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Might be a night away in a Travelodge in Bristol, mind...

The slab team from MBC arrived on site this morning. It's like having the building version of whirling dervishes who've just dropped a few speedballs. My word, they make progress! The team is headed up by Harry and he has 3 others in his team, but this will fluctuate a little over the course of the job with Harry needing to have a look at another job for most of tomorrow then the younger lad taking some leave to go to a music festival. Tsk, the youth of today! He worked like a machine, though, apart from the bit where he nearly rolled over one of the piles as he was looking in awed astonishment as a rather attractive young lady farmer drove past on the nearby track in a JCB that was most definitely bigger than the roller machine he was on. I don't think it was the vehicle that caught his attention so much as the driver. Sniggers all round. I arrived just after 8 am this morning and the first lot of hardcore had already been delivered. In total, there were 4 loads of type 1, but I piggybacked onto this and ordered an additional load (paid for by me) which the team will then spread and roller for me in the area beyond the bucket in the above photo, which will create a nice level area for the crane when it arrives to bring in the timber frame. I've had really good luck with the weather so far and hope it continues, but if it rains between now the completion of the timber frame, the site will turn to mud PDQ and slow things down horribly. Once the hardcore was going down and getting compacted, the piles were cut off to the correct height, leaving the rebar in position, ready to be tied into the beams. I have no idea what you call the digger thingy that they are using to move the stone around the site, but it's an impressive beast. It looks a lot like the bottom of a tank with its caterpillar tracks and then something a bit more transformers-like with its swivelly cab and arm. Either way, it was mechanical poetry in motion when driven by someone who clearly knew what they were doing. The team will have been working till 7pm this evening, so they will have got all the hardcore down and compacted and were going to start on the sand, if they had the time. The first load of sand arrived about 4.30 this afternoon, more to follow on tomorrow morning. As well as working 12 hour days, Harry has already had a chat with the neighbours to let them know that they will be working over the weekend, too, on both days. The insulation is due for delivery tomorrow and they will be putting the pipes that carry the service cables into this, along with the UFH pipes. I'm not sure when the steels will arrive, but that must be also imminent as the piles will need to be tied in before the concrete is poured. The building inspector is coming on Monday to check out everything before the pour. For interested parties, THE CONCRETE POUR IS CURRENTLY SCHEDULED FOR TUESDAY. I've read a couple of horror stories and some not-quite-horror-but-not-very-nice-stories about uneven slabs, so I've told Harry that before they leave site, I need him to demonstrate with a laser that everywhere that a wall rests is absolutely level and within tolerance. Harry is a man of few words and he didn't quite bat an eyelid, but I explained that I would much rather that something like that is demonstrated rather than just verbally assured. He seemed fine with it. So, one final picture of the hardcore going down, from the garage side of the house. More blow-by-blow action to follow tomorrow.

Certainly didn’t cough up! We came to an ‘agreement ‘ where they are paying 83% of the cost, feeling pretty pleased with myself actually and glad I decided to fight it.

So Jeremy is buying the beers in November then? Might have a buyer for our boat, been on the market 2 days and have a viewing this afternoon.

Probably not .... it’s too cheap !! If I used 500 litres a day for a month that is £40 of water to water say £1000 of plants then it’s not costing much at all - and that’s metered water. We have no concept of not opening a tap and water coming out in the UK and tbh I read something last week about the pipe losses accounting for some ridiculous percentage of “usage” in the UK. We haven’t invested in the core reservoir and filtration infrastructure for decades and usage is on the rise and the system can’t cope. We need to stop paying £bn dividends to shareholders and start investing that in the infrastructure ..!

Go and book a nice Carribbean cruise for a bit of rest and relaxation for you both.

Sitting down to watch Designated Survivor on Netflix tbh... Hoping the missus will join me on the sofa as the kids have nicked the cushions and I can lean on her instead!

@zoothorn, if like some on here you lack social skills, struggle with interpersonal relationships, have a mild drinking problem and tbh generally prefer contact with tools rather than people then you might like to have a go at making an extension box out of a standard back box: I really can't recommend the use of a 4 1/2" grinder 6" from your nose though. I'd take a bid longer too deburring the cut edges than this bloke did and even consider a grommet strip! Don't either try it either, in the dark with a failing head torch and after 2 pints of Shipyard Pale Ale or you too could be sporting an L shaped burn on your leg from a dropped, hot back box...

Since the last update, things have pressed on but unlike other activities, the visual impact isn’t as obvious. I have uploaded some photos but sadly they are not very exciting as you have to look hard to see the electrics - Anyway, it's a record. The upstairs has had the same treatment as the ground floor; in as much as the walls have had additional insulation fitted, wrapped in vapour barrier and had service battens fixed. The last two weeks of July has seen the plumber and electrician come to site to do their first fix. A lot of work has been undertaken and all their efforts will be covered by plaster boards. Whilst all this has been going on, the chimney has been started – the wood burning stove will arrive late September. The front and rear doors have arrived and been installed. The scaffolding has finally come down and I’m pleased to see them off site. This has allowed the stone mason to start laying the stones – a total of 177 squares will be laid in all. So far we have had 31 bags of stones delivered and we await a delivery date for the final 25 bags. Things must be heading in the right direction as we have started to order sanitary ware – a bath, 2 showers, 3 toilets, 3 basins and associated taps and traps. The plumber wanted the shower valves and basin traps on site for his first fix. We have also ordered all the oak skirting, window boards, internal doors, door linings and architraves. The oak products are due at the back end of August. The joiner has assured us the walls will be plastered boarded and plastered in time!! Thanks for reading.

Have you not tanked the ceiling..?? Should really do the ceiling - and the back of the door ....

You know how to treat a girl. Maybe even let her go large at McDonalds too!

That is why I probably go overboard praising people when we receive good service. Treat people as you expect to be treated does not seem to be a lot of people's motto!

Just accepted an offer for £285K, cash buyer, no chain, no mortgage, can complete the purchase in around 6 weeks. Looks like our strategy of pricing low and asking for offers in excess of the minimum price achieved a sale price that I suspect is higher than we'd have got by asking for a higher price and negotiating down. Just off to open a bottle of wine...

Ive just had that email but the thing that caught my attention was how it was signed. FFS, give me strength! Love and power, Jon Paull Operations Director

Yes @zoothorn, repeat 20 times. "DO NOT TRY TO MAKE AN EXTENSION BOX". Then go and buy some that fit properly.

They only do two versions of the same model 110v and petrol We normally take the 110 scarifier Petrol is a bit funky indoors They are really easy to use and can be adjusted to take as little as 2 mil off You can get within 200 mil of comers and edges You have to use a grinder in the corners Grinders are ok but slow and and you are right down there on your hands a knees with the dust We recently tiled a swimming pool and had to plane 6 mill off the whole screed So we hired the dust exstactor with it Hardly any dust but makes it a two person job I normally pay £70 for a day

Be very careful with storing pellets - even in bags - in a closed environment such as a garage. There is a carbon monoxide risk from stored pellets and good ventilation is a must.

The problem is we have no concept in this country on how to conserve water go and live in Australia for a year and you will look at things a bit differently HOSE PIPE BAN. you shouldn’t be using it to water your bloody garden in the first place put every house on a meter and I bet people change.

You use a diverter type device like this https://www.marlec.co.uk/product/solar-iboost/?v=79cba1185463 to send excess electric to power your immersion to heat your water. For less moving parts and no maintenance whatsoever. Pv wins hands down.

Yup. I did one and mummified the valve. Then I looked at it and thought wtf. I just did this : first coat of tanking on. Then i tiled it and dabbed a horseshoe shaped dab of adhesive from 8 o'clock to 4 o'clock, and as it's cementitious no water will be getting in there. By the time I pushed the tile on and displaced the adhesive I was sponging it away from the tile edge. Fackin Bombproof.

Mine is a 22kw with a 350l tank. My tank is upstairs so 350l was as much weight as I could go to without some major additional joinery work. I have pv so it takes care of the hot water between may - October. Mine is inside my sunroom. At the time choice was pretty limited in NI for this type. Where will yours be going. Make sure you ask about how often it will need cleaned out. I would do a quick clean maybe every 3-4 days during the winter and a proper deep clean out every month. Takes about 5 mins for the quick clean and maybe 20 for the longer one.

I do understand and I have no wish for you to go through that hell.....just looked at your blog.......when checking levels dont just check where walls go check the whole thing we had dips and humps all over. A simple check is some water and if you get lakes (like us) then its very evident. Not sure if you can do water on wet slab though. Ours showed from rain the following day.

Yay, well done you!!! Robbing bar stewards weren't they!!

Fantastic! I'm not sure I had stamina levels like that even in my youth.

Yes, indeed, Lizzie. It was you I had in mind when having my word with them this morning. I admire you in many ways, but have no desire to emulate your slab experience. I'm sure you understand.

I would watch them very carefully and have your level at the ready to check it

Just had an email from Octopus. Basically the contents of the email are here: https://octopus.energy/iresa/ One bit that might help: "Please bear with us and we will be in touch in the next few weeks. If you have an emergency such as a loss of supply, please call 0808 1781551, or email iresa@octopus.energy" It suggests the switch will take 14-21 days. I would contact your buyer and explain the situation and urge their solicitor to progress as much as they can without this information.

When I did calculations, standard glass wool loft insulation was by far the best value in terms of cost to achieve a certain U-Value. 400mm will give you around a 0.11 U-value at a much lower cost than say 200mm of PIR, particularly it is much cheaper to install. If he wanted to make it a warm loft and use the space it might be a different answer, but I would guess that this is by far the easiest/cheapest way to improve the insulation value in an old house.

Anything else is simply laziness!

My sparky was my hubby. Messy sod! ?. I used to spend the weekends clearing up after the trades but it was never as neat as @Redoctober It’s when they come into a house where people are living and trash it that gets me mostly.

Our sparky was uber tidy, never left anything behind. Depends on the tradeperson I suppose and whether they are just used to being on sites. Second fix is a different story as you will have finished areas that they will be working in.

Take one off and turn it over .. maker will be stamped on the back

The odd thing is we've never had any local complaints right through from the planning stage to the end of the build. Perhaps taking eight years to build it was just too much for them.

It looks great. I bet the sweeping takes a while, as you're just be walking around and looking pleased with everything. ? What are you planning for gable end of the house, will this be stone as well or some form of cladding?

Looks like I've got to extend just one screened cable, result! Has anyone seen the bath control box? Seriously, wtf did I put it??? Edit: It appears SWMBO has "tidied it up"! "Grey thing with grommets and a black lead?" she said... She's now looking, I'm now drinking!

Old metal dustbin lid works just as well....

Very well done, don’t stay in a travel lodge, stay here http://www.thelangleyarms.co.uk/ it’s right in the middle of a housing estate on the outskirts of Bristol, you will think your sat nav has gone mad, it’s a lovely 17th century inn and does a fantastic Sunday lunch (I know).

The floor and nearest internal angles away from the main shower area always get done in a wet room. Its to stop water tracking to the nearest porous material ( your sponge-like plasterboard or ply ) and wicking up it slowly until the shit hits the fan. No need for taking solution on the WC wall, but id certainly use solution over the tape to wall junctions. Tanking start / stopping no problemo. Tank all the cement board in the shower area, like you weren't ever going to do that anyway

Not many blokes read instructions!

After two years of putting up with a sh**y neighbour I know what you mean. Some people just need to get a life!. The only reason I did not stand up to our neighbour (apart from legally through the council planning process) was he has already been done for GBH so didn’t fancy my chances ?. He has since gone bankrupt, house sold at auction and gone to upset someone else.

I used ESBE valves in my setup. VRG 130 rotary valve with a CRA 110 thermostatic controller for the mixing valve. MY setup is custom with one mixing valve supplying the two pumped manifolds. This draws heat from the SunAmp (PCM34) and blends with the return, temp set at 26C and fully adjustable. I also have VRG 230 diverting valves used to select the no-heating required/cooling setup. Not cheap, but totally configurable, though my plumber didn't have a scooby on how to install them and had the inserts 180 degrees out so initially it wasn't functioning as expected. I resolved this by simply removing the controllers, rotating the drive shafts to the correct positions and re-assembling, just a question of reading the instructions!

I think @PeterW has it too actually ?. He forgets I remember him obsessively labelling everything related to my heating system to within an inch of its life lol.

Yup..... I’m in that club and have the badge........

Thanks for the music intermission- 1st tune was nice/ havent heard that in a while. The 2nd 'health' actually affected my health as I put it on at breakfast too loud. Well one of mine on the zoot theme (guitarist). Swings hard. Fab solo @ 2.30 I suggest start from this point if not known..

Nothing wrong with OCD. Pre- requisite of self-building

It just tells you the preservative is the same - not the contents of the container !! Mixing parts of a system and changing components without understanding the underlying chemistry is a really bad idea...

The generic thermostat blending valves fall over when you ask them to run at low temp. They choke the flow when the return temp raises enough to leave no differential temp between flow and return. You cant blend hot with cold if your cold is the same temp as your flow which is exactly what happens when your up to temp. All gravy whilst your cold and getting UP to temp, but when your there the TBV just goes into meltdown. Many who think it doesn't should sit and listen whilst its running and you can hear them whining and attempting to strangle the flow. If you have an adverse installation which requires a primary circulation pump, then be 100% sure to fit a full 22mm gated bypass to allow flow back to the heat source when the TBV has had its fill. This is as always case specific advice and most are PH / similar, so you really need linear heat influx and the Ivar with the capillary blend set does work like a dream. Absolutely whisper silent. I suspect there are cheaper ones, but the Ivar comes with a top-notch Grundfos pump which is super energy efficient ( >A+ iirc ). £300 with the Vodka and Tonic but money well spent imo, and also has in-built adjustable bypass in the control group so one less bit of kit to buy and install..

Our UFH system is vented so runs at 0.1 to 0.3 bar. Not had any issues with noisy circulation pumps. They are Grunfos pumps. Just make sure they are mounted in the correct orientation, you can't just put them in any old which way.

I was racking my brain for something a little bigger to make it a bit easier, and I guess you could use a clock or a clock face. Any 5 hours will be 150 degrees. Not sufficent for accuracy, but probably enough to show up if it is way off.

That is a pretty good price tbh as I’m assuming that the architects certificate acts as warranty ..?? If you take off the standard £2500 for a warranty then you’re at £3500 which is pretty reasonable for what you have got.