kandgmitchell

Well it's the second day on week 4. The ground floor screeding is being done as I type this. To date all the walls are up (they come fully glazed, partially rendered and plasterboarded). The roof has been tiled and guttering fixed, the first fix electrics are done, the first fix plumbing is done (wastes and supplies for basins, wc's etc come ready installed in the panels), the underfloor heating is in and the MVHR ducting in place. In the service room is the cylinder, expansion vessel etc for the ASHP and the external unit is here wrapped, sitting on it's pallet. They started on the 8th April and expect to hand over at the end of May. We elected to use Dan Wood as a "half way house" - it's our original design (although with a nod to that sort of style). We didn't go extreme, much as we would like as I wanted a smooth planning experience, which we got. So, some of the standard Dan Wood bits we omitted. They can finish right up to carpets; handing over complete, save for the kitchen (too many choices apparently). We wanted a UK stair with closed risers so it could be carpeted. DW use bare wood, open riser and being aimed at the German market, the pitch is lower so the going messed up our internals too much. We also left out the doors (odd looking with the leaf rebated and closing against the face of the frame) and floor finishes save for the bathrooms. Those are now down to us. We had to provide the foundation (insulated raft for us) and drainage/service connections. However, it's been a dream not having to organise anything once they sign off the slab as ok. Men turn up at 7.00am sharp and work to between 5 and 6. Saturdays 8 till 1 ish. All materials are either brought with them or turn up on time. Electricians, plumbers, and scaffolders are woven into the work and are here at the correct point. The electrician was here until 11pm finishing off first fix because the next trade needed it done. Every single day it progresses. It probably isn't the cheapest way of doing it ( about £1730/m2 ex foundations) but the joy of not having any arguements with individual contractors makes up for it and there is no doubt the polish crew working on this house work damm hard and do a good job. You have to credit their attention to detail too. They obviously do this all the time as all the membranes are properly taped and sealed, the windows being inserted in the factory are done properly, etc etc. It's clear they have designed out issues over the years and have come up with solutions that work - hence the 20 year guarantee. We could buy the plot but needed to sell our house to fund the build. We are in a static caravan at present on site. Having reached retirement the certainty of getting the build done in a sensible timescale so we could get on with enjoying life was a big driver for this approach. Hopefully it'll be a family Christmas settled into a house this year instead of renting a cottage to escape the cold and damp of a 32ft static!

Go on the "developer" bit of your sewerage company (Wessex Water?) and look for build over agreements. Most now have a "self certify" system where if you meet all their criteria they'll agree a build over (for a fee) and give you the detail you have to use where actually building over the sewer. It'll be easier than diverting.

Presumably you have a "build over agreement" for that sewer? That will dictate the construction arrangements required. If you do divert then don't forget you are increasing the length of drain between two fixed points and thus the gradient must be lower - perhaps too low. You will need access at each of those bends, both of which seem to be in the neighbour's garden - are they ok with that? You will also need to check with the sewerage provider with respect to diversion.

The permitted development criteria are different for business premises. One of the criteria is that any PD extension should not be within 2m of a boundary. At 50cm it obviously is, so cannot be PD with all other things being equal. If this extension will have an impact on you then by all means contact both planning enforcement and BC.

But it will though - it's the original front wall that is the baseline not the porch. Plus think the footprint thing through a little - why stop at one extra storey why not three or four; it's the same footprint. Planning doesn't work quite that simply I'm afraid. If only!

It's not an architect you need for outline it's a planning consultant. The drawing work is minimal but the "planning" bit even for outline these days can be a trial. Check out the Council's local requirements for registering various types of applications. Even an outline may require a flood risk assessment, a sequential and exception test if in the wrong flood zone, ecology assessments, etc. I've tried the arguement that it's only the principle being considered at this stage only to be knocked back with; the principle cannot be assessed without xyz.....

On the front i.e the principal elevation? It certainly will require planning permission. If the existing house door is still in place then that porch could have been built without regard to building regulations (save the safety of glazing requirements). It may then have little more than a simple concrete slab as a foundation. It could end up easier to take down and start again, only a trial hole would tell.

Many thanks Nod

Ditto, what do you want the insurance to do? If the current structure is robust and unlikely to be destroyed by fire, lightning or vandals then why insure it as yet? If there is a chance that persons will injure themselves on site and blame you then that is the risk you need to cover from day one. Then as the work starts and you need to insure against losing the work you have added, a policy becomes more important but you have time to search. We used Protek but also we had Titan Insurance quote - they have humans!

But it's the Valuation Office that decides the Council Tax banding and informs the Council what and when to start charging. I found them more pragmatic and (when you can get hold of them) helpful. We had a renovation project taken off the Council Tax list by them as it was patently unlivable in. Until the VO have been how can they assess the band? When they do inspect they will see it is still underway and that should fend the Council off for a while. Keep up the fight!

Right, another interior finishes question. Quotes for laying 65m2 of floor tiles include for decoupling mat. However, since the kit supplier's tilers are doing the bathrooms/wc as part of the package, I asked what they use and found they do not use them. Given the house supplier gives a 20 year guarantee and they obviously do loads of these, I'm inclined to go along with that. They use a quick drying Tekcem Rapido Witt cement with sand. See attached pdf. They will heat the screed up to 55 degrees gradually with a piece of kit that's programmed to step it up day on day. Anyone use this stuff? Comments? TEKCEM-RapidoWITT.pdf

We had our plot surveyed - about 1/3rd acre. It has a stream as one boundary, lots of trees and an odd shape being ex. agricultural. We had them plot the boundaries that been agreed with the land owner, provide levels on a 5m grid and put the contours on as the plot slopes. mark all trees etc and locate and give us the ridge and eaves height of the adjacent house for planning purposes. It cost us £340 plus vat last year. You would get it a bit cheaper for a simple boundary and building location survey (given they have to cover site attendance and kit procurement across all jobs).

I'd be going rigid board as it gives more insulation for a given thickness. Another thought is the foil type insulation such as Actis. Personally, I'd send your picture which illustrates exactly the situation, to the company's technical department and let them suggest a solution.

THought I recognised the shape of the building on that proposed blockplan - so it was a cattery that needs demolishing. There was no answer to the question posed on that thread "where did all the cat shit go"? Just another poo question to consider.

Absolutely agree with that. If you are tight for time then work with what you've got in hand and deal with the other stuff later. As pointed out you can use the renewable energy PD in the future.

As a self builder haven't you been told to get the professionals in when your skill set isn't enough.....

So is the barn already converted and lived in or is it prospective conversion waiting to be be done by you?

No - it's a reference number for the chamber - you should also have a list of the nearby chambers together with their cover level and invert level and hence their depth. Not is all lost - I once dealt with a rear extension that had a 1500mm dia surface water sewer running up the shared driveway between the applicant and his neighbour in St. Albans. It took a while to sort out and cost him more than you'd want but not silly money. Approval was given by TW and it got built.

Well I don't know about Scotland - it doesn't work quite like that in England. Section 78 of Building Act says: Dangerous building—emergency measures. (1)If it appears to a local authority that— (a)a building or structure, or part of a building or structure, is in such a state, or is used to carry such loads, as to be dangerous, and (b)immediate action should be taken to remove the danger, they may take such steps as may be necessary for that purpose. (2)Before exercising their powers under this section, the local authority shall, if it is reasonably practicable to do so, give notice of their intention to the owner and occupier of the building, or of the premises on which the structure is situated. Having exercised those powers I can tell you that some covered up drains wouldn't have given cause to carry out emergency access. Indeed para (2) is clear that efforts should be made to contact the owner before even those powers are used. As to general health and safety matters on a building site the enforcing authority is the HSE not the LA - they deal with offices, shops restaurants etc. All a BCO could do in the face of a blatant safety issue being carried out on site is to contact the local HSE office. Obviously if there is a construction issue that needs dealing with then the usual approach through building regulation legislation would be required.

Thanks for the heads up.

Right another finishes query having had a firm vote on fitting stairs. I've seen advice on older posts to put skirtings down onto tiles so as to hide the edges. Can see that logic (although luckily I'm not tiling this time). However, we have an open plan floor layout with one third carpeted and two thirds tiled. Obviously I'd want the skirtings to be level throughout. So if they go down after tiling they are going to be the tile + adhesive distance above the screed in the sitting area where the carpet will go, with the risk the gap will be seen. Is it a case of running down the skirting to be used in the tiled area? There's a lot of it!

In England the Building Act gives authorised officers of the LA the right of entry to premises in respect of building regulations. However, unless it's a factory or workplace 24 hours notice of the entry has to be given to the occupier. I assume Scottish law has a similar provision probably in the Act that sets out the framework of the scottish regs

I guess the OP is trying to avoid the problem of supporting the inner leaf of a cavity wall along the line of the flank wall of the existing garage. The outer leaf will be built up off the garage wall but the cavity and inner leaf will be hanging in the air. That'll involve a beam at floor level that needs supporting or digging the garage floor up. Be also aware OP that you're close to the boundary so consider the unprotected area and spread of flame issues for all that timber weatherboarding/timber frame.

If you are in Welwyn aren't Thames Water your sewerage undertaker? A 600mm dia is a Class 3 sewer - you'll be paying a whack then! How deep is chamber 3702?

I can see where that was going! many thanks