Caroline

Our Buildzone warranty BC person asked for drain test. We did one, videoed it, levels were fine. However, they won't accept our test and want one carried out by an independent 3rd party who has PI insurance. Seems this is going to cost us in excess of £400. We are self builders for a reason, but are continually scuppered by red tape!

UFH all okay so no leaks

75mm with insulation and wet UFH pipes

I have an issue. Our screed was laid in Nov and latex/stickdown LVT laid two months later. UFH wasn’t turned on. Couple of months later approx 15sqm (out of nearly 200sqm) started to lift. Floorlayers removed lifted areas and found moisture on the back of the LVT, floor looked dry and hand held moisture meter said 35% moisture. Flooring people then used a larger meter that sticks to floor and readings over a week went from 76-83% too high to relay LVT. The slab/screed which had a drying accelerant in it should have been dry in 2 months. Newbuild bungalow. we are worried if floor is reading up to 83% in lifted areas what about areas that seem fine (LVT flat and appears fine) I know lots in here don’t like LVT but I have it now so not much I can do. Also flooring company only used small hand held reader before laying the LVT, this reader showed it was dry enough to lay originally but obviously the hand held device wasn’t accurate. Also who is responsible for the cost of replacing the LVT? Any advice is appreciated. Thank you, as always.

Thank you. We can do the test but I just wonder why they ask this type of thing at this late stage when they have visited many times before. Well we are nearly there, glad we have BC completion cert, just the warranty to deal with.

UPDATE COMPLETION CERT SUPPLIED BY BC, NO EV CHARGER REQUESTED. DITTO GULLY FOR BINS. WE HAVE TO SEE WHAT THE WARRANTY PROVIDER'S BC SAY (ALTHOUGH THEY WOULDN'T CARRY OUT THEIR FINAL INSPECTION UNTIL NORMAL BC HAD PROVIDED COMPLETION CERT). WARRANTY PROVIDER AT THIS LATE STAGE IS ASKING FOR A DRAIN TEST 😔

I know. We have decided some BC don't seem to take notice of the major things but nit pick!

Update, BCO said this re: Bin gully I emailed (his reply in red) why did he request it in the first place then! With regards to the gully for the waste bin. This was never included in the building building regs drawings, Ross inspected the drainage and a gully for bin was never raised. The bin store will be housed on the permeable paving so whenever bins are washed, the water will soak away through the permeable paving. That is fine, it is advised but not a requirement for single dwellings. Please just send photos of the bin store installed, thank you.

I hope so

We are at the final completion. The BCO has asked that our bin store has a gully? We questioned why and he said if you wash the bins there is somewhere for the water to run away. We live in 38 acres, with a small bit of permeable paving the rest grass, this seems strange to us, anyone else had the same request? As always, look forward to you knowledgeable people coming back to me. Also Car Charger, we have an outlet and an MCB marked as "Car charger" for the outlet, don't have an electric car so don't want to install charger as we don't know what one we will need when the time comes, will this be acceptable? Thank you

Hello We are waiting for our final building control inspection before we move in. My VAT template is completed with the exception of the last invoice for laying the blocks and gravel to my drive (unfortunately they apply VAT), this work was included in my planning permission landscape plan. My question is, if the building inspector signs off the house as "complete" before the date of my last VAT invoice I want to submit, will HMRC allow VAT reclaim on this last invoice? Also, we have a Induction built in Vented/extracton hob. I know hobs aren't allowable but extractor fans are, can we claim the VAT for the hob? Look forward to hearing from you.

Yes it is new for our newbuild house. I don't really understand the "Document H". Hopefully, all will be well, I just don't think BC make it easy for self builders. Probably okay for those who have project managers/architects to hand!

Hi Folks Building control has asked for this. I sent them a photo of the new treatment plant which replaced the old building that was demolished and replaced with new building and sent them the manufactures specification of the water treatment plant, but think they want something, but not sure what it is. Can anyone help please? We are waiting for our final BC inspection. Thank you.

Not the case for us. Our site insurance expires on 14th, we wanted to move in on 10th, however, our building control officer is on annual leave until 13th. The site insurance which covers the new house won't let us extend the cover as they say they only cover if there is outstanding work to do (there isn't) and I worry that a normal home insurer will want a completion cert (which we don't have). What a way to end our journey ....

Hello everyone. Nearly at the end of the build and still living in the caravan (mobile home)! Everything is done, all renewables complete got MCS certs. Got As Built SAP and EPC. We have to building control, one for Buildzone (for the Warranty) and the other building control. I just emailed them both the EPC and the "other" building inspector had asked for photos of the loft insulation which I sent, however, I received an out of office reply that he is on leave until 13 April. I was hoping to move in on the 10th April. Ironically the Buildzone inspector has asked if the "other" inspector has done his final inspection (not sure why they can't make their own judgement, what's the point of having the Buildzone one if he wants to piggy back on the "other" inspector? What will happen if we move in on the 10th and they haven't issued the final BC cert? Although the build has taken just under 11 months, been living in the caravan for 19 and I am desperate to move in my lovely new home. I wouldn't need to tell them I officially moved in on the 10th, although some furniture will be in and beds made, no one could prove we aren't still in the caravan (I suppose). Look forward to hearing your thoughts. I am going to miss this forum, you have all provided so much guidance over the last year or so (even before build started with the usual preliminaries)

Good morning. We are coming to the end of our journey, and what a long journey (not in months) but there have been other obstacles along the way which has made it feel much longer! Our windows and doors were installed by a local company (Origin windows and doors). What do building control require for getting over the Approved Doc Q? Is it something from the door/window manufacturer or supplier/installer? Is there a standard form, or do I need to complete something too? Do hope someone has an answer, you all usually do and have been most helpful throughout. Caroline

Just found this on the Openreach website, we don't have the Gigabit connectivity and not planned for a year or more, what do I do?

Hello everyone I posted about Approved Document R Infrastructure for electronic communications Volume 1: Physical infrastructure and network connection for new dwellings There is a form to complete and building regs weren't satisfied with my first attempt! We are self builders (single storey house), living on site with superfast broadband supplied by Plus Net. We are semi rural so don't actually get very "super fast". I am trying to put together a diagram to be accepted by BRegs. I am not sure where my Network Distribution Point currently is. I went onto Openreach but they wanted a £60 payment for this information. Does anyone have any advise of how to find this (for free) please? Thank you in advance.

I am in the South East of England (Greater London area)

Thank you for your reply. Our pre SAP came out very good apparently 300% more than the 10% requested. Don't think the 1.2 windows rather than the 1.0 on pre SAP will be an issue but waiting for the company who carried out the report to get back to confirm. God knows why architect put 1.0 when 1.6 is allowed! Everything has a knock on effect and take so much time to rectify.

Hello everyone I have searched the planning portal and can't find what the requirements are for U values for newbuild windows and doors. Can anyone direct me or help please? Thank you. Caroline

Thanks everyone for all your thoughts. Been really helpful and will go down the 2 coat plaster route.