divorcingjack

do you have a full spec list? I love looking for this kind of stuff! It's like a sad hobby ..

definitely source your own appliances. I've got all integrated Miele or Liebherr, either second hand or ex display - - Microwave/oven combi - Full size oven - Steam oven - Coffee machine - Warming drawer - Dishwasher - 90cm induction hob - Full height larder freezer - Full height larder fridge - Quooker tap - 2 x Franke sink - Waste disposal Total: £3400

I just got that email yesterday too - I was shocked and extremely unamused that they expect me to fund a new policy! I looked at my original policy documents and actually only £700 of the £2400 I paid to CRL is classified as "premium" - the remainder appears to be their own internal charges including inspection fees etc. If they are to provide a new policy, I would certainly not be paying any of these and would expect these services to be transferred across. When you claim the money back from barclaycard (before you send the forms in), have the alternative warranty fully in place because you can also claim for consequential costs - I would hope this would include the provision of a replacement policy. I am awaiting a response from CRL, but have filled out the danish compensation form already for the refund of premium. You might have to do that as the credit card company will ask whether you have investigated other routes of getting your money back. I have had to claim for a window from Barclaycard last year and I have to say they were very helpful as long as you have all the details and documentation in place and can explain the circumstances fully. I'll post back on this thread if I get any update. What a pain in the arse!!

I need to source some chunks of douglas fir, elm or spalted beech for our stair treads. We got lucky in our last house and got some beautiful elm, but the guy just had them lying about the yard and we got them for cheap. Now I'm looking at actually buying them (as opposed to swapping for cakes and pies), they are pretty expensive. Anyone got a good source? Will also need narrow board cladding (scandinavian larch?) for both internally and externally. We're planning on this kind of thing:

@newhome - removing writing (sharpie) from tupperware box lids when you put different food in them for the freezer.

OK, I'll admit it. I have bought it. But in my defence: 1: it's not really for me - it's for my husband, who is very tall, loves a bath and has never had one that he can properly stretch out in for hours at a time. @newhome - we've had 2 adults and 2 small children in it for testing purposes. 2: It was really, REALLY cheap. 3: It is REALLY nice. 4: We do have an alternative bath for those of us who are unable to reach the end of the comically enormous one, and would be at some risk of drowning. @joe90 - is that building regulation a thing? If there is a restriction on bath size, then there's NO WAY this would pass. Nice bath BTW. @newhome - that is exactly what we're worried about. However, I was thinking we could tile underneath and then in theory, we could slot in a different bath if/when we get tired of the comically enormous one? My husband REALLY likes it. We have a bath filler, so that could stay and just be fitted to a different bath, with a shelf around to make up the difference in size.

How big (theoretically, as we definitely haven't already bought the comically massive bath) would a bath have to be before we would need to think about reinforcing an MBC spec floor to hold the weight? Asking for a friend, you understand...

Isn't sandstone really soft? Would it take the wear of vehicles OK?

defo gumtree for the boiling water tap - there is a franke minerva one on there just now for about £200 I think. I always ask if they would package for a courier pickup, most people will box and then you just get a quote from parcel2go.

Can I chip in with a built in miele microwave (loads on eBay) for between £430 and £450. They have a grill function too. Loads of single ovens to match, including steam if that's your thing. As far as the island extraction hood goes, we are dropping the ceiling above the island, putting a cheap recirculating unit hidden away in the boxing, and fitting a slot grille. Very minimal and cheap and you can not the lighting in the dropped section too.

Arghh, that is so frustrating. I'm with your wife, I'll be honest - some of those american things are tiny inside! Would you consider an integrated one? I picked up a liebherr one off gumtree for £100 and it is absolutely enormous. We ended getting a full height fridge and freezer (separate units) and are going to put them next to each other. Loads more capacity.

I'm a huge fan of high end ex-display stuff from kitchen/bathroom stores. You end up paying about the same price as you would for mid-range new stuff and it's quite often only a year or so old and unused, still within warranty.

This reminds me of the time I went to look at an oven from the high street - would have bought if it there had been a decent price. They had two of the particular one I was looking at on display in different areas of the store. As I looked at it, an assistant came out and changed the price on the display, reducing it by £150. He didn't change the other one. So, I approached a different employee and asked about their price match policy. At the time, it was double the difference if you found it cheaper elsewhere. "So, it has to be a bricks and mortar store?" "Yeah." "And it has to be within 10 miles?" "Yeah" "And it can't be using a staff discount or anything?" "Nope. Where have you seen it cheaper?" "It's just over there!" Amazingly, he did not find this as hilariously funny as I did. I argued my case so extensively to the manager that he gave in eventually. I suspect that they have since changed the policy.

Sounds like one of my husband's G&T's. Teetotallers have no conception of what constitutes a "measure". Eye watering.

That should have been the first few steps tbh. Dark chocolate digestives, obviously. I've taken my own advice while trying to buy a linear drain. There's not enough left for me to power through the options.

It is a very difficult and overwhelming process. So, make a cup of tea/coffee (fully caffeinated!), sit down with a large notebook and pen. Step1: Buy Chocolate digestives. Step 2: Get on Amazon and order The Housebuilders Bible by Mark Brinkley. Step 3: Read the whole book at least 3 times, accompanied by said chocolate digestives. Step 4: Read every post and blog on this site. Step 5: Read them all again. Step 6: Work out how much money you can reasonably spend. Step 7: Assess your own skill set - are you going to be able to complete any of the work yourself? Be honest. Step 8: Assess how involved you want to be in the process. If you just want to be handed keys at the end, your extension will have to be smaller than if you are willing to pitch in and can actually be useful. Step 9: Ballpark figures - £1000 (low end finishes) to £1500 per square metre of finished home. Use the figure from Step 4 to work out how big the house might be. Time invested now is cheap - delays and poor decision making whilst mid-build are expensive and sometimes not possible.

Fife, scotland. I’ve had 4 round, either not come back to me, general piss taking or sky high on price

I CANNOT get a brickie. Absolute mare.

That was our plan too ... LOL! “Budget” is also open to debate ...

Just bear in mind if you will need a mortgage, you will need some kind of a warranty. Ours is a forever house too, but we have to have a 10 year warranty to apply for a mortgage at the end. Congrats if you are paying for it all through savings! Wish I could!

Hi Caroline, I have only one bit of advice as your head is probably exploding. This forum has a habit of doing that - you think you've made a decision (just one!) and then you come on here and start reading and everything changes. Keep an open mind ( even to things that you had previously ruled out) and you may end up with a much better house that you started with in your head, I know I have. Good luck!

Macaroni pie! or the classic Scottish double carb... pie on a roll

World championship winning pie! I asked this question on my other thread, which you very helpfully answered, so pies all round when you're in scotland and the brewery is just next door .... Trevor is going to send me a drawing to double/triple check before we go ahead, but hopefully we should have delivery this week. Found out my plumber is not WB accredited, but knows a guy who is, so he will sign it off for the guarantee. Just comes down to price between the Vaillant and the WB. Next set of questions about linear drains ... Thanks!

We had a telehandler, 10 burly lads and what looked like a skateboard, although i was assured it wasn't. It was terrifying.

OK - is it worth my while asking why? Solely for my own amusement.