A builder with 13 pet alpacas has converted the first of three barns at his father’s former racing stables, all of which use products created by pan-European insulation specialist Actis.

Justin Lacey, whose ‘day job’ is operations director at auction house Moody Auctions, and his wife are already living in the three-bedroom 266 sq m former potato store on land on the edge of Retford in Nottinghamshire.

The other two – one of 220 sq m and one of 300 sq m, both with three bedrooms and two reception rooms – will be sold once completed.

Justin has previously built four dormer bungalows on the one-acre site, with three more in the pipeline.

The barn conversion is Justin’s first experience of using Actis products, which he says are easier to work with than the mineral wool he used in the bungalows.

He used insulating breather membrane Boost R Hybrid Roof, 140mm honeycomb structured insulation Hybris and insulating vapour control layer H Control Hybrid in the roof and 105mm Hybris with H Control Hybrid in the walls.

Not only are the products good to install, but he says the performance the products offer in the roof – 0.13 rather than the required 0.15 – is better than that demanded under building regulations.

The U-value of 0.18 achieved in the walls complies precisely with building regulation thermal efficiency requirements.

Justin’s late father, John, owned and trained his own racehorses, two of which are now enjoying a leisurely retirement on the farm, with two more living with new owners.

While Justin is still a fan of horses, he and his family are more inclined towards camelid than equine companions, and share their home with a growing herd of alpacas.

“Alpacas are just different from the usual animals people have and they have quirky personalities. Our first baby is nearly a year old, so that’s been interesting. He now lives at the front of a barn with another male that I bought to be his mate. “