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Hi Anna, I've replied to your PM but just for future forum reference... i got my site insurance with https://www.selfbuild.uk.com/ who had no questions regarding the retaining wall so the issue was avoided. 18 months was about £550

We miss him as well

In my non-technical view.......... If there was sufficient cable length to tuck them away then it just seems untidy and increases long term failure possibility (who knows though if solar panels will last 50 years!!!!). However I guess if running them underneath would have meant more joints then you could argue that's just as bad. i just don't like untidy, it offends my OCD and that install would annoy the crap out of me!

Thanks. I will try and get quotes for both to see where we stand on this.

So I found that LABC (£500) + BZ warranty was around £2100 BZ for warranty and BC was £1950.... But their BC "charge" was £900..!

Hi Jeremy - I am starting to shop for site insurance. We are going with a contractor who is initially contracted to demolish the house, prepare the site, groundworks and build the garage. We intended to keep the same firm involved for the external finishing of the house but it was my intention to keep this as a secondary contract. The site has a small amount of retaining walls but nothing on the scale of the retaining walls on your site and the contractor will be doing this work. I have so far being looking to get an all risks policy from day 1 of project to cover any risk. However, at the mention of the word 'retaining wall' I get a 5 page form to complete with no distinction between a wall 750mm high and another holding back a mountain. So, is there a need to get an all risks insurance policy under these circumstances given that the contractor carries their own insurance as like you, will be responsible for all aspects of the build such as H&S, insurance, fencing etc.

Here's just one: (PM me for the company name if you like) Tucked away in a corner words to the effect; If we choose to use piles as a foundation, then the policy will be cancelled or otherwise varied ( = price increase). And I had to decide whether I would to use piles before the SE had decided. I pointed that out. Oh, that's OK.... just give us £600 for the year and we'll look at the contract again later if you use piles. I read and re-read five quotes, and highlighted sections I felt were dubious. I was and still am unhappy with the quote I accepted; but it was the least bad option. I don't mind companies making money. But I do mind what appears on the face of it to be border-line sharp practice. As standard.

Wait til you try and claim.... I've noticed some of them are vague - I am trying to get the definition of "site hut" confirmed, and what they will and won't pay out for if I use a secure container for storage. Its taken 2 weeks, and I'm still no closer !!

Hi Rule of thumb is that if the ceiling height is less than 1m it is not counted as floor space. For info, 162sqm warranty is coming in at around £650 at the moment for us Thanks Peter

In answering this question for myself, I almost lost the will to live. There are so many twists, turns, exclusions, differences of emphasis among policies on offer, that I asked our insurance agent to sort it out. The eventual compromise is of the 'least-unsatisfactory' sort. Good luck.

Another for selfbuildzone here. The Building Control part pretty much comes for free compared to other warranties with separate building control. I asked about discount for insurance as well and they said no chance as it is through another company. What was interesting though was that my insurance quote actually went down when I extended the period from 18 months to 2 years. My policy is 2 years and converts into normal building insurance once the build is complete. Building control was contracted through BBS.