Hi Guys
It seems like you are all well aware of how our European neighbours approach all manner of jobs ... not just gas ones!
Its for this reason that I asked for your advice ... I just feel like I'd lose less sleep learning from you guys than from what a local contractor might say ... frankly short of the british standards and professionals (and i guess the Germans from what I've heard) I'm not sure I'd have a whole lotta faith in other EU peeps ... particularly the Spaniards, Italians, etc. - and I have Spanish family!!!
A friend of mine has had an old property, similar to our one renovated locally. They rendered the internal walls about 12-18 months ago with cement render (not lime putty) then a finish plaster (again no line) (ie normal skim plaster). Before the cement render they used a black tar like paint to apparently "stop moisture coming through the wall". He now has damp and crystals forming in part of his ground floor walls and ... wait for it ... they reckon there must be a pipe there!
I dont know whether they sell lime putty, etc in Spain ... but Im sure we could have a couple of pallets of the stuff shipped over (we are having other stuff shipped over too so I gues it can all go together).
With regards to the studwork am i correct in thinking:
1. Aluminium studs are best as they won't rot as a result of any moisture in the walls/ground (unlike wooden ones).
2. We should leave a gap (e.g. 10mm or as large as we need for services to be run) between the back of the studwork and the stone walls.
3. We should insulate in between the studs.
4. We should put a vapour barrier and then the plasterboard directly over the vapour barrier.
Also, is spray foam recommended or should we avoid it as it could expand and "seal" the stone wall behind the studwork.
Thanks again for all your help!!!
PS - From experience Spain does have rules and regulations (most of them come from EU anyways) ... its just that there's a certain lack when it comes to both observing them and alomst more importantly, enforcing them. Although I must say that in a country with about 40 odd million people not everyone can be the same ... or can they?!?