Vijay

is it the same calculation if you have water harvesting?

There is a claim system for this kind of thing http://www.wallcavityclaims.co.uk/

I believe strongbacks are normally fitted between joists, connecting them, but can they go through a single posi joist and fix to walls/steels? (so making a t cross)

Well that's opened my mind. I've no experience with any engineered joists, so in my mind steel beams are solid. Do you mean stuffs easier to fit in steel or timber beams? Cos of ease of fitment or running services through them?

Wondering if anyone can give me some advice on my joist direction for my landing. It's a gallery landing, so there are 3 different parts to it. The S.E showed their directions, but different joist suppliers have done them in different directions. So I wondered if there is any advice on which way to go, long or keep them short (and use more joist hangers). My concern with going long is deflection, but are you allowed to support a posi joist through the web to reduce deflection? I've attached a copy of the plan, the S.E drawing and a pic showing the steels and load bearing walls. The distance of the landing parts 1 & 2 (top to bottom) are approx 5.8m. The distance between them (3 - left to right)) is approx 4.5m. The yellow lines are beams and the blue lines show the load bearing block walls. Another thing is the joist suppliers are keen to use beams (I believe doubled) to replace the steels. In my mind using beams will give me the least deflection out of the two, is that right? I appreciate any advice on this. Vijay

I think you can run XP as a virtual machine if that would work - https://www.google.co.uk/search?newwindow=1&sxsrf=ALeKk03pB9AZkDZmZs8n7x08AL0bBoSjMg%3A1587362944417&source=hp&ei=gDydXu65F6uIlwSbpoKIDQ&q=run+xp+on+windows+10&oq=run+xp&gs_lcp=CgZwc3ktYWIQARgAMgIIADICCAAyAggAMgIIADICCAAyAggAMgIIADICCAAyAggAMgIIADoFCAAQgwFQxAdY_RNgpCtoAXAAeACAATiIAZ8CkgEBNpgBAKABAaoBB2d3cy13aXo&sclient=psy-ab

so you're still planning on working on weekends?

So you can use 12mm EPS instead of a sand blinding layer?

I'll probably be using the R9 windows too, what negatives have you heard about them as I think they look fantastic even up close

My plans show a blinding layer of sand in the floor details (50mm IIRC)

have you checked your council website? Self build is still building work in my eyes, very different from a bit of DIY

Come on guys, surely you can appreciate people are entitled to some peace and quiet on evenings, weekends and bank holidays - how would you appreciate it if you were trying to relax and someone was making building noise. I'm hoping to work the summer weekends, but only if all the neighbours agree it's ok and agree to ask me to stop at anytime they want. I think everyone needs to be considerate and see the different types of noise.......... Look on your council website and it's bound to state it

This says 100mm too https://www.pavingexpert.com/drain02

What's the management and site costs for?

log cabin type of thing too expensive? How long do you think you'll need to live in it?

What a moment that must have felt

https://www.wetandforget.co.uk/?adnetwork=af&affc=a90ba2f9-4766-45a1-8f97-825571f44195

My trenches were left open for about 3 months with no major issues (clay). I had the odd corner fall in but nothing I was too bothered about

My bad, been a long week and didn't read your post properly, I understood that you were filling in an empty chimney. Sorry.

but won't that make the chimney unusable in the future?

If you have loads to do, make a hot wire cutter?

I agree with be patient but on the flip side, it would have been nice of the builders or architect to let you know there would be another delay - just so you can plan your life around it

would just moving to a supplier with no standing charge work? (if they exist)

Exactly what I'll be using and I was quite impressed with how good they look

AFAIK it's either a step down or a slope towards the external garage door