Temp

Small article in today's Times mentions planned changes to the way VAT is paid in the construction industry. Called "Reverse charged VAT" is says buyers will pay VAT direct to HMRC rather than to suppliers. Due to be introduced in October it is apparently aimed at reducing VAT fraud. Doesn't say if it applies to self builders.

Make sure you get your CIL exemption paperwork done before starting any work on site.

You dont have to officially start work for something to be zero rated. The guide VAT 708 just says the work must be "closely connected" with the construction of a new dwelling. See section 3.3.6 https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/vat-notice-708-buildings-and-construction/vat-notice-708-buildings-and-construction It says it can be zero rated except in the case where. I think outline PP or full PP with some conditions not yet met might be enough. I would tell them its for a new dwelling that should be zero rated and ask for a new quote showing zero vat, see what they say.

Our water main diversion was zero rated.

My builder reckoned it was best just to run your own cable to the bottom of the pole and leave enough spare coiled up to reach the top. We had issues getting openreach to come out but once they arrived they were happy to connect up the cable we supplied.

I think all "layers" are made the same. They just turned alternate layers over when it was assembled. I'd call it "Butt jointed, clockwise/anticlockwise on alternate layers"

If its a 12v lead acid cell they can benefit from being kept on a float charger when not being used. This is a mode available on some regular battery chargers. In float mode it charges to a slightly lower voltage so you can leave it connected all the time without it overcharging or "boiling" the cell dry. I found cells kept on float live longer (retain their capacity longer). If you leave them alone they self discharge and they really don't live long if left flat.

I would look up the rules for doing a credit card charge back. You probably have to give them time to deliver but there may also be a time limit on doing a charge back. Best not let one exceed the other. I noticed that although they list Paypal (as an option at the bottom of most pages) if you go to checkout there only seems to be an option to pay by credit card. So it's possible they are just harvesting credit card details and addresses? Keep an eye on your credit card statements!

This machine (Snapmaker 2.0) doesn't even appear to be available yet.. https://cogkart.com/products/printer-2-0 "£59.95" Manufacturers web site.. "Snapmaker 20. is the Most Funded Technology Project on Kickstarter history" https://shop.snapmaker.com/collections/machines/products/snapmaker-2-0-modular-3-in-1-3d-printers "Preorder" "$999" (down from $1499) "Your order will be shipped in March, 2020."

No worries I started using Google when Yahoo was the best portal and before Google had adverts.

In some area MS charities offer Hypobaric Oxygen Therapy (HBOT). When a relative suffered a head injury he had quite a few sessions in one of their chambers. While there we met several people with MS that said it helped them to a limited degree. I don't think it's available on NHS or even if there is science to back up the claims they make. Just thought I should mention it in case its not something he's investigated.

Welcome to the Forum. Hope we can help. I don't know if these are still available? Perhaps he's already investigated. https://www.gov.uk/apply-disabled-facilities-grant and https://www.moneyadviceservice.org.uk/en/articles/funding-to-adapt-your-home-for-accessibility#dont-forget-to-claim-vat-relief "If you’re disabled, any building work you do to adapt your home might be zero-rated for VAT. Find out more about VAT exemptions on building work on the GOV.UK website."

Google found some info.. Try contacting.. Timber Decking and Cladding Association.. https://www.tdca.org.uk/ Looks like they have guides with drawings.. No 9: "Detailed openings Vertical Clading" https://www.tdca.org.uk/media/3778/woodcampius_css9.pdf Elsewhere.. About page 13 onwards (pages aren't numbered) http://www.woodcomponents.ie/wp-content/uploads/2016/03/MTS-Cladding-Detail-and-Design.pdf Some of the example photos show joins staggered on adjacent boards. On my horizontally clad out building I staggered the joints over at least three different positions so they didn't form an obvious line. Bit of info in here .. https://www.silvatimber.co.uk/media/pdfs/Thermowood/Thermowood-Technical-Instructions.pdf .. mentions chamfering the lower edge of boards (page 7).

Just for info there is an Approved Document R that covers the entry point.. https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/high-speed-electronic-communications-networks-approved-document-r

Yeah we buried SWA direct. Wish I had installed a duct but they didn't insist on one when we did our house. Never likely to be offered fibre to the home around here.

HMRC accept DIY store till receipts for low values but for larger ones you might need to ask for a proper VAT receipt. They can hand write you one with your address on it. Note it should be your address not your builders or anything like that. All Labor must be zero rated to you. If someone does supply and fit then both the labor and materials must be zero rated to you. If you pay VAT on labor in error you cannot reclaim it from HMRC. Not "some vat free labour". All labour on the house and some things "closely associated with" the construction of a new house should/must be zero rated to you. The exception is services - things like an architects services are standard rated and can't be reclaimed. As @JSHarris said... You do not need to give anyone a certificate. However some inexperienced trades are nervous about zero rating to you. In the first instance refer them to VAT 708. If that fails it might help to convince them if you give them a certificate but that's just a letter detailing your name, address, plot address, planning reference number etc. You write it yourself using words something like "This is to confirm that the work done by Fred was carried out on a new dwelling at the following address, planning reference etc" Edit: Cross posted with @newhome

A plug for the energy cost comparison site here. https://nottenergy.com/resources/energy-cost-comparison/ Its one of the few that I know which tries to compare the cost per kWH for different fuels. Scroll down to the table. They cite their sources below the table but it is possible to do better than they claim for some fuels. If anyone knows a site with more accurate/realistic data in one table let us all know! I went for oil for heating and LPG (in cylinders) for the gas hob. If building again I would insulate better and use an ASHP/GSHP. LPG in cylinders is fine for a gas hob but not heating. The cost per KWH is high but the absolute cost is low because you hardly use any even if you do quite a lot of cooking. A 47kg cylinder lasts us at least 18 months.

Do you want it to carry the load permanently or just long enough to add fixings? If permanently then i think you want to beware of creep. Eg it might support the load initially but over several years it slowly compresses the insulation. I've never done the sums before but just for fun... Google found some data for PIR in here....see "Continuous compressive stress".. http://www.react-ite.eu/uploads/tx_mddownloadbox/PP02_Thermal_insulation_materials_-_PP02_20130715.pdf It talks about 40kpa causing 1.5% deformation over 5 years and 2% over 20+ years. So if you had a ground floor window supported on 1m (height) of PIR it would compress 1.5% of 1m or 15mm over 5 years under a pressure of 40kpa. Sounds a lot but the pressure may not be that high under a window... To work out the pressure you would need to know the weight of the window in Kg and the area it rests on. Making up some numbers... Suppose it was a 100kg window resting on a strip of 75mm * 2000mm. The pressure would be.. Force/area = 100*9.8/(0.075*2) = 6.5kpa So might expect a 1m depth of PIR rated for 40kpa to compress 15mm * 6.5/40 = 2.5mm over 5 years. Good enough?

The only address i could find on their web site is a return address and that's in the USA.

£60 is/would be an incredible price for a metal frame 3D printer. It might turn out to be a clone but then all the £80-90 acrylic frame printers are also clones/copies.

That would be my understanding. Toughened inner for safety reasons, laminated outer for safety and security.

Welcome to the forum.

Our dining room is 2500 high and the window is 2100mm. Works fine.

Emergency rations: Gingsters Cornish Pasties half price at Tesco (95p).

I've tried a lot of things without any luck including commercial sprays. Next time I will disable the IR in the camera and put a separate IR illuminator some distance away to see if that works. I bet they are still attracted by the warmth of the camera or something.