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I can't quite visualise what you are building but check building regs. They require quite a deep (thick) "constructional hearth" if the fire pit/basket/chamber is capable of raising the temperature of the hearth over 100C. For sealing joints perhaps fire cement? Not sure what colours it comes in but try screwfix/toolstation web sites.

You should have told him he'd be sharing it if he didn't pull his tampon out....... This is what happens when the foot soldiers get too much authority. Probably the only pipe he's laid for some time lol.

Id probably glue it in place.

So I am looking to position a metal back box for a double socket just in front of a steel box column. Not sure of the thickness of the steel - I guess maybe 8mm or 6mm. As it is a steel column rising from foundation level it is or feels cold to the touch, so I plan to insert a layer of insulation e.g. 10mm XPS board between the back box and the steel to heat insulate the back box. What size Techscrew should I use to screw the back box into the steel column ? How do I insulate the screw to stop it cold bridging the XPS insulation to make the back box cold ?

All the above. Every site is different. Ducts and talking to real people (eventually) at the facilities companies. You can work for a while with a generator and bowser. Or even bringing in a few containers of water every day. Until the generator gets stolen. It is more difficult than you think. But you must become the expert.

It was always Wessex Water that was the difficulty, the SSE guy was always on board with using the same trench. When we first had the WW guy out he said that they just wont share the trench. As I said,it was only due to the fact that the SSE guy was persistent that it was put in one trench.

It may be worth considering the longer game. I went with Roger's plan bought Kubota KX36 2A in 2009 for £6k and sold it on with my last property this year for about £5k. In the meantime its had had a couple of £k worth of fixes incl new tracks about 4 years ago - but was a fantastic workhorse despite living outside. My prejudice would say your new Chinese digger will work well and look the part...but come time to sell it on and the value will have plummeted (you'd need to research that...I haven't!). But probably less risk of it needing work in the first 2 or 3 years.

Don't tell your wife I said this, but you need to go grab the credit card for next years holidays, and to shoot down the big boys tool shop with it, and get fully kitted out asap lol. If there's one hole in your new oversized tool belt that is empty, you're in deep trouble It's easier to ask for forgiveness than get permission !

Guess who you're ringing tomorrow for a chat about this installation!!

I believe the units are made by Sternfenster, in Lincoln (although the installer is rather guarded about this for reasons unknown)and bought in by the installer . We are located near Wisbech, Cambs. I’ll sort some photos out tomorrow hopefully. Many thanks.

If they use a 600mm bucket then there's an opportunity to comply with their requirements for 'segregation', however I am still bemused as what exactly the conflict could be between the water and the electricity supplies..... Electricity and gas, maybe more relevant, but what the heck!? This is when installing ducts becomes your friend You simply pull the services through after the foundation has been installed. I'm curious as to what advice you've taken (or been given) regarding foundation type? Have you done geotechnical surveys yet? From what you are typing, I am a bit worried that you don't have a very tight grasp on what's what here. Not a problem, because you are now a member here and we will 'learn you good'.

Absolutely. Many of the things that are wrong with our energy system (not all, but many) are down to a lack of will. It's not even like it's an ancient tradition. The system until very recently was that the Treasury got all the revenue from the Crown Estate (like any other public asset) and gave the royals a budget for their public duties based on what they could justify (like any other public service). It was only in Cameron's time that that flipped to them giving us a share if we went cap in hand and persuaded them to hand it over. So it's even worse - there was the will to revert to a feudal system, but not the will to change it back.

Wouldn’t one of the problems be insufficient parking space? You’ve not mentioned that.

152m2(inc garage internal ) / 2story on 300m2 plot.

How big are you planning - floor area and number if storeys, on how big a plot?

Would the 10% inefficiency represent an oversized heat pump not being able to modulate its output low enough to match a more usual winter heat demand and then start short cycling 24/7?? I appreciate that an oversized heat pump might perform better in cold weather if that's what manufacturers say, but cold weather only makes up a small proportion of the heating season. The rest of the time it's mild and an oversize heat pump could be short cycling for months. Do the manufacturers performance figures cover the situation where demand is less than the minimum modulated output?

Update to my application. I employed the consultant and suggested we reduce the size to overcome the “overbearing and cramped” comments. He disagreed and said that if we did that the design would look out of character and be contrived. as such we made minor changes to the plot (made bigger by stealing from host property) and resubmitted. (£5000 in costs) 2nd time around. Pretty much same result. “Overbearing”. Consultant advises only issues are around design and character and said he can appeal (another £3600). And will take 5-6 months. I’m mindful of the time and cost and tempted to just make it smaller and resubmit it. Would mean probably going from 4 to 3 bed. thoughts?

We had to work very hard to get the electricity and water in the same trench. At first the Water company said no way and it was only a lot of work by a Southern Electricity guy that made it happen in the end.

Noted. Ive seen people saying get it all done in one closure, but how can you persuade multiple utility companies to do their work on the same day?

Or you could do this. (page 4) https://www.hjpugh.com/catalogue/b5542fb7845e727d38b4418c4e278500/88172ebd72487fa052dfcdb3e174f077/monthly-collective-sale-of-tractors-plant-implements-live/?currentPageNo=4

As per my post above, yes.

Be aware that if the utilty supplies (water/gas/electric/drainage) require a road closure then it is usually months (at least 3 in our case) before it can be done.

For that money id go for an older model over a new chinese one. Older stuff is very simple, and much easier to fix, though if theres hydraulics involved, it still wont be cheap. I bought one (kubota KX61) for £6k, used it for 4 years, repaired the slew motor for about £250 (plus my time) sold it with a leaking fuel pump for £5500. Ive now bought another one (the same) for £5k. Missing its canopy, but otherwise good apart from a couple of minor ram leaks (job for the winter). Obviously though, old diggers are a bit like gambling, so it can go wrong big if you buy unwisely!

Hi guys, We are fitting a granite hearth and a limestone fire chamber. I understand its a good idea to leave expansion gaps between the different pieces. The limestone back is in two pieces and the hearth is in two pieces. What have other people done with the gaps? I was planning on a 2/3mm gap between the pieces, but would prefer to seal with a high temperature sealant. Is this a good idea? Also fitting a limestone fire surround. Similar question, ive seen these with dry gaps between the legs and the header, but is there an alternative? I was thinking to maybe put a 2/3mm metal packer in between the pieces and then grout the gap to get a neater finish. Any thoughts, or ideally photos welcome. Thanks