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Welcome. I while back I became a proud owner of a very old, stone built cottage in the middle of nowhere. I am gradually fixing it up. Roof doesn't leak any more, attic is insulated, all the internal walls are re-plastered in lime mortar, new ceilings are installed ........ plus a hundred other jobs, big and small. I'm definitely not a builder, but I am doing all the work myself. Having a place to ask for advice from people more experience in the topic is great.

Neither - they are both aimed at the low cost high margin sales market. Get a quote from an independent installer and see the difference.

Has to be a supply+install by a TrustMark registered installer that is willing to do the paperwork to take the GHG voucher. The scheme is overwhelmed and finishes in March, so requires action not really working to typical Onoff timelines ?

Am considering installing the Blauberg Calm Low Noise Energy DC Motor Efficient Bathroom Extractor Fan I am wondering whether to choose the: 1) HUMIDITY sensor - which activates on a rise of humidity or 2) PIR sensor - which activates when it detects motion Any opinions? (If you know of a superior extractor fan, I am open to changing the manufacturer.)

To those who commented on our GRP, this is not an update. The next installment to that will hopefully be at the end of next week when the crap roof will be off and a proper company coming in to sort after we insisted on an insurance backed guarantee. I shall update then, watch this space! Flat roof aside..... All our new extension had insulation laid and our existing flooring excavated for insulation too. We had the UFH pipes laid and there was A LOT. And then screed laid which is suprisingly even and flat using TG Cemfloor – a liquid self-levelling screed. Needless to say they did a better job of this than the roof. And part of the in roof solar frames have also gone up. Our builders found these up the loft when taking down the old ceilings. Unfortunately empty! Someone had a good party ?

Crates look cool. I'd post a pic on Instagram. And hashtag it with drambuie and you might find someone who will pay a lot for them.

Those crates are worth a bit..! Don’t tear the label off either ..!!

If your steel deflects 7mm max deflection, then do not use a rigid PU foam. 10mm would do but tight, I’d go 20, use a compriband on the head which is compressable. So when it does deflect that deflection is taken by the compriband. You should pick one up with a 10mm to 20mm expansion rating. That basically means 10mm in the roll, expanding to 20mm, so can compress back down by 10mm.

We live in a place of higher than average agriculture, but nationally, the employment is very low (like fishing, not many fishermen in Buckinghamshire). I am all for building more housing in the countryside, a lot more housing, and especially keen on converting old buildings.

Fancy a week away for free next to the canal ?

Hi everyone I'm a newbie and finally finding the strength (my mum passed away 5 months ago) to get some jobs done. Found it very difficult to find a reliable roofer so have ended up doing some of the key work with a friend who's an established self builder. Jay

Thanks @NSS Heart felt condolences to you on the loss of your mum and dad. Yes, I agree, our parents would be proud. My mum wanted to get the ridge tiles replaced as they were badly flaking for a long time. Trying to find a reliable and genuine roofer with experience was difficult while she was alive. Only a couple of weeks ago now, with the help of a friend, we replaced old ridge tiles with dry ridge system. I remember climbing up the ladders to the roof for the first time in a very long time, and I heard my mums voice in my head say "be careful son, take your time and pay attention". I feel my mum is around in another form - energy can't be destroyed, transforms from one form to another. What's hit me so hard is that I lost my best friend and only parent. Mum was a super woman, mother and father rolled into one. I remember mum repairing the washing machine when I was 8 years old, replacing the motor. She replaced the starter motor and brake pads (in the 1980s) of the Hillman Hunter car we had (mum learnt how to do things herself - low income, single parent)

The surveyor came out 3 or 4 times to my build. Didn’t spend long here but took a few photos. Then sent a report at the end saying things like a certificate was needed for the gas boiler (no mains gas in the area and the boiler he took a photo of was electric), and that the PV panels wouldn’t be covered by the warranty (no PV here, just solar thermal). It was a while ago but I think I paid something like 2.5k plus about £130 for an indemnity fee because the foundations had already been laid (we bought the plot with the foundations) so the build was counted as ‘started’.

Welcome Jay. My mother died two weeks after we completed on the purchase of our plot. Knocked the wind out of my sails for a while too. Spent many a moment thinking (hoping) she and my old man (who'd died 20 years earlier) would be proud of what we were doing. I'm sure yours would be proud of you too.

At least nobody can ever accuse us of finishing early... ?

Punxsutawney Phil?

Away with all the waffle and the wibble and the circumlocutions and the justifications and the smokescreens and the babble and the blether.. They are all just men who want to learn to multitask, and haven't quite made it yet.

Don't be silly, those indents act as a key for the render.

Weirdo.

You made me laugh Because (for example) I might grout a wall in the ensuite then as I don't want to get dust on it or mess it up start on something else. TBH it was always my plan to skirt between bathroom and ensuite. Do a bit here , do a bit there. Demoralising? After 7 years I LOVE IT! ( for the most part )

I’m glad you said that! I was worried that you had chosen a soap scum yellow colour.

Yes with most of these the builder is liable for the first 2 years. The policies often also cover for the builder going broke in that time. I have spent about £40k in premiums and nobody has made a claim.

Got both of them near me, and a Domino, MacD, Subway, Tesco, Sainsbury, Morrison, Halfords, B&M, Poundland, any many more. And this view. And every summer, a few million new people to meet.

Humidity in my opinion possibly with an override switch. PIR means this blinking thing will spin away every time you go in.

That is expensive, i was looking at the Armatherm 500 product for the thermal break in a concrete block wall, and got a direct quote from Armadillo (01274 591115) yesterday for 100m length total. 2000mm x 100mm x 50mm Blanks of 500-160 - £20 per unit + VAT 2000mm x 100mm x 50mm Blanks of 500-250 - £30 per unit + VAT I can't see how 50mm FRR pads is that much more expensive, i would contact Armadillo directly

If you are happy that it meets both your structural and both ways drainage needs *, I can’t se why not. F * Does not make your soil behind the walls sodden, nor your sunken garden flood.

It’s about 3 days since he said he had sold it. How will you enforce this except by getting it In writing followed by instant defenestration? TBF he’s got that well shaft ready for a mafia style burial in concrete.

render both sides?- ask the maker of your chosen system

I'm trying to find a large sink for our utility/mud room. One that will fit things like oven trays and general large/dirty items I may not want to clean in the kitchen. I've found this one but wondered if anyone has any suggestions of something cheaper https://www.plumbnation.co.uk/site/reginox-elegance-jumbo-stainless-steel-inset-kitchen-sink/ And whilst we are at it a pull out kitchen tap for said sink. We don't want to pay a lot but want something that won't be knackered in 12 months and any brands like Frank's, Grohe, Bristan are quite expensive. Any suggestions? Ta

We use powder coated all round band routinely, more to keep the main trunk runs neat and tidy than to comply with regs, and mostly in new builds with pozi joists. Regs see a mechanically fixed ( screwed ) and plastered plasterboard as 30mins fire rated and also as a means of satisfying the arrest of falling cables. AFAIK the reg exists only fir surface mounted wiring ( where the “containment” is plastic trunking / conduit ) and then you must employ metal clips at X intervals, to reinforce the use of plastic ones in between, and in trunking you fit a metal C clip before the cables go in, mechanically fixed ( screwed etc ), and then the clip is bent to grip the bunched cables before fitting the lid on. To drill through the top or centre of joists complies, and even under-slinging in the counter batten space complies ( if boarded over / PB mechanically fixed ). With pozi joists you can run through perpendicular and rely on the web spaces where the metal webs form a gusset to comply ( even if no PB is present ). The reg also only asks for this in areas deemed means of egress / escape, so can be filtered to suit. I prefer to see heavy ‘looms” banded regardless, and we fix all the bands at locations where the cables turn 90o or spur off from the main trunk runs, and again where we run parallel with the beams eg where noggins could suffice but the bands look neater, and then you are only dealing with one discipline too so easier than cutting and fitting timber IMO. For under-slinging as you suggest, I would just use plenty of the newer metal T/E clips to sleep easy. You’re going to have to clip so may as well use FR clips

That annoys me, actually really p****s me off. It is their responsibility to check the details with you. Did you give them the defection rate of the steel? Did they give you recommended tolerance? Did they advise what material to use for insulation during installation between head and steel? If sitting directly under the steel, using a solid insulation for example, steel deflects, pushing down on slider. Then only one thing happens, compression on head and operational issues with the slider.

Nor does it fit with Onoff diy ethos.

Might want to visit your local catering equipment firm if you want really big, and likewise if you want a good chunky prewash tap rather than the domestic type with a piddly spray. https://www.bes.co.uk/plumbing-supplies/kitchens-catering/pre-rinse-system/

This sort of thing ..?? https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/313201718621

All joking aside it looks pucker. ?

I have used engineered wood in our last three houses, originally wanted solid American black walnut but the company I was dealing with said no good with the ufh. One company I have dealt with online was ukflooringdirect, we had all our engineered stuff from them and they are great at sending out samples, we’ve had engineered oak in different widths and all good quality, we have only used laminate this time but bought it all from them too.

Do you need boiler and ASHP? Considered just ASHP? That's one option, you could also consider doing it via MVHR, just this approach will only work well if you have very low heating/cooling load. If you aslso using UFH and have high levels of insulation, then central cooing/heating via ASHP+MVHR is more practical. It's not really a case of what is the most current or practical thinking, but more about what is best fit for your build given your heating/cooling load, if you have ASHP/MVHR or not, and if you can insulate MVHR ducts or not. We are using ASHP and heating/ cooling will be indpendnealty controllable ground-floor UFH combined with first-floor MVHR duct heating/cooling.

If they applied that rule here, the Highlands would be deserted again. We have no footpath, no street lights, 3 miles to the nearest shop and no public transport. It's bloody brilliant. If push came to shove I could cycle to the shops (but it's uphill on the way back) I would prefer to walk, along the riverbank.

You will be grand. If they moan just say UFH - then when they come to inspect say it's under the floor, just warming and leave some pipes and a TRV sticking out a floor in a cupboard!

Your broker is wrong. We did exactly the sequence you described above. We found our mortgage broker a little bit clueless as well when it came to self build, that's why we went to ecology directly. The big caveat is that the house you intend to buy mist be habitable so you can get a residential mortgage. And the other that they "site" is valued to a similar amount to the purchase price once FPP is granted, otherwise you'll be digging deep to pay of the residential mortgage. Also be aware of early exit fees on your res mortgage. Luckily our planning coincided with the term ending and didn't have to pay the £3k exit fee. Another thing, as you'll be buying a house as a second property, you'll be paying the higher rate of stamp duty. This is refundable if you sell your primary residence within three years and move in to your new build (or a rental)

I subscribe to Dog & Hat. Every month, I get a box with four different bags of coffee. They can be from artisan roasteries anywhere in the UK - occasionally we even get one from Europe or North America. It's a long way from the cheapest way to buy coffee, but I really enjoy my coffee, and I don't have any other expensive habits.

We're slowly working our way through our self-build lighting design and I'm using Dialux Evo (https://www.dialux.com/en-GB/) software. it's very good. maybe you should give it a go and then you'll be able to try lots of different lighting to get the effect you're after.

very true, but being married for 25 years has it's advantages, I'm not worried about getting out there dating with covid.

Sounds like you are on track for a great house. Have a good look at your building warrant drawings and see how comprehensive they are. Maybe you have gone down the SER route so worth a good look at what you have to work with. Keep posting and you'll get a lot of help here, you soon be confident on getting the "hands on"..better for the wallet / purse etc and you'll have a lot of fun / reward in the process. All the best.

Tantric diy here, it's the journey not the destination!

If I had the chance, that's what I would do. But reality sets in.... a bit of help arrives uninvited and unplanned ... rude to say " Come back next weekend " innit? So I drop everything and get on with xyz. Arrangements to meet next weekend made, .... you guessed it ... fall through. Followed by "Can you bring your digger round and ... " Then, mid lockdown a chippy arrives .... "That cladding needs two of us because...." (I was hand digging the foul drains) Flexibility I call it.

Eating render does not give you cholesterol problems; different ishoo. And you are saying he put them on wrong side out , since the sticky stuff goes between the wall and the tiles. Will you tell him?

Genuine question, not actually trying to take the mick this time.... Why don’t you just finish one before getting stuck into the other? In my experience it take longer over all if you have too many jobs at the same time... plus you feel like you never finish anything (can be quite demoralising).

but....but....but.... @Ferdinand said you'd sold it.....? I really don't have a clue. think it's probably best for everyone that I stop trying to be funny. maybe my kids are right after all.

My grandmother didn’t die in vein. I still have that hat boyo ? and you can’t go betting with it ok. ?✌️