IanP

Thanks for the replies and comments, guess I will give it a go then when the time comes and it can't come soon enough, been stuck in this caravan for 18 months already thanks the the two architects we have had that have been useless. Still not out of the ground..... one day soon I hope, just getting as much sorted upfront as I can. I remember how the decisions are needed thick and fast once underway.

Hi, I am looking again at sorting out the MVHR system of my new build and have a number of quotes. BPC in Ireland seem to come out cheapest and thinking of installing myself. Anyone had dealings with them? Is it a simply task? I am quite hands on, so able to do a lot of things to save the pennies. One thing tho is the commissioning..., is it easy to find someone to commission it ? I am in Argyll, Scotland and not sure if companies are willing to commission systems not supplied by themselves. Or is it possible to DIY the certificate to give building control ?

Trying decide on 2 quotes one from Paul heat recovery with a Zehnder ComfoAir Q350, other from Mark heat recovery with the Vent Axia sentinel kinetic highflow. The quote with the Vent Axia is much cheaper, but wondering if it's a lower spec unit. Anyone with experiance of the 2 suppliers? Planning on installing myself and getting them to do the commissioning.

Hi, got a quote from Paul, Zehnder ComfoAir Q350 with 90mm duct, but sound a bit steep, nearly £9k supply and commission or £13.5k with install. Does that sound what you would expect? Any other companies worth contacting? Ian

@SuperJohnG how did it work out for you with the tender boards? Curious to know, as I too are on the west coast and at the same position you were when starting this thread. I'm undecided as yet if better to go for a solid outer skin over sips or use render board. Got about 80m2 to render and about 150m2 to clad in wood. Even considering using facing bricks and block under cladding and not have to go to the expense of tender after reading some of the comments on here. Anyone got any m2 budgeting figures for methods mentioned?

Yes, but like the simplicity of Sips. Last build was a traditional tf 20 years ago and was a faff installing all the insulation and Kingspan. Hearing now that Sips Eco panels may be better value than sips industries but still waiting for their reply and not sure if should get a quote from Eco Sips homes too. (very confusing with the 2 companies having almost the same name)

Finally got planning approval for a build in Argyll, now deliberating over what company to go with for the Sips. I have a quote from SIPs Industries and thinking of getting from SIPS ECO and EcoSips (confusing names as they are all located so close to each other too). Architects as pushing for me to use Caberhouse (links to Architect company...) but I'm sure any of the other 3 companies will come in at a better value. Anyone got any thoughts on these companies? The quote i have from SIPs Industries seem high, £145k (incl erection) for a 232m2 build but guess prices have gone up a lot these days. I was looking for a low U value of around 0.13 with 50/50 render board and wood cladding, but been reading a few of the postings tonight on the Mortgage lenders angle of then wanting a block outer skin.... now wondering if i should really consider this. Hopefully don't need a mortgage but...... Keen to get moving on these decisions as don't want to delay the build any longer. Interested to hear peoples thoughts.

Any Scottish builders out there who have recently had a meter fitted? I have just spent several thousand getting Ssen to put a supply in to a shed for a temp supply but when I rang up Scottish Power for a meter, they said as from Apr 13th Scottish Power don't install temporary meters!!! Only permanent ones as they will not move it to the house when built! Any recommendation for a supplier who will?

I am planning the wiring in my proposed new build and wondering what the best way to install lighting circuits would be to help try and future proof it and allow for smart controls. I want to have some 'smart' lighting and looking at using HA to manage it all. Three questions pop up, 1. Is it better to wire all light points and switches (3c+e) back to a central distribution / control panel so you can have full control over what does what and install shelly relays etc in the one panel? 2. If so, Anyone got any enclosure recommendations for DIY build (rather than buying a dedicated Smart Home lighting panel), that allow din rail install, connection blocks and space for relays? 3. Would it need to be a metal enclosure? Thanks in advance.

Does the latest regs still allow a AC rcb to be used in a temp supply such as this? Just checking if the one on screwfix I foundi s suitable.

I am looking for a consumer unit that I will use use on the temp supply to my static whilst building and thinking it could then be used in my workshop once the main supply is moved to the house. Would a AC rcb be ok or does it need to be a different type for the temp supply?

I am thinking of using the GSE frames, but finding it difficult to find out which size frames (as not decided on which panels to use yet) integrate with the Velux adaptors. Is the Velux integration kit a 'one size fits all' or are there different sizes to tie in with the different frame sizes?

Hi, Wondering if there is anyone in or near Argyll nearing the end of their builds and have a static (30x10 ideally) and or Shipping container that the will be wanting to sell anytime soon?

First Off can I apologize if this has been raised before and if so please point me to the answer. This is my first adventure into Solar power and whilst I have read a lot about it, I am still unsure if my thoughts are practical. I am embarking on a self build in Scotland and want to utilize as much solar power as possible. The plot is quite rural but does have access to single phase grid power. Ideally, It would be fantastic to be fully off grid, but given that I will have a ASHP and at least one EV point on top of the normal power usage of a 4 bed home (and its in Scotland ? ) I appreciate that it would need a very, very large array and many, many batteries! (quite like the idea of server rack batteries but they appear to be still hard to buy in UK). As the feedback tariff is quite small and would be limited to a max of 3.68kw, then I was wondering if there is a way to generate more, use it directly/via battery, with the added ability to charge the battery from the grid when there is no sun. I did have one thought of having 2 (duplicated) consumer units, one fed from grid and the other fed from solar/battery and then having the circuits coming out of these into a third consumer unit filled with changeover switches (break before make). This would then give you (albeit manually), the ability to decide what circuit is supplied by grid and what from solar by setting the changeover switches as appropriate. This would than allow you to power, for example, all the lighting circuits and downstairs ring main from Solar with all others from the grid. If you then found the battery was coping or draining too quickly, you could add or remove circuits as needed to then balance the load to use as much of the solar as possible. This may sound a bit crazy and not ‘Smart’ but does it sound feasible? or am I missing something such as a smart inverter that can limit (or even stop) the export, whilst using as much power as I can generate/store, take additional power from the grid when needed, allow the battery to charge from the grid when solar output is insufficient AND provide backup when the grid goes down? I have tried to contact a few companies to discuss options but they must be very busy at the moment as they either don’t answer or try to arrange consultations in several weeks time! The way I have tried to describe using change over switches, sounds a bit Heath Robinson and I can only feel that I’m not the first person wanting to generate more but limit the amount feed back to the grid so thinking that there must be hybrid charger/inverter’s out there that would fit the bill. I am still at the planning stage of the build, but want to understand the best way to have the system set up. Sorry for being vague on power needed, but just looking for some general guidance and help from other a lot more experienced than me. Any thoughts would be gratefully received.