Temp

I think the problem is too much choice. There are numerous ways to build it. Is the rest of the house timber or brick? Does the extension need to match? Are you wanting to build it yourself? Can you lay bricks? Here in the UK the most common construction methods are variations of a cavity wall.. From outside to inside.. a) Brickwork outer leaf, cavity, Insulation, block work inner leaf. b) Render, Blockwork outer leaf, cavity, Insulation, block work inner leaf. c) Brick or Rendered block outer leaf, cavity, Insulation between timber frame. d) Timber cladding, cavity, Insulation, blockwork leaf

Apparently an xbox uses all the bandwidth it can get when doing game updates, and much less during actual game play. So one option that might help would be to turn off game updates on the xbox. Tell him he can turn updates on when you are out? https://youtu.be/tRdEExYnEok

If it had been a wired connection it might have been possible to insert a 10MBit hub in the path. They still seem to exist surprisingly.

If you Google for Bandwidth limiting with BT you can find several posts saying it's not possible with BT Routers. Many replies recommend switching to a TP Link Router but point out you loose BT support (and possibly support for BT WiFi range extenders?).

Some WiFi access points can also do bandwidth limiting so how does the xbox connect? Probably wired connection?

Some Routers have the ability to limit the bandwidth each device gets. The way they do this probably varies. On some I believe you can just set a hard limit like 10MBit or 20MBit so no device uses more than half of the available 40Mbit bandwidth. However I don't know what current BT modem/Routers can do. I found one comment from 2019 that said they have a QoS (Quality of Service) setting which is meant to do something like this but it said it still allows some streaming services like Netflix to have too much priority over other devices.

You're probably going to have to actually work out the cost to bring it back into use and show that would be more than its worth when completed.

Those lights are illuminating the render at a very shallow angle. If the render is sound and you dont want to redo it perhaps just move the lights. I get same effect when I mow the lawn. Looks awful in the evening when the sun is low but fine next day.

Not sure why you can't use wood instead of foam. Perhaps a Wood/Rigid Foam/Wood sandwich to provide a thermal break? Might need mesh over the wood-lintel join on the outside to prevent cracks in render. Perhaps I misunderstood the problem?

I missed this a few days ago.. Dry weather in Norway may mean they aren't able to export as much hydroelectricity to the UK this winter. https://www.energylivenews.com/2022/08/08/will-the-cut-in-norwegian-interconnector-flows-bring-more-energy-misery-to-uk/

Most of the £150k cost will probably be digging up and reinstating the road. Who owns the road and is there an alternative route across fields to the main?

Try Gumtree. Search within say 30 or 50 miles. Ask what it's been used for. Wants to be something water soluable you can put down a drain.

This is our dining room ceiling. None of the oak is structural. It's got steel and concrete B&B floor above it. Ignore the cobwebs.

Have you considered a concrete structural lintel set above a decorative oak beam? If its only one or two short spans the cost would be modest. Possibly less than getting new calculations done? The conc lintel would probably need to be slightly longer as it rests on pad stones either end of the oak beam. Oak beam carries no weight so could be cheaper lower grade with knots for character etc. Possibly even Green oak if you don't mind filling shrinkage gaps in a year or two.

It doesnt take much of a leak. You probably won't see it, you have to physically feel around pipes with a dry hand. Check all valves in particular. Eg All motorised valves (turn off electric) and radiator valves. Perhaps also any expansion vessels.

That's less than £100 a meter which is what I was quoted back in 2007. I think it's a very good price for them doing the work.

Just before the pandemic some energy companies were setting up tariffs that paid you to use electricity at certain times of low demand. Seems like a distant memory.. https://www.energylivenews.com/2018/02/22/want-to-get-paid-to-use-electricity/

That's all true but energy is sold to the highest bidder and when demand exceeds supply look what happens... https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-11047167/UK-forced-electricity-Belgium-heatwave-stop-blackout-paid-5-000-MORE.html Fortunately..

https://www.telegraph.co.uk/business/2022/08/11/markets-live-latest-coronavirus-news-pound-euro-ftse-100/ "Consultancy Auxilione said Ofgem may have to set the price cap at £5,038 per year for the average household amid elevated gas prices."

I think they will remain high for longer... And in April Cornwall Insight were predicting they would remain high until 2030.

I think this states their position on a planning application. You will need to decide if you are going to apply just for the fence or for change of use as well.

Try offering him a certificate. I think officially they are only needed for work on a charity building but they have helped in the past. There is an example on the VAT 708 in section 18. https://www.gov.uk/guidance/buildings-and-construction-vat-notice-708#section17 https://www.gov.uk/guidance/buildings-and-construction-vat-notice-708#section18 Will need editing.

+1 It's not clear how it scales to people above and below average due to standing charges and the like.

Some percentages.. 1st April 2022 - The cap increase was £693 from £1,277 to £1,971 per year. 1971/1277 = 154% or a 54% increase. 1st October 2022 (predicted) - "Cornwall Insight expect that the energy price cap will increase from the current figure of £1,971 per year based on typical use, to £3,500". 3500/1971 = 178% or a 78% increase. 1st January 2023 (predicted) - Offgen say any predictions for next year are unreliable but If we take the £4200 figure in the media that's... 4200/3500 = 120% or a 20% increase. Overall Jan 22 to Jan 23 the percentage change would be 1.54*1.78*1.2 or 4200/1277 = 328% or a 228% increase.

Think this is behind recent predictions.. https://www.catalyst-commercial.co.uk/wholesale-electricity-prices/ "This Chart Shows The Price Of Electricity On The Wholesale Market In GB For Delivery The Next Season - Winter 2022" So any predictions made before about mid June are out of date.