Temp

Where are the inlet vents for the passive stack going? How about specifying a room sealed stove that burns air from outside the house via a duct?

Ha just spotted it's the same company.

How about a more contemporary design. These from Denmark so check standards. https://idealcombi.com/windows/contemporary-windows/

Building regs for outbuildings here.. https://www.planningportal.co.uk/info/200130/common_projects/43/outbuildings/2 Planning permission here.. https://www.planningportal.co.uk/info/200130/common_projects/43/outbuildings

Anyone here got a mortgage from the Ecology Building Soc? Perhaps you could explain to @Abbi how their LTV and stage payments work. LTV upto 80%? When you get say 25% of the way through the build do they send a valuer and pay you 80% of 25%?

There are some 800*400 concrete paving slabs but quite rare I think. https://www.minsterpaving.co.uk/products/standlake-smooth/

Google can find a few others offering custom/bespoke trays but I haven't looked to see how many are in the UK.

Made to measure.. https://www.versital.co.uk/bathroom-products-2/bespoke-shower-trays/ No idea of cost. Oops just seen they start at £650.

Just a caution.. I'm not sure how frost resistant aerated blocks are. I mean do they spall if they soak up water that then freezes? Dense blocks might be safer?

And as far as building control are concerned you can go upto 30sqm under certain conditions... If the floor area of the building is between 15 square metres and 30 square metres, you will not normally be required to apply for building regulations approval providing that the building contains NO sleeping accommodation and is either at least one metre from any boundary or it is constructed substantially of non-combustible materials.

Just had a look on the Door Stop web site and I quite like some of their their doors.

I very much doubt their specific doors, the ones sold to you, are police approved. Most likely they mean the police recommend doors made to certain standards. The ASA have this to say on the subject.. https://www.asa.org.uk/advice-online/official-endorsements.html "Rules 3.50 and 3.51 state that marketing communications must not claim that the marketer or their products have been approved, endorsed or authorised by a public or private body if they have not and must not claim to be a signatory to a code of conduct if they are not. Marketers should therefore not imply that their product or service is endorsed, supported or approved by an official or government body unless, of course, it is. " "...the ASA considered that an ad for a windows and conservatories fitter was misleading, because it claimed “Police Approved”

Try asking Door Stop if they can persuade the seller to forward the certificates. I know its not Door Stops fault but it doesn't exactly create a good impression of the company if their dealers are unhelpful.

Having poured over VAT 708 again I agree it qualifies for reduced rating under section 7 "Reduced rating the conversion of premises to a different residential use". That's on the basis that the number of "single household dwellings" (as defined in para 14.4.1) will increase from zero to one. So a contractor should charge you 5% VAT on labour and materials. However because its also a "building used as a dwelling" I don't think you can use the self build reclaim scheme to recover the 5% you pay the contractor or the 20% you pay on materials you buy yourself. So as you suggest you should get the contractor to buy everything and deal with the VAT. As others have said you may find it hard getting a contractor to charge 5% VAT on everything. Para 7.1.2 refers to a certificate (which is essentially a letter to the contractor stating that its a qualifying building so he should reduce rate). I don't believe you are required to give him one but others have found it can help. There is an example certificate in para 18 but you will need to edit it down to remove all the guff about charities etc and to to state that it qualifies for reduced rating citing paragraphs 7, 7.1.2, 7.3 and 14.4.1. I think some people here have already done something similar. This is such a tricky area you really should take proper advice. I'm not an accountant.

Whole area appears to be a bit of a mine field. Did you manage to avoid paying VAT when you purchased the pub? or did you issue a certificate 1614D? Neither?

Perhaps I'm wrong above... https://vatexchange.co.uk/commercial-property/vat-converting-pubs-commercial-property/

I've had same issue with HMRC, they wont give advice "before the fact". You may have to pay an accountant familiar with this area. The full wording of that para says... My understanding is that there is a difference between developments that are zero rated and developments that are exempt from VAT. I believe the latter cannot reclaim "input vat". I recall reading there is an "option to tax" which makes the sale potentially liable for vat rather than exempt. I think this allows input vat to be reclaimed. Then when the sale is made vat is charged at zero % which is the rate for a dwelling. Something like that anyway. Sorry I'm not an expert. Something similar applies to a build to let property. They are also exempt (rather than zero rated) so vat on materials cannot be reclaimed without a similar trick?

Bit of googling found these. Colour? Too far away? https://eshop.solentbrick.org.uk/epages/BT3815.sf/en_GB/?ObjectPath=/Shops/BT3815/Products/PL12 Reclaimed.. https://www.watlingreclamation.co.uk/shop/brick-specials/plinth-bricks/2-red-plinth-stretcher-straight/

What about 40cm square paving slabs on top.

+1 With a bit of fancy shuttering they dont even need to be solid. Eg to reduce the amount of concrete you need to mix. Got any bodies to dispose of?

Welcome to the forum. Can you get deeper planters? The extra depth of soil might help the plants as well.

How long ago was it done?

Humm... Can I persuade my local pub to cook a dozen lamb shanks to go in my freezer or are take outs banned from the scheme ?

Not sure that's possible. UV light is the only thing I can suggest.

Perhaps see also.. https://batteryuniversity.com/learn/article/low_voltage_cut_off