canalsiderenovation

We have this tree which we call our bonsai bush (I know it isn't, but I've no idea what it is). Whilst it does look like it's been plonked in the middle of the garden we are reluctant to move it a) it's likely to die and b) it does add some character and c) the chickens shelter under it when it's raining! Unfortunately the sort of edging that has been plonked around it (we didn't do it) make it look particularly naff. It's been built up quite a bit which isn't really necessary as the roots are far lower so we can get rid of some of the soil and membrane and plum slate on top. We have cleaned up quite a lot of engineering bricks and I'm thinking now would be a good idea to try my hand at bricklaying! What do you think? Could a circular brick wall around this work? And can it be single brick? Tips for a complete novice on how to tackle this. Or just leave well alone 😬

Fab, we actually have some on the old railway sleepers on the embankment where our motorway crash barriers are. I suspect from the old railway that was dismantled in the 60s and the fact they are still there and intact (but partly buried in places) makes me tempted to go with the reclaimed ones. The place we have seen them have sent pics of reclaimed and hardwood.

Hiya We are waiting to do a raised border/bed due to some difficulty with levels in the garden. We are thinking railway sleepers. We want the old kind, the stuff that is unlikely to fall apart in 12 months. So far we have been quoted £25 for hardwood and £28.50 for reclaimed (8ft). What the difference and anyone know of any cheaper? I've seen the concrete ones too but no idea on pricing.

Our builder is working on laying our porcelain patio which is nearly finished and we have supplied all the porcelain. We need to sort out the grout too which we forgot about and an appropriate colour 😬 I'm thinking a grey colour would work well? Our tiles are a blue/grey granite effect? Anyone have any recommendations of what to use?

Ok then this may be a silly question so bear with. Builders due to start work on our double garage imminently. It's detached and will be about 60 metres away from the bungalow. There is a power cable already from the old garage that was demolished (power cable runs from the bungalow to garage underground). We were looking into batteries but I'm wondering if we should consider more solar on the garage, specifically in roof panels. On the bungalow we have 12 X 320w panels and Growatt 3600 and our Solic diverting excess to immersion and are also exporting any extra. I am presuming to add extra we would need DNO permission but I guess in terms of connecting the garage up to the bungalow for import/exporting it would be a nightmare and involve all sorts of issues to get to the inverter etc.

Am I the only one who sees a frog on the bottom part, it's body and two legs.

Motorway barriers with fencing attached, we have just done a small area to retain an old raised rockery area that was falling. Fencing to be secured onto it at later point. For info, my original post on the retaining wall idea ....

Our builder has suggested a composite decking type 'bridge' rather than a porcelain path which we really like the sound of. 50 odd samples of composite decking later and we really like the look of Trex Transcend. Feels far more sturdy than Millboard and in a couple of different colours we like. Anyone used it (middle pic sample loos dusty as it's what builder gave us).

That's interesting 🤔 I'll definitely keep an eye out on their website.

Local company, owner knows my parents so got a good discount and extra too which will come in for later down the line. Yes we didn't want them too high, by the time we have planted the lavender and it grows it will be just right.

@S2D2 we haven't got the porcelain laid yet but it will be below the blue brick inside and the height will be 50cm from the bottom of the blue brick. Ground needs building up levelling outside planters and the white render will match the walls yet but here's some pics. We also sorted our porcelain. All 100m2 of it with 'a bit extra thrown in' for £2200 (we are having another patio area with gazebo). It's like a smooth almost granite like effect.

@lizzie what did you use? We are having ours rendered and we contacted the Ecorend as we didn't really want silicone render but they do a monocouche render to match the house. We asked the render company for advice and they said; Planters are notoriously difficult. We would advise that these are tanked from behind with a waterproof membrane. This should reduce the moisture coming through from the soil/plats etc when they are back filled. I would also advise a coat of W2 Waterproof bonding coat to the front surface that is being rendered this again will help with any moisture from the back. Then apply a basecoat and leave with a keyed finish to receive the required topcoat of either Monocouche or SR15. What waterproof membrane did you use? Anyone else got any other suggestions? Like @lizzie our planters are open to the ground below so we are planning on some gravel for drainage in the bottom of the planters.

It was 129.9 for diesel recently, haven't been out today. It's been in all the national newspapers and TV channels in the past few weeks. Grindley Brook was famous, couldn't get out of our house down the lane as it was chaos at the petrol station (our access is through the forecourt)! Link to Scum article (sorry only one I could find at moment) https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.thesun.co.uk/motors/22355533/petrol-station-slashed-diesel-25p-litre/amp/

I'll go check later. Earlier this week diesel was 130.9, I didn't check petrol as we don't use it.

That's Patsy and Saffy.

Just breezeblock, single brick .....

On our bungalow we had it rendered in a very white silicone Ecorend marble white which we really like. Pic for context... We are currently in the process of having some planters built around the house with a patio. We want these rendered and we need the Ecorend marble white render to match the house but I'm wondering if the Ecorend Monocouche One Coat Render in marble white will be ok rather than the silicone render which obviously needs far more prep. Similarly, we are having a basic brick double garage built too. This is at the entrance to the drive so nowhere near the bungalow. We want the colour to match but is it worth paying for silicone render on a garage?

Yes we are exporting on Flux at the moment and getting some good returns.

@SteamyTea we just sold the boat at the weekend. Made a bit of profit but this is funding the patio areas, planters, porcelain and double garage - and hopefully we can save up enough to finally get the driveway/landscaping. We absolutely want another boat in the future but at the moment the priority is trying to finally get things finished. We are sick of looking at 20 ton of MoT, mud and mess outside.

True! We have two diesel cars, did less than 1000 miles in past 12 months, £20 tax each and diesel 129.9 (or was in last few days). V2G sounds very interesting though and maybe holding off a battery for now would make sense.

Valid point! I doubt prices will reduce to the 20p all the time anytime soon though unfortunately. It's the winter that's a killer for us really.

I doubt we will ever get electric vehicles. We live next to the cheapest petrol station in the UK and it just doesn't add up for us (we both work from home and have minimal vehicle use). We will be on Flux in summer and Cosy in winter. A battery will help in the peak times 4-7pm (cooking meals) and we can charge in the cheaper 20p times (3 hours on Flux and 6 hours on Cosy).

Seems like this could be possible. They posted recently on Facebook about it https://fb.watch/l72sG9xUAX/

No idea but our replacement Solic came in February this year. I will definitely email and ask.

Yes Solic is doing it's thing at moment and we are exporting so I can't complain! On the Solic website it has the following info: 2023 Update (pending new documentation as of May 2023) If a SOLiC is installed with batteries, the Solic 200 prioritises battery storage, when fitted with them by having an initial 10 second activation delay on seeing an export, and a 0-50 watt grid threshold to protect the energy already stored in your battery.