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Well I've finally started putting the Marley Cedral Click cladding up and thought I'd post a shot of progress. Really pleased with how it looks and seems very easy to use.

As @MikeSharp01 says above just pre-drill the top board. You could save even more time by using a countersunk pilot drill. Something like: Linky And glue too!

Around 8 or 9 years ago I fitted some bathroom units that came from Tesco (I jest not - they were on their online store). They were flat-pack, and damned good quality. Solid oak doors and decent carcasses, with soft close hinges. They made the bathroom a lot neater, hiding all the untidy stuff and giving loads of storage. I fitted a row that's a 300mm base cupboard, 600mm toilet unit, 600mm washbasin unit and another 300mm cupboard. Above that I fitted two, 300mm wall units, with a 600mm mirror between them. The shower mixer is fitted inside the base unit nearest the shower bath, and is a three way one, as the bath has a shower and a combined waste/filler. The advantage of having the mixer fitted in the base unit, with the controls on the side, is that you can turn the shower on without getting wet, plus the shower valve is accessible for replacement or maintenance (this proved to be very useful when the Victoria Plumb crap failed). In the new house I've done the same in both bathrooms and the downstairs WC, but this time used some units that were pre-assembled. They came from here: http://www.bluewaterbathrooms.com/ and seem to be pretty well made. I don't think we could go back to having stand-alone toilets and washbasins after having lived with built-in stuff for so long. Not only do you get loads of storage, it's also a great deal easier to keep a built-in bathroom clean and tidy. We don't even have an exposed loo roll holder; the rolls live in a cupboard by the toilet, out of sight.

That was exactly my plan, rather have it and not need it. Cheers mate, gonna be a huge step tomorrow and as nervous as I am right now, majorly excited too - even though I'll have to be up at 4.30 tomorrow morning.....

Just thought I'd update and thank everyone who posted. I sent all the relevant selfbuild VAT pages to the pump/concrete supplier and after a bit of hesitation, they've agreed to zero rate the invoice. Saves me 1500 odd quid of my usable budget

Hi Everyone I am new to this site today, looking to start a new build was wondering if anyone could give me any advice, i am really green!! Much Appreciated........many thanks Carl

"How to find and buy a building plot" by Roy Speer. Try for latest edition. Beware planning rules change with time. Just because a plot has planning permission that doesn't mean the approved house can actually be built. There can be a lot of other things that stop you. These have to be checked before you buy. Not all are show stoppers.. How long left to run on the planning permission? Any planning conditions? Any restrictive covenants in the deeds? Any ransom strips or other access issues? Does the approved house actually fit on the plot? Are services available in the road? How far away? Can you and are you allowed to connect another house to those services? Any unwanted services across the plot? 11,000V line? High pressure gas main? Ground conditions ok? Trees? Mine workings? Contamination? Will soakaways work? Solicitors usually know what to check when conveyancing a house but most don't know what extra things need to be checked when buying a building plot.

Welcome Carl. Could you provide some more info? Do you have a plot (or house that you'll be demolishing). If so, do you have plans/designs? [edited to add: ha! cross posted with @ProDave]

Hi and welcome to the forum. That's a big question that needs to be broken down into smaller questions. Do you have any land yet? do you have any idea what you want? Tell us where you are and what your goals are.

There's a sort of daft bit of standard stuff that goes on the bottom of the as-built EPC that you'll find very amusing when you get yours done at the end. Our chit has this bit of complete daftness at the bottom: Apart from the fact that we're right at the bottom of a deep valley, which makes a wind turbine a completely insane idea, look at the return on investment for solar water heating (something we already have via the PV array, excess generation diverter and Sunamp PV, anyway). Taking a mid-range indicative cost of £5,000, and a saving of £65/year (directly from the above certificate), it would take nearly 77 years to recover the investment, not taking account of regular maintenance, repair and replacement of parts......................... These certificates really are bonkers in so many ways.

Talking about hobs a bit more specifically as I did the oven in the last post. Extractors are to be had from anywhere for the £60-£90 range, so not much potential for savings above about £15-20. So I am looking for a set of oven + hob for a faily well equipped rental (Oak Veneer doors etc), to go with a "Greenwich Shaker Oak" Howdens kitchen. I am looking at cheaper but not totally basic package 1 - Fan-assist oven / OK Ceramic hob, and more impressive package 2 - Ceramic/pyrolitic oven and induction hob. Background. * The Howdens own range Lamona were about £430 + VAT for package 1, and quite a bit more for package 2. * Howdens stock Bosch and Neff, but the prices were off the scale. Not their core business, nor a loss-leader; go elsewhere. * Appliances Direct own brand Electronique were £275 + VAT for package 1, and £510 + VAT for package 2 (pyrolitic + induction). I have never had trouble woth Appliances Direct own brand, but if I did their Midlands' Hub is only 10 minutes away. * Boschs and Neffs online can give package 1 for perhaps £550-£600 online, but looking at NEFFs the package 2 can be purchased for under £700, which for me makes it an attractive option with the slight risk that a tradition tenant might not like induction. Items: That leaves the oven as Curry's sale item "Slide and hide" Neff at £419 minus 10% voucher code. http://www.currys.co.uk/gbuk/household-appliances/cooking/ovens/neff-b44s32n5gb-slide-hide-electric-oven-stainless-steel-10143345-pdt.html And the hob as something like this NEFF T40B31X2GB at £349 (Currys price for similar model : NEFF T40B30X2GB = £449 minus 10% voucher code) http://www.whitakers-appliances.co.uk/neff-t40b31x2gb-induction-hob/ which comes with a free set of 4 Neff Induction pans (rrp £120 but there has been a general offer from Neff so ebay is heaving with new sets at £30 or so: http://www.whitakers-appliances.co.uk/free-pan-set-with-neff-induction-hobs/ That offer may work for @Crofter, but I am advised to go for a Ceramic due to traditional mores of tenants. Ferdinand

That tip has just dug me out of a hole. Needed to cut to the brush down a bit, but still... Tops! Thanks Ian

I don't seem to get that smell so much ( I know the one you're taking about) - I try to give it a good clean before hand and mop up any wet or loose material. Also got a spray from Neff that's used on cold ovens, supposed to be as effective as the burn. Not used it yet - could well smell just as bad!

Has anybody said "cake or coke?" to Angus Deaton yet? If not, why not?

We used David Scott Tiles in Belfast. We went with a 800x800 concrete tile, looks fantistic. in terms of price, would need to ask the wife