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Hi all - we are ready to submit our materials for sign off which is exciting but I just can't decide! We are building 4 bed detached with gable at the front, hipped roof and plinths so quite traditional. We have decided on Weinerberger renaissance bricks and we think a dark red plain tile - originally I had my heart set on Rehau Sage casement windows but AI says that's a terrible combination haha so reaching out for views Fire away!

By measuring the height (107mm) above tile to the underside of the MAC-8E's 'trumpet spigot flange' and based on a crude measurement of the MAC-8E drawing's 'trumpet spigot flange' O.D. (136mm) I get that the spigot height of this toilet is actually 175mm (107 + (136/2)) not the 180mm it's supposed to be. That's the main route of my problem. The tiling is also likely a tad thinner than expected, but the spigot dimension is the main issue.

Exactly right. If the evidence proves otherwise scientific opinion changes. That is why science is a better touchstone for forming policy than personal opinion. The point is that a significant amount of the evidence and thus (as you say yourself), a significant portion of the scientific community believe in human amplified climate change. When seat belts first came in, Volvo et al had already published significant amounts of evidence to prove their efficacy. The greatest driver of the day, Stirling Moss had his own opinion on the matter and thought it was better to be thrown from a vehicle and had the seat belt achchors on his car (Marcos at the time IIRC) sawn through. When the inevitable happned he was thrown clear but suffered injuries that he would not have if he'd stayed in the vehicle. It was a miracle that he wasn't killed. In a situation where all the evidence tells you our Fossil Fuel addiction will lead to disaster, do you just hope to be thrown clear?

I guess hunting around for a toilet with a 190mm spigot height (or 185mm minimum).

Reality is analogue rather than binary. But my point remains, much of the policy that comes under the umbrella of "Net zero" Insulating homes Increacing heat pump installs Electrification of road transport Could easily be rebranded "Zero dependance" or "Net Zero Imports" or something else a highly paid marketing team can come up with. Yet there are some politicians and many of their followers who are campaigning vigorously against "Net zero" but also talking of needing to increace energy security - by drilling more. Own up. Were you aware of the state of UK fossil fuels production and *more importantly* that is was down to the geology rather than policy. The impression given by certain politicans is that we could become a net exporter again, if only we weren't held back by policy.

Are you referring to this? https://www.fogstar.co.uk/blogs/fogstar-blog/lifepo4-diy-battery-builds-made-easier-with-the-seplos-mason-kit?_pos=2&_sid=c779d90ee&_ss=r

Thanks both, have pulled the trigger on Intelligent Go and will see how things, er, go 👍

Ok, fair enough, used the wrong descriptors, but essentially the key point is science is not "fixed", and thus not "fact" as some like to suggest. What a significant portion of the scientific community believe today, may very well be quite different in 20 years time.

Great job! Exciting to be moving in soon! What's the plan for the hob extraction in the kitchen?

On the 'pick one' stuff, I am generally against false binary decision making. The best decisions under uncertainty are often to hedge your 'bets' and recognise the role and pros cons of alternatives - some of each please.

Only if it leaks, mcalpine products don’t leak if fitted well. what’s your other choice, don’t pack the toilet up more than 3-4 mm it will look proper turd.

Depending really on if you want to grant harvest or not. I haven't bothered. One plumber should be able to do ASHP x2 and UFH and radiator upgrades. Just be sure you aren't being sold a pup, when only need a 6kW or less heat pump and they want to sell you a 12kW one. PV and battery should become contractor. ASHP and plumbing another.

Things were so much easier back in the old days of gas boilers and wet rads. The sparks did the electrics, the plumbers did the heating, and there was a tiny bit of task overlap to wire in the boiler. These days, you could employ separate specialists for solar, roofers (for installing in-roof PV), ASHP, UFH, MVHR, batteries and EV chargers. As well as sparks and plumbers! Not to mention the overlap with main contractor works (I’m planning a single main contractor for superstructure up to watertight shell). The system needs to be designed holistically, and I don’t have the patience this time round to study and do it all myself, so I want someone else to do that. I also have an added factor that I’m also doing major structural changes and refurb to the existing 1930s house on the site, and am considering adding an ASHP with upgraded wet rads. I’ll want the same contractors doing both houses. I don’t have limitless funds so I need to be mindful of keeping costs in check. What do people tend to do for heat & power these days? One-stop-shop or separate contractors? If separate, which contractor would do the overall design? If one-stop-shop, is there anyone you’d specifically recommend (or avoid)?

Actually, thinking about it there is often going to be some water there since the toilet spigot is larger diameter than the pipe section

They are not even that size. Well confused me when I first started buying timber.

May mean I have some waste water permanently sat in the connector against the seal to the toilet pan. Isn't that a concern?

+1 @Russell griffiths as long as it’s only the connector with no fall you will be fine, fall along the run is to ensure everything keeps moving along.

Flush it see what happens IMPO the whoosh of the pan emptying will send all stuff well past that pan connector, then gravity takes over with a bit of momentum from the flush. nothing will come backwards.

Oops. I still order 6 x 2. But I make sure a joist hanger is 47mm. My excuse is that a 6 x 2 is not a measurement but the name of a component. And I measure in yards if pacing in slippy conditions.

Yep But not BTU's or inches for that matter.

Yes and no. The spare tiles were in case you cracked the existing when drilling. The 'platform' could be made of anything. 9 or 10mm ply or cement-board cut slightly undersized so that you can 'point up' with silicone. Equally if the tiles are c 10mm and you like cutting tiles, use tiles, again undersized and pointed. Re the fixing of the cistern, I have a sneaking feeling that one of mine (they are all close-coupled) never got fixed to the wall anyway, with no disastrous effects. I'll go and have a look later!

'Appeal to authority' as an argument is fallacious anyway. The truth is not determined by any 'authority' no matter his position or the number of letters after his name. Neither is it determined by popular vote, nor by the vote of those paid to promote narratives regardless of objective truths. Nature is as she is. As Rutherford said 'All science is either physics or stamp collecting'. I'd argue physicists generally have the most objective and questioning perspectives. They grow up with the motivation to find truths - nobody can really work as a physicist without both a capable mind and a passionate curiosity for truth. Climate science is more of a job - barely existed 40 years ago - now massively expanded as a result of climate alarm - turkeys don't vote for Christmas. We miss him still... https://youtu.be/OL6-x0modwY?si=vYOWFRolyMaOzxvQ

I haven't drilled any holes for the toilet screws yet so that wouldn't be an issue. I do have some spare tiles. Are you thinking I could create a low platform for the toilet to sit on?

I can't see infill of 10mm looking awful, so go for that. I guess you may have to plug and re-drill the holes for the cistern, risking tile cracks, but (unless I have missed something) that looks like being your worst potential problem. Do you have a couple of spare tiles?

Very much so. Which is worse A) losing storage site/vessel that provides a fuel for a small proportion of your demand and is mainly a backup reserve. B) losing storage site/vessel that provides a fuel you were relying on burning next week. Again, pick one. (you haven't picked which choice from the last time...) (for context the uk currently gets 25% of all it's gas via LNG)