lizzie

Has anyone installed external blinds. I have huge solar gain issues and need shading pdq. I was considering awnings but have seen external roller blinds on the internet and they look very good. Be interested in any feedback and recommended suppliers

Thank you! I think that must be what was mentioned but I have e-mailed specifically mentioning page 19 details.

I recall my mother's ironing board having an asbestos piece on the end to rest the hot iron....I also recall scraping at it causing flaky dust, there was a nice little hole to pick at for idle little fingers. Of course I didnt know it was asbestos and I’m sure my mother didnt either or she wouldnt have let us near it and it would have been out of the house in a flash. I have a progressive lung condition but not asbestos related (as far as I know) my condition generally only comes out in middle age. I was mid 40’s but all the signs were there a good 10 years before. I do think back to the ironing board sometimes and wonder if any of it got into my lungs and has yet to manifest itself......middle of the night stuff! At least I have an enhanced annuity as they dont think I will live long enough to collect a goodly sum from them over the longer term......I intend to do my best to prove them wrong!!

Our planning was for a green roof. We went back and got it changed. I have never seen one that looks good long term and you do have to do maintenance and I certainly wasnt getting up on the roof to weed out the wind blown seeds etc. My bro in law commercial roofer also does green roofs, he gave me a very realistic view of them which confirmed my feeling that they were more trouble than worth to me.

Thanks all. Its so frustrating all the effort on air tight and heat loss etc I never for one minute considered the mvhr being a problem. One of the motivators for having this type of house was the clean air to help breathing and I have been delighted with that aspect. Improved my quality of life no end even in a few short weeks. The very hot weather and huge solar gain (still organising blinds/awnings just have temp ones at mo) have meant that I have been running mvhr on boost to cool things. Yesterday I tried the venting overnight and low mvhr speeds and it helped no end in getting the house cooler overnight. It has not affected the humidity levels though they seeem pretty static at 35% and this is giving me real problems. Such low humdity is causing nose bleeds and breathing issues. I know I am best at about 45%, I feel really stupid that I did not consider this aspect I have monitored humidity and air quality in my homes for years and I totally forgot humidity as we got carried along on the airtight low energy quest. I am drying washing indoors and boiling kettles but mvhr is very efficient at removing all that moisture! I have the Frankische Profi air 250 unit. I think there may be something that can be done by fitting an alternative part, might be to do with the heat exchanger I’m not clear. Waiting to hear back. It has a filter and condensate drain. I have noted all the various suggestions and will be trying out what I can. Think my trusty Dyson fan with a big bowl of water in front and mvhr turned to lowest setting might be the way to go until a more permanent solution can be found.

I am learning how to cool house....summer bypass and night venting......but I am struggling with humidity levels. Humidity is around 37% (never higher), that is too dry for me and is giving me problems. I have done usual things such as boiling kettles, doors open with shower running etc but MVHR too efficient. I know I can turn it off and just have windows open but the pollen count is through the roof and I have severe hay fever so not really an option. I have asked MVHR people if there is something we can fit to allow me to control humidity better. How do others do it?

Might keep the flying things out! I had to have pest control out last week we were inudated with buzzing flying stripey things. Got in through the ventilation strips and I think they are having a party in the huge void up there!

I had the hozelock micro system at my previous house. A fiddle to install but when done it proved to be very worthwhile. I had it permanently set up for baskets and pots. I used a timer. On border areas once things were established I didnt bother with it they either fended for themselves or I used a sprinkler in very dry weather. A good mulch on the borders kept watering down too. You do need to check the connections regularly I found that where there were branch junctions could be prone to leaks, ok if its leaking into the soil but not around the house. I ran my baskets and pots system in the gravel channel around the house which was great for hiding it.

Well done @Moira Niedzwiecka

@JSHarris recirculating as mvhr outlets nearby. Will make a call, I am getting to the stage of thinking about getting evrything out of thr boxes to try and start organsing the vat reclaim docs so its timely.

Mixed will be more expensive. You can keep costs down by using cheaper paint such as Johnstones. TBH I would go for a quality exterior such as Dulux weathershield withe the 5 year guarantee. Zinser good specialist paints but I wouldnt use them for all my external paint they will be more than a Dulux.....Valspar from B&Q is quite cheap but I dont know the quality.

You have the BS code (similar to RAL code), you can go anywhere and get any paint mixed in the colour if you give them the code. I used Brewers for years (had a whole house in F&B & Little Greene) however on this build they didnt offer me as good a discount as the dulux decorator centre so I had all my paint mixed to my codes in various Dulux finishes. Good quality paint, good discounts and nectar points.....and they delivered (free) to site for me which my Brewers didnt offer either. Solidor.co.uk are suggesting your quoted BS number or a RAL6021 (not a perfect match) as Chartwell Green options. That green is everywhere its very popular and I imagine most of it is the copy colour. I would get a sample tin made up in both BS and RAL alternatives and see which one you prefer then choose your paint to get it mixed in....samples generally only in small tins of emulsion. Mumsnet is a hive of discussion on copying paint coloursLOL Its a lovely green. Good luck.

Anyone claimed vat on their Bora hob...integrated extractor is the question mark much like the boiling water tap.

Our Internorm was ordered in March finally arrived on site intwo deliveries August and September. Think that may have been due to a problem with window company rather than internorm side of things.

Lost the will to live with that opening video ...talk about waffling! Its a shame because it could have been interesting. Their previous house was not far from me. It took ages to sell, not the prettiest of places. Think part of the problem with selling it was the lack of conventional sewage system, earth composting toilets not everyones ideal.

@markruth Ecover from Sainsburys Waitrose etc been using for years as I am allergic to lots of stuff. Method is plant based too I use their liquid soaps and window cleaners. All available from most supermakets

I had a truck load of the green waste stuff at my previous garden. It was fine, cheap and served the purpose for me. Mine was not too rich, I put a layer a few inches deep on all my borders didnt dig it in just covered with bark. It worked well enough by the following spring the worms had done their stuff and it was all good. I would use again..

agree I think local authority BC is a really good service and we liked the double check of having an inspection by warranty provider as well, two pairs of eyes better than one we thought.

@nod wow we had quite a few visits from our warranty surveyor and he looked at things. I have been present for two visits and he did poke about. He also asked me if I had any concerns about anything.

The price depends on what you are building and the size and cost of it.

@daiking have a look at https://www.primaporcelain.co.uk/ Dont know how their price will compare but their product is nice. I have been to their Cardiff showroom and I have samples of the 20cm outdoor tile, can be laid like a conventional slab doesnt need a screed.

Thanks for all the tipsthats fantastic. I will investigate the options suggested and let you know how we end up Superstars all of you!

I have several ducts from outside through the MBC slab and up into the plant room. These are just black corrugated pipe nothing special. All the services run in these into the plant room. These ducts have not been sealed they are still open inside the house and out in the back alley...(ratfest waiting to happen, we have a livery next to us so plenty of furry things about).The ducts outside have been covered in gravel, I asked how they had been sealed before covering with gravel and I was told gravel just went down on top of open ducts. I had been assured all ducts were going to be sealed before BC sign off but it never happened and now builders have headed off at speed to the next pot of gold at the end of another rainbow I am left with open ducts amongst a myriad of other small items not finished off. No grommets were put on pipes before service cables pulled so whatever is done will have to be not only durable but flexible to be able to fill voids. Expanding foam perhaps? Will I need steel wool or something too to stop ratty getting in? Do I need to allow for opening ducts again in the future? All suggestions gratefully received. Thankfully I still have my trusty carpenter to help me as I am no good at all at this sort of thing.

Ive just had a price for krend on block garden wall approx 12m long x 3m high. £1600 that is with sbr in base coat and some mesh on bit where there are hairline cracks

@nod wish we had talked to you 12 months ago!