Square Feet

You don't need LPG for that - you just need an EV. One of the best features of EVs is their V2L capability that allow you to run a 13A socket off the battery. You can power a lot of your house that way. Just make sure you check that it has V2L before you buy it as some of the older EVs don't. We are all going to be driving EV at some point anyway, so if you are self-building you might as well make the most of solar, home charging etc and get ahead of the curve.

I've taken old motorhomes apart in the past and the mould that you find trapped inside the ceiling/wall structure is horrific. If it's an old motorhome and it's in an area that can't be easily seen ie on the roof, then I would just bodge a load of sealant over the top of the existing joints. Give them a clean first to get the grime off but that's all. The problem is that you will probably never identify exactly where the water is coming from as it will roll around across the roof inside the lining front to back and side to side and can come through pretty much anywhere in the van. You could spend a very long time carefully removing the old sealant in the bit where you think it is when it's actually elsewhere. An old motorhome isn't worth much on the second hand market (they are a lot easier to steal and break into than modern ones and they also guzzle fuel in a way that is very hard to sustain in today's economy), so I wouldn't worry about the future resale value of it. Just do the minimum to try and stop it getting worse and then enjoy using it. Stripping out and replacing the ply and insulation in the walls/ceiling is a very major undertaking that you will wish you had never started. 10k is actually a very low price for this so I would be concerned about how well it would be done.

That was what I liked about these videos - the attention to detail. They got their sub base to within =/-5mm of level across an odd-shaped site and it was interesting to see how they did that. Just as an example of how it can be done by two fit strong young people with youth on their side. So probably nothing there that I can take away really.

Don't worry Gus - I am just window shopping at the moment - any decisions on things like this will be taken after getting your advice of course, but - when we discuss it now I will have a better idea what you mean and something to compare it to. Every day's a school day.

I've been watching this playlist by Buildhubber @CJO on how they prepped and built their passive slab using Isoquick. It's really well put together and very well explained. The methods may not be universal but I have a lot more confidence that I understand the process and how to go about it now. (I tried to link to the whole playlist but it just takes you straight to the most recent video which is annoying. Here's the first one of three - I'll link to the others individually below).

Just when I was about to need them most! Both the options they mention are an hour and a half away. Their delivery service is very good, but not as good as 20 minutes from site. I'm gutted. I use them all the time. Their 5% discount is a massive help.

I'm also planning to build a passive-level house and had the same questions re A2A. Last night I costed up the pipes, clips, manifold and connectors for UFH and if I've done it correctly it seems to be less than £1k all-in. So I will be putting it into mine I think as it seems worthwhile running the pipes at least. That doesn't help with your earth floor issue though.

@Benpointer Nice one thanks for the spreasheet info. Yes, I've read the whole of the VAT reclaim thread but was just wondering if my 'back of an envelope' figure was roughly within range. I get that it's oranges and apples though. Cheers

Can I ask what this is as a rough percentage of total spend? I've put VAT reclaim into my figures at 5% of the total cost. I know it's 20% but I've reckoned on being able to claim back on around a quarter of expenditure. Does this seem about right?

This looks like really good advice for someone like me who is at the start of their self-build. Sorry to be a pain, but I have googled and read a lot of HMRC's pages and I can't find this anywhere. Do you have a link to the template please?

Shame the downpipes couldn't have run inside them. *ducks and hides*

I don't have any real advice other than to hang in there. I'm sorry it's tough just now. Sometimes a couple of hours away walking along a beach or something can help. It's a lot easier to pick yourself up and carry on again after. You'll sort it and move on from this.

Yes that's all happening just now. Dry stuff as you say.

We are, but I think I can bend it back around to my house build again 😂 It's also worth checking whether the person has actually asked a question first. In the case of most posts on here that is true, but blogs are a bit different I think. I did ask a question in my first post and the answers were very helpful. As a result of the advice I was given I have now agreed the purchase of the whole (2 house) plot, with the goal of building just the one house on it. I'm really excited about that idea and to be honest I might have just offered for the one plot otherwise, with a whole heap of compromise thrown in for good measure.

That's not it though. There's a recognised 'thing' that happens on the internet where people take one little thing from your post and zoom in on it and blow it out of all proportion. It isn't done to help or advise, it tends to be more about point scoring or showing off. This leads to people feeling the need to endlessly caveat absolutely every possible wee crack that the keyboard warriors might slip in through before they can ask a question. Now I know that people on here are incredibly helpful and genuinely knowledgeable and consequently that point scoring, willy waving or showing off aren't part of the mentality here, but we do all need to be careful and question our motivation before we comment.