Leaderboard

Anytime I've had people in, I have Multiple sets of the drawings printed in A3 and laminated. Their faces tend to light up! Works really well for the ground work as they kept their shape and didn't get affected by dirt or water. Not cheap but well worth it.

Drawings-they're just suggestions,really

I've already put in most of the back boxes and cabling, in conjunction with electrician. Hard to believe how many KM of cable are being consumed! So soul destroying installing one, then realising it is the wrong side of a noggin and not building regs distance compliant.... always happens to the neatest ones!

The 20mm dia rail is pretty proven tbh. Doesn't crud up too much and the wheels cut through most stuff. I keep meaning to attach a couple of "dustpan" brushes to help clean the track every time it opens / closes. Have a look on Pinterest for sliding gates! I designed my gate frame and had it fab'd and galvanised. Around the £300 mark. Kit about £500 as said. Probably come out about £2K all in when finished. Do you reckon they'd go for this? https://m.imgur.com/gallery/KAYGnsx

The number of little things I have picked up because of simply walking round, sharing a laugh and a joke, handing out iced water.... bit of encouragement, fetch, carry. Works for this team, might not for others

I chalked it on, but there's no substitute for being there walking round making sure everything is happening as you expect it to

You've completely outdone me. I used a Sharpie marker:-) I also added all the dimensions, FFL detail etc so that MBC were absolutely certain what they were doing (as the upper floor openings were made wrong in the factory). Our windows arrived on a lorry 20 minutes ago!

If the builder is stretched on one job he's stretched on all the jobs he has going. There would be a strong temptation for him to order materials for another job on this account. You can try telling the BM to only deliver to your site but that might not be enough to prevent problems. I'd look to close the account as soon as all the big items have been ordered?

@Crofter I have been playing with another way for self-employed people to save another 10% at Wickes. Haven't written it up for the savings thread yet, so I will do it here first. We know about Employee Benefit Programmes which give 10% off, but I have discovered that my Health Cash Plan, Westfield, have their own Westfield Rewards programme which also gives 10% off. A Health Cash Plan is one where you pay a regular (say "£25 a month) subscription, and receive cash grants for glasses, or the dentist, or the chiropodist, or the chiropracter, or a small amount (say £20) for each day as an in patient - all depending on your level of membership. These are mainly relics from before the NHS when they were used as a form of social insurance. However, usually just a couple of grants - say teeth and eyes - will add up to 100% of the subscription if you use them every year. Westfield Rewards have a website here, and it also gives 10% off at B&Q and loads of other retailers. Wickes discounts are only in store via a reloadable (online) gift card. I am sure that there are other "non-employee" benefits out there; I have just not found any, Wickes at present also have a JUNE2017 discount code which saves 10% online. Here is the Bamboo Flooring closest to Jeremy's:14mm stranded bamboo woven, but 96mm wide boards. http://www.wickes.co.uk/Westco-Stranded-Bamboo-Solid-Wood-Flooring/p/215564 Cost is 29.99 per sqm. The best I can do with that is £23.99 per sqm via - 10% Trade Discount plus 10% via the Westfield Rewards programme. That is 19% when stacked plus I get 1% more by topping up the gift card using a debit card that gives me a reward. So 20% off. or slightly cheaper at around £23.70 per sqm via - 10% off using JUNE2017 voucher code stacked with a 10% Trade Discount when purchasing online via the App (=19% assuming it stacks). Then another 1-2% by using a cashback or reward Amex Card to order. So 21% off. The staff discount for TP Employees at Wickes is 20%, so I do not think we will be able to do much better unless sales or 3 for 2s etc kick in. The price I am offered at TP (cash account) for the 15mm thick version is coming in at about £22.70 per sqm inc VAT with whatever my account is, minus perhaps 1% more for my reward Credit / Amex card = £22.40 or so per sqm. If that is your price, it is OK imo if you want the bamboo. Ferdinand

I don't see what advantage that gives you over a plasterboard box? (yes I know some hate PB boxes) It seems to have a flaw that the bit that screws to the stud sticks proud of the stud by a few mm. That will create a bump in the plasterboard that some will notice. What fixes the "free" end in their picture? it would appear, nothing. It also ties you to positioning the accessories a certain fixed distance from the studs, no chance to make them line up with other stuff as you may wish. Not for me.

TBH Swann are overpriced for the spec. I use a Maplin 3G router with a cheap PoE injector and 3 cameras. There is a cheap NVR attached but I tend to just use the alert on it to trigger me logging into them as I can record off the app.

Bees I can cope with. Bats....well that would be another matter