Big Neil

Well i'm thinking ebay, but anywhere really. I'm just wondering about the thinking people have of it as an option

So. for direct comparison lets disregard any systems other than Tesla's own Powerwall 2. Why is it not a good idea, to buy a full battery pack from a wrecked Model S/X, and with the addition of any additional kit required for the home interface, and to hang it on/against the wall somewhere, have that as your battery backup. Never mind about the capacity being way higher, think about maybe future proofing.

@Alexphd1 Really? Fully installed connected, and warrantied? That didn't seem too bad to me. Don't get me wrong i've found cheaper, but suspiciously so.

cool What about the cost saving of a DIY installation as compared to the peace of mind from having a warrantied installation?

I might have just missed the answer in this thread but in case not, Is warranty a concern for anyone? As an example i was given an estimate of i think about £7K if i recall which used sunpower panels for a circa 4kwp system, fully installed, installation warrantied for 10 years, panels and their energy production guaranteed for 25. Now obviously you could chop out a big portion of that 7K by self installing, but then if something goes wrong, what would you fall back on. IN addition, in efficiency terms, would you be equally happy with double the panels at half the efficiency versus a system half the size using properly efficient panels?

And to be clear this includes all materials AND Labour yes? Also would you say that is roughly scalable, so double the areas mentioned thus double the costs?

Also in respect of thermal performance and stability, would you gain anything (coat aside) if you had 200 mm lower walls, 100mm upper, and joists ends then obviously completed surrounded

if you're referring to the youtube video which mentions the I-house system using panels, then i've spoken to the technical team at H+H and they said, much like doing it with their 620 sized blocks, it can be done with 100 mm wid units what example came to mind when you said this, did you have a particular sized house in mind and were you referring to the cost of a timber frame in that instance Another thought was thermal performance and internal sound and comfort. seems like much of a muchness. Thoughts?

Pardon my ignorance please put i want to clarify my understanding of something; MCS = The certification needed for being allowed to claim back excess generation from your solar PV equipment, which is fed into the grid? Does this mean that when and if the Eu tariff on Chinese panels ends and the US tariff on them comes into effect that the extra cost involved for a MCS accredited system taking into account any FIT payments makes just installing cheaper panels more economic. I know the FIT is poor compared to what it used to be and read somewhere recently that it is supposed to be ending next year completely, but if the second part of that is not true, why WOULDN'T you have something that is certified to give you a FIT payment. Is it because the quality between chinese panels and others is negligable if possibly non existent??

At the moment i'm not too interested in the cost aspect given the almost infinite variables involved, more interested in the comparative reasons for using one system over another in certain circumstances. To start with, whilst there seems a lot of manufacturer based evidence that it should be structurally safe to 'throw' up the inner skin in thin joint, including any floor joists and internal walls (imagine just the downstairs ones in this example and that they are also thin-joint block work), and then get the roof on before having started the outer skin, it seems like very few people either on here or other forums, are in favour of this. Compare this to timber frame however, where everyone almost immediately espouses it as a great system if you want to get to room height quickly, and then put the external skin up later WHY? And in any answers lets assume for the sake of argument that the team using the system is experienced in using it, all relevant plant and materials are ready on site, and weather is nominally fine.

not yet, but will and thanks for the link

Am I correct in thinking, in the broadest sense, that The VAT reclaim can be for any material used in the build which is considered a permanent and essential part of the buildings operation? So obviously bricks blocks etc are fine, fitted kitchen ditto, boiler yes. However light bulbs no, fridge or freezer even if integrated are a no. And briefly to answer this, my thoughts just went to if you had the cash to cover a cost including VAT and wanted a more visceral spike in available funds after completion. ....and sorry if i've hi-jacked anything at all, i'm not normally a very forum sort of person - so i'm a little down on the relevant etiquette

I understand principally the different Materials used here, but what is the infill from poured concrete to ground level ?

If a company are doing the supplying and fitting (be it of windows or whatever) but bill those items separately, can the VAT be claimed back on the supply end of things, as distinct from if your contract with them was a cumulative price of 'supply and fit'?

meeeeeee - IN Manchester.....

oooooo - some sort of hydrophobic spray on coating. Maybe not exactly the product, but something LIKE the attached;

Strange to ask maybe, but have you considered going off grid? Obviously I don't know your plot layout or roof size or owt, but I spoke with one company about a 4kw in roof solar install at about 4.5 K plus another 6.5 for a powerwall. That's 11, double that approximately for double the generating capacity and another power wall for twice the storage.. Still 3 grand cheaper. or sack the second powerwall off and that's nearer 10...

Thinking a little bit outside the box, if waterproofing is your main priority, why not consider something like (if not necessarily this exactly, roofing felt wrapped around and tacked to the inner leaf for the period. Or there is an american product (i assume there to be a UK equivalent) called line-x which i think is some form of sprayable polyeurathane material - this can also be pulled off again afterwards. OR - And I guess this is the most costly alternative, wrap the scaffolding. Check a company called Rhino, thy have a really decent cost calculator and several case studies on their website. This would allow not only that the building is protected from the elements, but works could continue over the winter period.

Evening chaps - thanks for the replies. N current project although i'm sort of researching the possibility of one at the moment, vague though that sounds. And I live in Manchester, although if either of you are pedantic Mancunians, I live in Salford.

Hello all, Is anyone currently in the process of or know anyone who is in the process of, a self build in or around Manchester. I'd really like to get a look around a house which is in progress. Ideally it would be one which is about to start so i could see it at various stages throughout. I'm absolutely willing to agree to helping out at some point if that sways it for anyone. It would be brilliant if the build method was cavity wall using thin joint, but otherwise any method would be great.

Ermmmmmmmmm Thought I'd see if you chaps had the wherewithall to help understand parts of the build process that are beyond my current understanding. Particularly interested in thin joint, insulation types and supply chain... Ooooo and land sale contracts. Happy Wednesday everyone.