Temp

Perhaps I'm wrong but I thought the Met/Scotland Yard statement implied that the samples failed a standard flammability test - not a test carried out to simulate the conditions at Grenfell. She talked about the insulation failing the test and also the tiles failing the test.

A statement by someone from Scotland Yard on BBC just now said that both the "Insulation and tiles" used in the cladding has failed a combustion test carried out by the BRE. She also said samples of the insulation "combusted soon after the test started" and that the "initial test on the cladding tiles also failed the safety tests". Not sure if this link will work for long but skip to 10:42.. http://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/live/bbcnews

Have you looked at hiring a petrol shredder? Once the big stuff is gone it's gone so you may not need such a big one in future?

I understand they are being offered the affordable apartments that the developer was required to include to get PP. I doubt they will look like the show apartments in the photos as these go for £1.6 to £5m according to the Times. Apparently they aren't finished yet but the council have relaxed the hours the developer can work to help speed them up.

I like Dulux Endurance as you can wash it without it coming off. Essential on corners and around light switches if you have kids.

How many American appliances do you have?

Bosch make wine chillers with glass doors. Perhaps the doors are interchangeable with their fridges.

If the builder is stretched on one job he's stretched on all the jobs he has going. There would be a strong temptation for him to order materials for another job on this account. You can try telling the BM to only deliver to your site but that might not be enough to prevent problems. I'd look to close the account as soon as all the big items have been ordered?

Many years ago I had a summer job helping an electrician wire an office block in Staines. Finished the 4th floor and we had a double socket left over. Eventually worked out the plasterers had gone right over one of the boxes. Electrician asks me what I think is the best way to find it? I suggest we go down to the floor below to find the rough location then use his metal detector. No he said. Best way is just to jab holes all over the plaster until we find it, that way the plasterers will learn not to do it again.

If you are building with oak and a tiled roof it seems a bit mean to scrimp on the slab but that's just me. If part of it is going to be capable of taking a car I'd lay a 150mm slab over the whole footprint. Online figures put the concrete at £1000 - £1100 but shop around. Perhaps think about raising the timber frame above the slab on a course (or two) of engineering bricks and a DPC. I'd arrange for the cladding to extend beyond the footprint of the slab so that rain drips onto the surrounding ground/gravel rather than onto the top of the slab where it can run under. I built my outbuilding when loft insulation was still subsidised and filled the walls with it. Today it's 28C but amazingly cool in there. If putting in electricity consider casting a length of plastic pipe into the slab to make it easy later.

Google found this from the cache. Original requires login... https://webcache.googleusercontent.com/search?q=cache:4BkhN1f_NkkJ:https://www.labc.co.uk/our-services/registered-details/rd/ew491-celotex-rs5000-pir-insulation-board+&cd=6&hl=en&ct=clnk&gl=uk EW491 Celotex RS5000 PIR Insulation Board This is an assessment of a PIR insulation board by Celotex designed for use within rain screen construction. RS5000 is a textured aluminium foil faced PIR board that comes in thicknesses of between 50mm and 150mm and goes through the same manufacturing process as the Celotex FR5000 product, the difference being it has been assessed by the BRE and complies with BR135 for use in rain screen applications above 18 metres in height subject to the board being fixed to a non-combustible substrate. Celotex has provided test reports undertaken by BRE and BBA to verify the product from both performance in fire and thermal properties. The product is much the same as their FR5000 board but is specifically tested to be used with rainscreen constructions above 18 metres. The board comes in various thicknesses and can be used with a variety of cladding systems (including masonry or rain screen systems) and can be fixed back to a structural steel frame with a sheathing board or direct back to masonry. Celotex RS5000 has been successfully tested to BS 8414:2 2005, meets the criteria set out in BR135 and therefore is acceptable for use in buildings with storeys above 18m in height (subject to the board being fixed to a non-combustible substrate ) as alternative compliance to AD B.

I have one of the cheap wild life cameras and the PIR sensor drains the battery quite quickly. Basic set of AA cells only seems to last 24 hours. Managed to capture these foxes at a relatives house..

Would you stay put..

Welcome to the forum Tillywiz. Tell us a bit more about what you are doing. Normally only new houses (or a conversion - a barn to a house) are zero rated (or reduced rated). An extension to an existing house or a room conversion (eg from kitchen to bedroom) is normally standard rated for VAT and you cannot reclaim it. Sorry. If your project qualified for zero or reduced VAT you wouldn't need a certificate anyway. Sometimes you may need to issue a certificate yourself to a trade to convince them to zero rate but they shouldn't need a certificate if the project qualifies. In this instance a certificate is essentially just a letter from you to the trade telling them your project qualifies for zero or reduced rate VAT and containing things like your name, address, planning reference number etc. It gives the trade something to send to the HMRC when they submit their VAT return.

Gets my vote but check they can be installed behind a mirror because the metal silvering might have an effect? You also need some way to indicate the demister is ON (I'm thinking usability rather than safety). Perhaps also add a timer?

Depends on what the van will be used for. Just stored on site - no PP required. Used as a site van (workers tea break, store H&S kit, WC etc) - no PP required Used for building site workers to live in - no PP required Used for other people (eg spouse and children of "builders") to live in - PP is required. http://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/2015/596/pdfs/uksi_20150596_en.pdf

Welcome Craig. American family near us has 7 kids, one with ADHD. Father usually seen driving around in a two door, two seat American car. Can't think why :-)

Thought about that but I think my TV just stores sound level per input.

Perhaps he figured that dealing with two parties would mean twice the work :-)

Thanks, have ordered a small quantity to try. The osmo works out at almost four times the price of Rustins Danish Oil so fingers crossed.

We have both Freview and FreeSat. We get more issues with rain and snow on FreeSat but both are rare. OT: For some reason the colours on FreeSat are too saturated for my taste. This is strange because the entire path for both is digital so where is the colour change occurring?

You probably already know but.. The golden rules of TV aerials... 1).Make sure you have the right type and size of aerial. Bigger is better. A broadband aerial might not be the best choice, depends on the transmitter. 2) Mount it as high as possible. 3) Use a good quality down lead. 3) If done all that then consider a mast head amplifier. Big aerials are usually more directional than smaller aerials so more critical to tweak them until they point in exactly the right direction. "Back of the set boosters" are the devils work. There is no real excuse for them (mast head amp is better). A distribution amplifier is different.

Anyone used Osmo UV Protection Oil Extra on exterior oak? Our exterior oak has been treated with Rustins Dainish oil but I'm looking for something a bit lower maintenance.

You could ask for a break down of the costs? Does it include any LR fees? Although I think the fee for registering a boundary is only £90?

Ask the person who specified that why it's so difficult to find and can it be relaxed. Yes 32/40 relates to the strength. http://www.grabtrucks.com/ready-mix-concrete/mix-design/ Ask if it's essential the stone be <10mm. I'm not sure I would rely on concrete being waterproof but perhaps you are adding braces to your belt.