zoothorn

Good question. All of 2-3mm Peter. [2.5mm]. The whole thing is not only bowing down 3/4" but twisting forward in the middle too, & door one nearby: both have alot of block weight above. It just seems very wrong to me, a clear builder shortcut.

Quite- that's what i thought too.. gives me some reassurance/ but the bow just doesn't (nor a new concrete lintel sitting nearby laughing at me: this could've been halved & used: my only conclusion is obviously builder saving ££s). Sorry my camera has finally failed/ cannot take even 1 pic now. But I think you might know the galv 'tray' type of lintel 'shell'.. maybe? so its filled with a line of dark grey bricks = a concrete lintel cheap substitute (my view on it). The bow is ~ 3/4" down in the mid-point, on the lower window here: that's alot to me: so how will the window fit in without the bow seen (or fit in at all if the tolerance is maybe 1cm!?). Sorry the pic is the best I can do.

I have two other things on my mind, if anyone can help. The first: The lintels for the knock-through (2x in a stepped config) are concrete. But all others, above the two windows, above the door, above the french doors.. are a thin galv steel strip with engineering bricks on forming the lintel > then block above. This seems ok for the upstairs window because only one block course above: but the others I see a bow in the galv strip + bricks, quite evidently (to me) the weight above causing it (the lower window the most pronounced/ the most block weight above seems to confirm this). I Q'd this with no2 builder (brickie) as it was being done who just muttered away agreeing, but blaming the bad steel (IE couldn't be bothered to answer/ not his concern).. then when I Q'd my main builder about it he dismissed my concern 'what? oh its fine' & walked off. I got the impression he knew what I was Q'ing, as he quickly took off instead of maybe explaining why it was ok. Is this type of lintel ok? before I get the sniping replies, I realise its a Q for my BCO ideally but opinions would be useful.. if I can dismiss it as a concern I don't need to get back to my builder about it. Thanks- zoot.

No, your sniping attitude is (your reply above contains nothing more than a mild insult, followed by sarcasm you consider 'help').. & others who send me vile PM messages.

Thanks. PeterW has already helped me on this (without trying to impress anyone too).

And you exacerbate. I told I cannot access jewson's/ huw's my two build merchants' prices. Therefore it is normal to assume this is the norm. If you cant help- just don't post I'm sick of wasting my time replying to sniping posts only meant to impress others at my expense.

I explained to you I was unaware prices could be accessed for a customer if that's what I find at the only 2 places here/ you have to call/ its sunday. ok?? but you guys will have a good idea of approx cost.. so why shouldn't I ask jfb?

Tbh Peter I doubt it, he certainly wouldn't have forgotten from an experience pov. According itemised groundwork 'steps' (I bullet-pointed in a post y'day) the groundwork's been done exactly like so, bar the last on list the insulation, which we've been discussing might be able to be reduced to aid 2 inches H in this low ceiling room, hence left to last/ & when BCO confirms what dim he'll allow (which he did only 2 days ago @ 50mm + 22mm chipboard floor).

But this is why I find it weirdly 'incomplete' on the quote, now I have the knowledge of the layers involved. How can you not include a floor? how can you leave a customer with celotex to walk on & have to find another builder to come & build a floor. It just doesn't make any rational sense.. (other than I was hoodwinked, leaving a convenient bargaining position for him twds end the build). Have you ever known of such a situation-?

Thanks Peter- we don't have wickes you see, our 2 builders yards have this "don't show the price" absurdity so countless calls etc.. drives me fkn nuts. Ok that gives me a good idea what price jewsons might be. So half cost of the 100mm included in the quote. So, going 50mm, do you think I have a reasonable argument to ask for the 22mm (grey top stuff) chipboard floor included? I've no idea on time/ if any gubbins to fix (purple german gooey stuff on floor above).. but surely its a fairly quick job, especially compared to a screed layer.

Hi MJN.. he's building a shell yes, but within the 'groundwork' section the celotex ontop of the 100mm concete. Does that not seem slightly/ oddly incomplete to you? to me its deliberately 'leave that off he'll never realise/ gives me a bargaining chip twds end of the build'.

I can't or I'd have done so. You cannot see the damn prices on jewson's site/ you have to call for some fkn reason & its a sunday here, maybe its still sat AM with you? Hence why I asked. but you'd know.. bc you have the knowledge that I don't.. but don't answer/ help/ just aggrevate instead. FFS.

Ok thanks for last replies re. my slab > 50mm c'tex > top. So as I thought, & @PeterW says 100mm has gone down/ & the itemised list is in order of build. I find it very odd, now I realise the 100mm concrete is -not- the top/ screed as I originally thought it to be, that no floor is in the list then. Is this typical? its like me quoting for an amp cabinet, listing all the components.. but leaving off the 4 cabinet feet. Its just weirdly incomplete. Ok .. yes agreed now I know the insulation is -not- down yet, thanks DAnny68. Understand I have some leverage (Iwas wondering this too) on half the quoted insulation thickness. Is 100mm twice the cost of 50mm? if so & knowing its pricey stuff now, & we agreed 22mm floor to go on (tho not on the itemised quote.. odd) would it be reasonable to ask for the floor included then?

I've already changed the window/ told builder. Its WAY too big Peter the glass would be 950mm wide. The whole design's meant to blend in with the old orig house: this has two small downstairs windows next to it: so Ive decided 920mm gap (meaning 620mm glass). I'm not asking where the insulation is. I know where it is, its in Jewsons shed. Its not put in yet. It was only given the green light 24hrs ago by the BCO @ 50mm. What I'm asking is about my itemised list for 'groundwork'. Specifically, I'm asking about the "100mm concrete base": if its a typical modern groundwork & you can see as much by the list I've given, then you would know what this "100mm concrete base" is likely to be. Any of you would. But I have no idea. Is it typically A) the floor above the insulation, or B) something below the insulation. What is typical to find in a modern build, A or B?

Erm.. the whole design's actually what the BCO advised me to go for! he had my very interest in mind when he advised me: so your assumption is entirely incorrect. I on the other hand, have made no assumptions just given facts by word of mouth only 24hrs ago by this very BCO. I have had so many assumptions that a whole thread was hijacked by them, completely losing the plot of what I was asking, & folks ganged together & sniped as a result (& thoughrally nasty PM messages to me too). So I gave up that thread. I'm just asking about reducing the width of a window block opening. I got two photos up of it. And just asking about my floor (& the itemised estimate I was given, which I am not used to the details of). Twop simple things & If anyone can help on either- I'd be grateful. Thanks, zoot

Actually not so: I asked this question to the BCO. No egress window needed. I asked him can I go narrower/ yes (or tbh I'd not be asking on here how to do it).

Ok nevermind about the window- I'll ask on windows/ doors section. What is the opinion of this: on the itemised estimate for groundworks, it says 'supply 100mm floor insulation'. No mention of 'screed' or anything ontop. A bit odd as the list goes: excavating xyz founds block up to dpc level off slab area hardcore/ compact dpm cast 100mm concrete base supply 100mm insulation Ok assuming this list is A) in work/ commencing order, and B) its a typical way 'groundwork' is made.. No floor is mentioned. Or is it? Id always assumed the 100mm concrete base was the "screed" top, the floor (I'd never heard of the word 'screed' in my life until midway thru the build). Is the 100mm concrete base.. the slab? Right. A tentative Q but as clear as I can possibly be: can anyone confirm a 100mm layer is typically -below- the insulation (& possibly -after- the dpm) & maybe the "slab"?

Yes I can see why you say this now. I just made -one- typo, in the post before. I wrote 2150mm, it should have said 1150mm. The gap to fill though I did say consistantly as being (call it) ~250mm.

As I said Joe, the BCO saw my plans prior to starting. He has been on the build as its progressed checking. He did not mention the (lack of) window. I asked him before the build started about the lower room & no window: it wouldn't have been his choice.. but said ok. The window inclusion is nothing to do with Regs. Its a trade-off that he says he wants me to have -IF- I only have 50mm insulation under floor + 22 chipboard he's agreed to. Not only this trade-off, but he tells me I have to go 140mm celotex in all walls too. I also think he wants me to put it in because he knows the house value will not be as full as with it (it can be made into a lounge room type thing with a window, in the future/ on sale of the house etc is his thinking.. cannot without). A building notice is still WAAAAY better than full plans for this build: this window Q is a trifle in the big picture.

The lower window. You can see its made, plus, there's a corresponding dpc frame behind: now I just remember 1st a 3x2 tannalised frame attatched to the silver face of the inner course, where the dpc 'frame' is: the 3x2 placement was determined by (& therefore now I know why the opening is this wide) the vertical studs behind/ in the room/ of the inner course T Frame. If I could take more pics I would- my slr cam now tho is effectively broken, & I do not do phone camera things. So I can only describe.

Bugger sorry. 1150mm. (Did I say 2150?? I HATE mm's.. I'm a cabinet maker using inches 365 days/ year you see). Block window opening 1150mm. This is made. Lintel is on. All blockwork is completed now. Its has dpc behind (in the cavity) corresponding with the 1150mm W x 950mm H opening. Behind this is the Timber Frame wall.. like a blank/ as its opening not been made yet. 1150 opening. I want 920mm = 230mm difference to make up.. on one side only.

But PeterW is talking about the inner Timber Frame course, isnt he? Look here he says.. " The internal frame doesn’t have any OSB sheathing to it, so he would need to make a new internal sheathed frame, then attach blockwork ties from the outside. " Internal frame?? what internal frame?? internal?? the window goes on the external block opening. OSB i see only on/ within the inner timber frame course. I have not even introduced this whole course into the issue. I don't need to consider this course. I have just talked of the block hole.

Can anyone uinderstand what I mean? I have a block frame. Its 2150 wide. Its too big. How do I make it 920mm wide ---without--- using timber to make up the difference?

No, sorry. Just forget the inside TF course for now. I have never introduced this side of the wall. That is easy (in his opinion) so I don't need advice about that/ I leave it to him. I am only talking about the outer block opening. Nothing else but this. Its width is too big. He wants to reduce it with timber. I don't like this. I want block or brick. Can I have block or brick? I am talking about in 4 days time, what the window attatches to L and R.

250mm. 25cm. A typo sorry. I did say block opening 2150mm (too wide) & I want it 920mm before a few times. Call this difference 250mm for now, so its clear (the exact fig is not important 230mm, 260mm/ whatever). Only one side of the block opening is to be "packed". So 250mm of packing is to be constructed. The Q is what can I do?