green Design targeted a U-value of 0.16 W/m².K. The thickness of conventional insulation needed to achieve this would’ve required the terrace to be raised higher than the floor level in the internal rooms, creating an awkward step. To solve this potential problem, the Kingspan OPTIM-R Balcony & Terrace System was specified. The optimum performance product uses vacuum technology to achieve an aged thermal conductivity of just 0.007 W/m∙K,up to five times better than other commonly used insulation. Charles Green commented:

"We wanted to ensure a seamless transition from the dayroom out onto the terrace without having to adjust the ceiling height in the kitchen below. The Kingspan OPTIM-R Balcony & Terrace System allowed us to achieve a compliant U-value with a minimal build-up, avoiding any need for compromise in the design. Kingspan also provided us with strong technical assistance whenever we required it."

Kingspan OPTIM-R Balcony & Terrace System was supplied by Minster Insulation and Drylining, Truro in a 40 mm thickness. To ensure the required fall, the product was installed with Kingspan Thermataper TT47 LPC/FM by Asphaltic Co. (CWLL). Kingspan OPTIM-R panels feature a microporous core which is evacuated, encased and sealed in a thin, gas-tight envelope.

The Kingspan OPTIM-R Balcony & Terrace System also includes OPTIM-R Flex infill panels, which can be easily cut to fit around penetrations or to fill unusual spaces. Clear layouts are provided for each project by Kingspan’s specialist technical team, ensuring that the required U-value can be achieved with minimal thickness. In addition, all Kingspan OPTIM-R Systems hold LABC System Approval, helping to streamline the Building Control checking and approvals process.