Vijay

Makes sense Peter and will take on board everything you've said. If I do have to use it for any reason, I'll remember that little is more

That was exactly my plan, rather have it and not need it. Cheers mate, gonna be a huge step tomorrow and as nervous as I am right now, majorly excited too - even though I'll have to be up at 4.30 tomorrow morning.....

Just thought I'd update and thank everyone who posted. I sent all the relevant selfbuild VAT pages to the pump/concrete supplier and after a bit of hesitation, they've agreed to zero rate the invoice. Saves me 1500 odd quid of my usable budget

So what's your thoughts on this guys, would you still not bother? Concrete is on for tomorrow

Polarwall said you don't need to. From what I understand, if you get the concrete mix right, there's no need to vibrate it. I see where Bitpipe is coming from, almost seems like hope to believe it's gone into all the nooks and crannies in the formwork

Spoke to the concrete people (he actually visited the site), they said you don't have to vibrate the concrete but it would help eliminate any potential bubbles

lol and trying to give me extra work

It's only the foundations, floor is B&B

It's already charged up and ready Profile boards are done and centres are marked to line up the rebars. A few more jobs tomorrow and I think I'm ready - only issue is the weather

I'll update this thread once I've spoken to them

No, the rebar needs to protrude the foundations as it sits in the ICF

Yep, the rebar goes in after the pour and once the concrete has set enough to support them. I'll check with the concrete guy but I'd be happy if you're right

There's 400mm rebar going in at the top (200mm in 200mm out of the concrete)

Planning on the foundation concrete going in on Thursday and just wondered the best way to vibrate the concrete. I'll be using a poker, but do I start vibrating as soon as the concrete starts going in or do I wait for it to fill up a bit? The foundations are 600 and 900mm. Cheers

I did mine on the online portal if that helps

What do you do with invoices that contain say materials and tools, can you claim back the materials lines of the invoice?

Sorry bud, didn't mean that to sound like I took offence - that's always the problem with stuff online, never know how things are taken Well the BCO is coming Monday and the concrete is Thursday, so if he wants 75mm of clayboard, it'll only take me half a day to do it - but it's just another thing to add to the list before concrete day! lol

I'm really not trying to get one past the BCO. It's a genuine mistake and I've got the BCO inspecting the foundations on Monday. They are on the inside of the trench, 400mm from the top (500mm off the bottom)

Cheers. I just asked a builder mate too and he said it won't make any difference at all. I hope I've fixed them well, with tent pegs - and plenty of them!! lol

I've made a bit of a balls up. I've had it in my head that I was told I needed 50mm clayboard which I fixed to the deeper foundations yesterday. This morning I've noticed that the SE's drawings say 75mm. Do you think I need to start again with 75mm thickness or will 50mm do? A very tired Vijay

Well it turns out you guys were spot on. Firstly the pump people let me down, I spoke to them at around 4pm yesterday and we agreed next Thursday, said I'd call them this morning with payment details, only to be told they've let someone else have the pump. So I called the concrete people to confirm their booking and even though they previously told me it would be no problem to get all the concrete to me in half a day, they've now said it would take longer and I should get a pump for a whole day. Not impressed with them at all!! The upshot is the other pump people who can supply the concrete too can do next Thursday and I'll hire their boom pump for the day. They are still sure they do not zero rate the VAT but I'll be forwarding the links you guys have given me on this thread together with a completed certificate template. Fingers crossed they'll agree to zero vat the concrete and pump

Thanks Jamie (and JSHarris)

I did mention that to her but she was adamant it was not that but an actual certificate. I'll speak to her again tomorrow

Thanks Temp, I obviously need to get to specsavers! The pump people have no problem zero rating my invoice but asked for my certificate, what's that???

The reason they said they couldn't guarantee it cos they have 4 lorries and the distance between the concrete factory and site was too far. The other concrete supplier reckons it's no problems as they have enough lorries and would be getting the concrete nearer the site The 5 hour time is their half day