Need Advice Regarding a Big (literally), Complicated (also literally) Heating Issue
Anyone reading this will quickly see that I am totally out of my depth regarding heating issues - and as I have a big issue to think about, I definitely need all the input I can get. I'd like to be brief, but I'm not sure that will be possible. Apologies.
I'm working on a large, 2-storey building, built in the 1970s, which, although deemed to be in good structural condition (foundations, walls, roof), was damaged quite a bit on the ground floor by dry rot. This was assumed to have been caused by the fact that, located in a very cold Northern European location, and having been left unused/unheated for significant amounts of time (it was a municipal building that was put out of use a few years ago), damp and moisture took over. The previous owners remediated by ripping up everything that was at least visibly attacked and, according to the surveyor I recently hired to do an inspection, there does not appear to be a continuing problem. Rather, in line with what the previous inspector said, the building's foundations and structural elements are all in decent (satisfactory) condition.
Clearly, the most important thing is not to let this happen again! But the logistics are problematic insofar as it's a large building, and financially it simply won't be feasible to renovate the entire structure all at once; rather, we'll have to do the work section by section, over the course of at least a year. And I'm just at a loss to figure out how I can do both of these things: renovate in stages AND keep everything at least marginally heated so that damp/moisture won't bring back a potentially catastrophic problem.
The options for heating in this region are several - air-to-water heat pumps, pellet-burning heaters, wood-burning stoves installed with twin-wall flue systems...or others I haven't even thought of. There is also the option - the most common in the area, and according to some, the most economical - of being connected to the municipal heating system, whereby heat from municipal work is then pumped to customers, who buy/install their own (adjustable) radiators. But with each of these options, the question is: Would a heater have to be installed in every room (there are many)? Would someone need to be there 24/7 to monitor the heat? Would there be a minimum temperature at which the interiors must always be kept to avoid the danger zone? Etc., etc., etc.
I don't know if anyone has dealt with something like this before - even if perhaps on a smaller scale - but if so, and if you've got any first-hand experience, advice, or warnings, I'm obviously very grateful to hear from you. (Only one thing: Please no nasty comments, no unhelpful sarcasm, etc. I know I'm a fish out of water. I'm just looking for people to give me a bit of water so that I can at least try to swim.)
Thanks.