Big Neil

Better insulating properties, lighter so one would assume cheaper to transport, no requirement for vibrating and in parallel less likelihood of creating voids. But that's not the question really. If no one has thus far done it, I wonder why.

Could a CLC/Foamed concrete of the appropriate mix be used instead of a traditional concrete mix in an ICF build? Is there a particular reason if not, why? I mean it's used in roads structure infill and such..

+1 for this. For both the foundation and superstructure end of things.

gotcha @Temp, thanks. So does metal conduit/sheathing/whatever anyone wants to call it, solve the issue? Is stuff like polybutylene pipe for water, or whatever other material might be used, an issue in the same respect?

Firstly is this 6242B cable ok to be put directly in contact with EPS without risk to either? Have I got that correct? Also does the same code apply to things like speaker cable, cat 5/6/7 etc? In terms of cost balance does it make just as much sense to use something like the product in the link below and just use the cheaper cable?. How about back boxes for electrical sockets for sockets AND light switches. What should they be made from? This is not an area I had been aware of before.. https://www.tlc-direct.co.uk/Products/LFLS20slash10.html?source=adwords&ad_position=&ad_id=315107931576&placement=&kw=&network=u&matchtype=&ad_type=&product_id=LFLS20%2f10&product_partition_id=576185600542&version=finalurl_v3&gclid=Cj0KCQjwgLLoBRDyARIsACRAZe6IukJUky8zEwQqnQ8dgK3dlRp052P2gJTBFp8EePPY8cpN66l1TswaAoRhEALw_wcB

slight segway, and it may seem an obvious thing to ask, but can someone please give a succinct explanation of the difference between a 'warm' and a 'cold' roof. Just so I can align my understanding with what it is.

@mvincentd Do I see steels there in that first floor makeup? Who did you get to deal with them.?

Will take a look - thanks

Say what now? Hold on, let me spin around and assume the position whilst you say that again...

are there any in particular you could link. I just want to start with being able to do a kiddy house. A square, with 4 walls, a front door, 4 windows at the front etc etc.

I like the neatness of them. nothing to get knocked against inside or blown about by wind. So ID systems do integrated blinds then. I shall take a look.

I thought INternorm were the only people to do this. Obviously I'm wrong, but i'm surprised they don't trumpet it.

so I can drfaw a box then define the lengths? What if i do this with a box then a second box on the outside. Can I then define the distance between the two, so as to show the width of the wall?

It's principally doing something to a measure. drawing a line and then zooming in and out etc seems fairly easy, but I can't figure out the sizes, scales etc. I'm sure i'm being thick but I rarely find issues getting to grips with computer bits, but this drawing malarkey is getting to me. I was never any good at art so it might be the similarities frustrating me, when actually all I want to do is draw a box to show the size of a house and then draw on scaled internal and external walls etc etc.

From the price of that picture, seems like there's something else that would be stretched, whilst they were jamming their fist up it!

Depends what you involve a QS for, and how you are paying them I would say. If you want them to manage the whole affair then expect a big Omelette. If however it's just to do the sourcing end of things, maybe just a three egger. I would wager that if you said to a decent QS what your architect said, you'd get something back like 'Well Architects made things overly complicated and fussy'. An experienced QS should have a better idea of where to go and have a decent list of contractors and suppliers to pick from, I would say that's the real benefit in many cases. Not anything you couldn't do yourself though if it's just small scale.

I just wanted to know how they worked and what they were in an applicaable sense. I'm really struggling even with Sketchup, and just thought that if there was a drag and drop item representing exactly what I would be using, then that might make things rather easier.

Who knows about BIM objects? I've just discovered them and from the sounds of it, although nowhere I found on a quick search said this exactly, they are objects you can download which represent the dimensions of a product. So Could I download, for example, Isotex BIM objects into sketchup and then just build the house with that, instead of drawing floorplans with it, and deriving a 3D picture from that?

But they still get charged by their electricity company don't they? So effectively i'd be supplying the energy, and the company my hypothetical neighbour uses, charge them for it. Seems a bit of a scam to. Could one physically use a neighbours house to dump excess generation to in a local agreement. If i'm going to be forced to give it away for free, i'd rather it directly benefited someone i knew. Think of it as like having a diverter on a hot water tank, so when all my systems are full and i've got an excess, it goes to my neighbour whose own grid supply pauses, in the same way as mine would when i'm wholely satisfied with solar. Sort of a micro grid.

Is there a physical way that you can disperse electricity without passing it back into the grid when you have excess. So lets imagine you have a battery which is full, your sunamp for example is charged, your house is fully running and your EV is full. Frankly i'd rather feed the next house in the street than give it away in the manner one must do now.

Was the moggy there to check for line and level. "that's purrrrfect Ian - Nail it down!" What was your total floor area covered by that?

Lots of variables I know, but what did people here pay for theirs and what was the spec (centres, shord width, joist depth etc?

I think it's worth punting him in the nuts, if that's the best he can come up with!

I think we are about 14-15 per kwh - plus a standing charge - Bulb. If i can get 12, show me the way to that coal burning producer!!!

https://midsummerwholesale.co.uk/ scroll down on the first page. There is a 305watt longi panel (no idea how good they are) for 81 if you wangle their trade discount. admittedly i know nothing about your build but if you've got 20 in a single row, portrait orientation, with GSE mounts. £5213 inc vat plus fitting by whoever. i should note i just clicked an inverter I thought would cover it, but i doubt it's far off.