Vijay

Happy to consider that. Is there any downsides to using EPS?

My architect advised 75mm of Celotex FF4000 and 150mm of Celotex XR4000 to get a U value of 0.11 but thanks to some posts on a previous thread, I'm looking at other insulation. So far I've got some prices for the following: Celotex FI5000 75mm - £35.14 Celotex XR4000 150mm - 38.16 Xtratherm pitched roof board (was told it's used for floors too) 70mm - £19.00 Xtratherm 150mm - £34.50 Recticel Eurothane 75mm - £22.85 Recticel Eurothane 150mm - £44.00 What do you guys think of those prices and what other manufacturers would you recommend? Cheers Vijay

Is there any easy way to reduce A1 to A3 and keep some sort of scaling?

OK, I'll make sure all the horizontals are spot on level. Is it handy to have them set at any specific point though for any reason though?

Cheers guys, appreciate the advice Oz07, I ready about making a string corner marker - "A loop of (non-stretch) string that's a multiple of 12 of the unit of your choice in circumference, with 3 knots or marks at suitable points so the gaps between them are 3, 4 & 5. That, plus maybe a nail or screw or two, & Bob's your right angle. " My footings are 600 wide so I'll make the horizontal on the profiles that wide then. I'll also do a centre line for digging. Should the horizontals be set at a specific height, like FFL or just set to get a datum point?

Evening, I'm going to give marking out a go and see how I get on. I plan on using normal tape measures, string and stakes. On and old post, it advised using 2 vertical stakes with a board across it which is set back from the corner so I can dig without disturbing them (so 4 vertical stakes for each corner). Are these vertical stakes set at any particular width, like wall or foundation width, or are these taken/marked from the horizontal board? Most of the rooms are rectangles, so I plan on using the 3:4:5 rule, then measuring across the corners to make sure they are spot on. Any other tips? Cheers Vijay

It's a large house but certainly not pushing any boundaries in terms of design. Put it this way, it got planning approval first go after 2 pre apps. I genuinely think people don't listen and then the process gets completely drawn out. When you get drawings that you can instantly find basic mistakes, then surely something has to be wrong. Just an example was my first architect having no windows on the landing. When I asked about no natural light in the landing, they said I could get round that by having light tubes from the roof. Now I'm sorry, is that just complete laziness. I won't even go into the issues I've had with structural engineers where a 2 week job is at 7 months now - but almost there!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! lol I think people just pass the buck to another trade and you can be left running from one to the other week after week

Unfortunately not. If you just email him your requirements and mention my name, you'll no doubt get a prompt reply though.

Cheers Jack

Hope the mods won't mind me posting this. I just wanted to pass on the details of a really good printer I found off Ebay and have been using to print my A1 plans. His name is David and his email is graphicsmaster@zoho.com His prices were better than Staples, local printers and all others I contacted off Ebay and he has been very professional with Paypal invoices and sending out all my plans promptly. Hope he can help out others Vijay

I don't know about your health car Joe90 but your wife might be right, might give you something else to focus on and not just your health (which can really bring you down as you probably know). Good luck with everything

Think he means a car lift to work on cars and yes I'm jealous!! lol

I bought one and have been learning to use it doing different jobs on a mates workplace. I personally didn't find it as easy as people said and had many thoughts of what have I done buying this. It's been a learning curve and once you get used to the controls and actually getting the feel of the digger/controls and having them doing various things in one go (so both joysticks doing 2 or 3 movements at the same time), the learning curve gets a hell of a lot easier. You also have to get used to the jerky feeling of the digger tilting and throwing you around when you suddenly go through harder ground.

Finally spoke to the planner who confirmed GCN's were found when they started work, which they then applied for a license to move

Have you looked at Nilfisk pressure washers instead of Karcher?

Maybe try silicone tape? https://www.amazon.co.uk/Everbuild-2SWELDBK-Silweld-Silicone-Fusing/dp/B007554ZI6

What a shame, they'll deliver to E. Midlands no probs

If you need Adam's email address, just let me know

how do they get into corners?

Good idea, I'll do that and report back

Hi, Can highly recommend a company called Floorspan based in Wisbech. I've been dealing with a guy called Adam who has been very very helpful and unless things go really pear shaped, they'll definitely be getting my business

That looks fantastic!! What maintenance does it need?

It will only be for one internal wall now and it's not a very big wall I will contact them with regards to the bedroom stud walls though

Right, bit of an update. I found the ecology report the school had done last year which found no GCN at all, only smooth/common newts. They did a second report specifically looking for GCN with traps and searches but came up with nothing. The only record of a GCN was 1.5km away in 2013. So reading the email again, it says " At the start of the development it came to light that there was a population of European protected Great crested newts in the pond on the school site". So even though none were found in any ecology reports, it sounds like they must have discovered some when they started work - but I'm not sure how I can confirm that without making calls to planners or Natural England. What I can't get my head around is they are moving them to a pond that was designed and located when there were no GCN. The location of this pond will be next to a walkway for the children to access a playing field - so how on earth is that a protected place????

Thanks guys. It's only two walls downstairs as the rest will be load bearing block. I appreciate your comments ragg987, good to know that there's still that hollow sound but it's nothing major. For the walls they are, I'll go with stud then as it makes the floor beams easier