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Most of our stuff gets washed at 30, but proper dirty work and gardening stuff gets done at 40 or higher (hubby's overalls are covered in oil and grease at the end of a busy week). I occasionally do an empty run through with the machine on a boil wash to get rid of all the gunk that builds up. The tumble dryer gets used if I'm in a hurry, but in the winter we have an open coal fire and I put the drying rack in front of it overnight and that takes care of most things. I don't mind a crispy towel, myself, saves on using a loofah in the shower.

Hang on I do the washing in our house and I ain't no lady, furthermore given the posters on this topic the gender balance is about even - this post might skew it!

This is a situation that no contingency allows for and, for most of us luckily, isn't common. Such respect fo you for carrying on in these circumstances. My son keeps telling me the ways in which I am making my new house less sellable or lower value. And I keep telling him 'I don't care'. If there were grandkids or even a chance then it may be different but, as that isn't the case, this is about me and my lifestyle. To be fair he now usually beats me to it.

Mine was very rough and ready, done on a fag packet just now . Never worked it out before. I was told that the house was 350 square metres so didn't work that out but I think it might be a bit bigger than that if I look at the external dimensions of the footprint as it seems to be 12 metres deep by 16.5 wide x 2 as it's 2 storey, minus a bit as one room at the back is single storey. There are no balconies or verandas but I did include the cost of the detached garage but not the size of it. I included costs of the fencing, patio, steps, disabled ramp etc etc. but not plants. Didn't include the vat reclaim as I am hopefully getting that back. I included all fees, insurance, warranty and testing costs apart from the plot purchase / solicitor, and we didn't pay for the original building warrant or the planning permission as it had that already. The majority of the foundations were here already too so wrapped up in the plot purchase which I didn't include. I included the cost of the more significant tools / equipment such as the scaffold tower and any tools / equipment hire costs, but not general purpose things as hubby had quite a lot of tools already and I didn't track absolutely everything he bought, but that wouldn't add a significant amount to the cost anyway. So yes, it's not an exact science! We didn't use a cost estimator but I had looked at one before we put the budget together. I got the OH to break down the individual trades and phases and come up with an estimate for each as that was way out of my comfort zone. I did ask him to walk me through each cost element though and sometimes the simple task of doing that and my uneducated questioning uncovered areas that weren't quite right and were readjusted. We had to factor in labour costs for the areas that he wasn't able to do himself and that was a bit of a leap of faith as some of the things that were down to him he hadn't attempted before. My only involvement in this project to begin with was ordering, payments, and keeping control of the budget. I originally set the budget at 200k with a 20k contingency. We were pretty much on track with that with a bit of economising in areas when we went over in other areas. And then it all went a bit wrong when my hubby got sick as he got someone to build an extension on the back to house the bloody simulator that he bought and never used, so that pushed the cost up, and left me with an administrative nightmare with the council which one day I will write up to serve as a warning to others when you step outside of process! And I ended up paying about 30k in labour costs to get things done once my hubby was too sick to do anything himself and finish things off. He would have done many of those jobs himself previously. So that pushed it up to around 260k in the end which given the circumstances I didn't think was too bad. By that stage I was just relieved to get it signed off!

It has taken me a long while to be convinced that PV was economically worthwhile, but now that we have the energy model near complete for our house it's become a no brainer. So I thought I'd share my findings. This assumes a FIT installation with Generated and Exported rates of 3.93 and 5.03 p/kWh for a 9kW system. I've not yet tried the cheaper installation of a non-FIT version which is often quoted as a better alternative. Perhaps I'll have a go at modelling and comparing that too in the near future. I've made my Energy Model available for anyone interested; get it here. The following charts show the quickest return to payoff of the PV system and lowest annual outgoings. Had to use Mains Gas for Heating and DHW, through these can be toggled to electricity in the model.

Around the 3min mark

A brine heat exchange ground loop might be worth considering. I wish I had the land to bury 100m of pipe but I just can't fit it in unless it goes partly under the slab which I've dismissed as a foolish idea but can't get it out of my head! Your architect @Visti has also installed this system on his new build and there is a brief YouTube video where he chats about it.

we'll see

Thanks Lizzie As jerremy says most bother and cold air circulates right around the house Under skirtings and kitchen units Ive been doing this for 35 years it really doesn’t take much more time to do it right Much easer to straighten and fix to

Me too now but previously the division of labour was pretty equal. I did shopping and weekend cooking, hubby did DIY and weekday cooking (as I worked much longer hours!), and we did our own washing. He would have done mine too as it happens but I didn’t trust him to be careful enough with my stuff and his way of drying was to lob it all on an airer meaning it looked like shit afterwards and needed to be ironed.

I have MVHR too. Still wouldn’t be without my dryer . Tumbles the creases out so iron free. Helps heat the house too given my pathetic heating system .

I also do the cleaning, cooking, shopping, gardening, DIY, the lot in fact. But, 30+ years ago I worked at a really horrible company with a bunch of bigoted wankers who assumed that because I lived on my own I must be gay (though I was called a b*mmer then). I think it was Max Planck that said something along the same lines. "New ideas take hold when the old guard die off".

I pretty much do the same apart from taking sheets to the laundry. No laundry anywhere round here lol. Used to have a separate washing machine for dog beds in the previous house and that was in plan for this one but I haven’t got round to it so use one of the horse rug bags for dog beds / coats to try to save the filter. Love towels coming out of the dryer all soft and clean. Can’t see the appeal of them coming off the line all rough.

I see Salisbury have their own solution for this...

Exactly @Hecateh. A secondary School teacher taught me that, and it made me determined - where sensible - to know why I don't make the choices I might reasonably to have been expected to make. It reduces the level of regret for things I didn't do. For example, I know why we decided to build rather than sell the plot and move. It's useful to know because , frankly, in 2017, we really did wonder why we had started the build. But 2018 will be better. No collapses for a start.

When I got mine the delivery charges were different. I had 2 man delivery which was during a really bad winter and they (the 2 man team) were really good. They kept me informed of their progress and when they eventually arrived at 8.00 in the evening, (they had to reverse up the road beacause of the snow and ice) they were most apologetic and nothing was to much trouble whilst I was making them hot drinks. they were ambassadors for the company and I have not had any problems with the units and they still look like the day they were put in. I bought enough units for the kitchen, utility and an office.

Nearly up to roofline. I think 2 lads are coming back in tomorrow to finish off the corners. A whole week of decent weather and full team on site have seen loads done this week

Previously on Buildhub... ...and...

I’ve made a start on the dabbing today To those who already know this ignore this post But we’ve had a few questions about air tightness and foam on block Ive taken a couple of pictures If you are paying a contractor to do this and it is any different than pictured Your not getting what you have paid for and air tightness will be an issue further down the line Skirtings are decorative and shouldn’t need to be bunged up with foam

I think you probably need to think of something like PV with the same mind set as when choosing a kitchen or bathroom. Do you invest in a more expensive kitchen because you know it will add value to the house and give you added pleasure when living there, or do you go for a budget kitchen, accepting that by the time you come to sell it may well look a bit tired and need replacing, or a bit knocked off the sale price to compensate? In my view a fair bit of the value of PV comes from self-consumption, a little bit comes from the FIT and generation payment, and an unknown bit comes from the "feel-good" factor of doing something to reduce your carbon emissions. There's also the rapid drop in the price of battery storage - that's now down to around 8p/kWh lifetime cost, and dropping. When it gets down to around 5 or 6p/kWh then it makes sense to fit it to increase self consumption from PV, I think. I reckon that with about 6 kWh of battery storage at 6p/ kWh life cycle cost we would knock our electricity consumption from the grid, even in winter, down to virtually zero, nd would easily use no grid electricity at all for around 8 months of the year.

From Scewy's website "Unfortunately this product cannot be delivered offshore." Somebody needs to look up where Ross-Shire is, then look at a map.

Bugger. You beat me to it. .

Not sure, I suspect you can buy Howden's interiors for other cupboards but I have specced larder units and different bin combinations from DIY. They are very approachable and manufacture on site. Worth a conversation with them as to what you are looking for. I know there were one or two things I saw on my visit that are not on their website

Search : glazing reflective solar ?

Griselinia purchased from the garden centre. Never heard of it before but they had 3 types! I have bought one variegated and one not and will see how they do. The guy who advised me said that the variegated one which is a bit larger had been growing there outside for a year and had done well, and the green one was less of a known quantity as it was a new arrival. Thanks @PeterStarck and @Cpd I will be planting them tomorrow.

You not read your Tolkien then.

Not too shabby .

I have both air and gas. Air gun is absolutely fool proof and unbreakable, but you need a compressor to run it, it will also be attached to the air hose so it is more cumbersome if you are climbing about on trusses with it, if using it for multiple nailing it wil go on and on and on until you have to put it down as it got to heavy. If you drop it from the roof just run down and get it and carry on. paslode is lovely, but you have to buy gas for it, mine loves to misfire just as you are in the most awkward position, doesn’t like being dropped off the scaffold, temperamental in the cold, keep a gas in your pocket. My no nonsense bit, if you have arms like cocktail sticks, just use a hammer. They are all heavy. ALWAYS WEAR SAFETY GLASSES.

Only 3 monitors?

@Alexphd1 took some pics this morning we have a layer of geotex fixed round our eps to protect it then the aluminium on top. Aliminium is foamed/screwed to eps around slab and house timber frame. It extends a short way up under the render board and cladding to make sure there is no problem with water getting in. If you want a more technical explanation I can ask my superstar carpenter (he fitted it). It works really well and looks smart..... well it will do when we get all the muck off!

I only used the wall units above the desk in the same materials.

Rather you then me anyway that rather depends on whether she takes any notice too . Can’t abide wet washing draped everywhere and I don’t think it’s healthy having it drying on radiators causing condensation and worse. http://www.goodhousekeeping.co.uk/news/you-should-not-hang-your-clothes-on-radiators-health-warning

I wash most on 40 with a laundry disinfectant in as well. A wash below 60 does not kill germs or dust mites etc. Anything heavier duty such as towels etc go in at 60. Rarely use the 95 wash as I take my sheets to the laundry. I also run my dishwasher at a min of 65 because the same applies for germ killing and temps. I use my TD a lot too and always for towels.

You can insist all you like pal.

I think you should find something more productive to do. There’s no need for maths as it would work with a conventional setup. I just won’t be doing that either.

"How's your mummy ginger pubes?" Great film, got the DVD for my 40th along with It's All Gone Pete Tong!

Monkey see monkey do like me!

Those bricks are a lovely colour and I like the corbel design. That view is amazing!

Installer magazine has a half-decent summary. To summarise the summary of the summary: It will require a new minimum performance standard of 92% ErP, and will require people fitting new boilers to include one of the following in the system: Flue gas heat recovery systems Weather Compensation Load Compensation Smart controls featuring automation and optimisation functions Plus another £3.6 billion of investment in Energy Company Obligation (ECO).

Yes i grow it on the Scottish west coast close to the sea and its going great, i have read that there are both hardy and non hardy types so make sure to get the hardy one.

Griselinia is suitable for coastal areas and I think looks great.

1 My grandparents used to have Myrtle in a hedge right on the beach road in Prestatyn, which worked. The soil was almost sand. 2 Might Aucuba be better than Laurel? 3 For salt tolerance I would suggest a small tree such as Tamarisk, or Holm (Evergreen) Oak. The latter can be cut into a good hedge. Or various sorts of evergreen (eg Juniper). Tamarisk can be a bit of a bully. Ferdinand

He does demolition work as well!

thats not the issue, atleast in most cases it isnt, the problem is the bstards that sued, Fred knew what he was doing. Fred knew if he f*ked up he would die. hence why he didnt die from a fall. the problem is everyone is so quick to take what they can that its not worth taking the risk its an american culture and i dont like it.... IMHO

Guy was ( is ) a legend. I would pay good money to have him tear one of those OpenReach guys a new arsehole as they spend 15-20 mins putting on PPE and a full body harness to climb a fackin telegraph pole.

@AliG the picture you found is from the builder I used. Silicone render finished down to a bead, below the bead has been rendered with two coats of the base render then painted (or at least, that's how mine was finished). @Alexphd1 I'll try and post some close up pictures tomorrow for you.

Good shout, @Hecateh. As you say, not a deal breaker with those prices, but if you want a Monday-Friday date that you can specify, it will add £250 to the bill. I won't be in time for their April sale, but by the time I get around to ordering another one may have come along.

I’ve never been in love with this house sadly. I was a very reluctant self builder as it was my hubby’s dream, not mine. After 4 years of weekly commuting to Edinburgh from Kent I was offered a company assisted move but it meant relocating to Scotland. Hubby was reluctant to move here but said that he would do so if he could build his own house. So he bought the first plot he saw, and we had to build the house that had been agreed here apart from some internal changes as the foundations were already here. And later I ended up having to complete the work on my own which I found very difficult given the circumstances and my lack of knowledge. I wish that I’d found this forum back then as the support, advice and camaraderie is amazing. I certainly may have felt less daunted and alone. So now I’m on my own in a house that’s far too large for me, and given the location quite isolating too. And the heating doesn’t bloody work either! As soon as I retire I will sell up and move back down south. It was supposed to be our forever home but it’s anything but for me now. I hope once you’ve moved in that you start to love the house you have created. It sounds like it was completely designed for your needs so I really hope you do. Time heals, but it will take time I’m sure xx

@Hecateh & @lizzie Same here. I suspect we will be about 20% over by the time its finished, if it ever is. It was the ground works & drainage that accounts for most of the overspend, but the rest has all been more than expected. Also we have been unable to do much of the work ourselves that we had planned because of a change in personal circumstances. Long past the point of no return so we will just have to soldier on. I have been out of love with the build for some time now. However, just last week I was alone in the house doing some airtightness work. Cutting up little bits of very sticky tape to cover nail & screw heads. I actually realised that I was feeling happy & enjoying myself. I think I must now have tipped over the edge into complete madness.

A timber fire is nice to curl up at around during a cold winter. Wouldn't want to curl up around a burning sh*t