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Articles by Argile

Regulation, field practice and tools: our analysis to help renovation professionals sell and deliver energy retrofits.

Energy renovationJuly 25, 2026
District Heating Networks: How They Work and Their Benefits

On a district heating network, one figure drives the whole file: the share of renewable and recovered energy. From 50% upward it opens the 5.5% VAT rate on the heat supplied, allows the network to be classified, and triggers the duty to connect above 30 kW inside the priority development perimeter. Here are the values to record before pricing a substation, and the texts that set them.

5 min read

ContractorsJuly 24, 2026
Smart thermostat and algorithmic learning

Good heating control is no longer just a fixed setpoint. On the job site, you can offer settings that adapt to the household's rhythms, free heat gains and weather variations, improving comfort without overconsuming. Understanding how the device "learns" and what data it uses helps you avoid vague promises, ask the right questions to the client and secure the commissioning.

5 min read

ContractorsJuly 24, 2026
Renovating a presbytery: religious heritage and performance

Renovating an old building tied to local history is a project where every choice matters. You need to gain comfort and energy efficiency without betraying the character of the place, or getting bogged down in unnecessary details. With a clear method and the right materials, you move fast, cleanly, and secure the result.

5 min read

ContractorsJuly 24, 2026
Cold roof vs warm roof: which configuration to insulate?

On a job site, choosing the insulation under the roof covering isn't just a technical question. You're the one who has to decide between thermal performance, moisture management, available height and ease of installation, without overcomplicating things. With the right approach, you secure comfort in both summer and winter, and you avoid the problems that come back to cost you.

5 min read

ContractorsJuly 24, 2026
Water tightness in external wall insulation: handling run-off

Render-on-insulation systems sit under no British Standard code of practice of their own: the dimensions come from the system's own certificate, and the regulatory floor comes from Approved Document C. A damp-proof course at least 150 mm above adjoining ground, cavity trays with weep holes every 900 mm, and an exposure zone read off BS 8104 before the build-up is chosen.

6 min read

ContractorsJuly 24, 2026
Air leakage test: measuring airtightness

Air leakage testing is judged on an enforceable figure, not on a draught: 0.60 m³/(h·m²) of heat-loss envelope for a detached house, 1.00 for multi-unit housing, under article 19 of the French order of 4 August 2021. Two uplifts can move that target, sampling and works still to come after handover, and both are settled on site rather than in the report. Here are the thresholds, the corrections, and the report to demand from the tester.

5 min read

Energy renovationJuly 23, 2026
Refrigerant Log Book: The Traceability Requirement

On site, a leak sometimes comes down to a few grams, but it can cost you dearly if traceability isn't rock solid. A well-kept log book means less stress during an inspection, cleaner interventions, and a team that knows exactly what was added, recovered or replaced. Here's a rundown of what to record and the right habits to stay compliant, without unnecessary paperwork.

5 min read

ContractorsJuly 23, 2026
Renovating a farmhouse: transforming an agricultural building

An agricultural building conversion is settled by two texts before it is settled on site: article L. 151-11 of the French planning code, which governs change of use in agricultural and natural zones, and the decree of 30 May 2016, which triggers insulation duties as soon as space is converted to habitable use. Here are the binding thresholds, the thermal resistances to hit, and what the survey has to record before any pricing.

5 min read

ContractorsJuly 23, 2026
Fixed windows: when not opening is an advantage

In renovation, every opening counts. When you're aiming for a genuinely airtight, high-performing envelope, a window with no opening sash becomes a simple ally to install, robust and formidable against heat loss. It's up to you to choose where to place it to gain comfort, limit thermal bridges and add value to your project, without complicating the installation or day-to-day use.

5 min read

ContractorsJuly 22, 2026
Refrigerant charge: calculation and precautions

The refrigerant charge commands two things: how the machine performs and what you owe the regulator. The second is not read in kilos but in tonnes of CO2 equivalent, and the conversion is one multiplication by the GWP. Here is the conversion table by refrigerant, the leak check interval table, and what gets logged after every job.

5 min read

ContractorsJuly 22, 2026
Insulating the Window Reveal in External Wall Insulation: The Sensitive Point

A poorly treated window reveal is often exactly where cold air sneaks in, even after a well-executed job. By carefully handling this sensitive point, you secure the continuity of the insulation, cut down on callbacks, and improve the comfort your client actually feels. Here's a rundown of the right habits, without unnecessary added thickness or complicated finishes.

5 min read

ContractorsJuly 22, 2026
Acoustic Windows: Asymmetric Glazing

Asymmetry is not a sales line, it is a way of pulling two critical frequencies apart. A 4 mm pane dips around 3,000 Hz, a 10 mm pane around 1,200: a 4/16/4 unit stacks both dips at the same point in the spectrum, a 10/16/4 separates them by more than an octave. What remains is reading the right index for the noise source, and not giving back on the install what the glazing gained.

5 min read

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