canalsiderenovation

Rough guesstimate around £3-£400 builder said (our roof tiles are Marley something or other so not posh slate or anything).

Inc VAT just a few quid over £4k.

So, now is the time we need to decide whether to go for in roof solar on one side of the roof (old Google image for info). Note a lot of these trees have gone and there is no shading. My other half doesn't think it is cost effective and I'm trying to drive the cost down. We approached two companies, both MCS accredited who came back with some prices which seemed expensive. We aim to avoid getting prior DNO permission and as I understand it the Peak Wattage of the PV array should fall within the inverter’s power tolerance and it is the inverter’s maximum output capacity that needs to be 16Amp (per phase) or less in order to not require permission from the DNO fall within G98 regulations. The quote I've had from one supplier recommended by a few people here is attached and they said the spec they have quoted for means it won't need DNO advance approval. There is then the additional cost of our electrician and roofer fitting it. We will have our ASHP and the solar is for our use and to divert any excess to the immersion tank (300 litre minimum just waiting for quote). Would someone mind taking a look at this quote (14 panel system) and seeing if there is anything missing and if there is any way of reducing cost and things that should/should not be included. At these figures my other half is reluctant and doesn't think it is worth pursuing? I'm hoping @ProDave will be along too and other people that know far more than me @PeterW? Thanks

Oh crikey, I didn't know that that's another conundrum. The Alutec one is definitely RAL7016 but the composite one I'm not sure of but comparing them next to one another there is literally nothing in it. Internorm are kindly sending me a sample of the window frame out to me this week so I can compare that with the fascias and soffit colours but that still doesn't deal with the front door and whether to go with anthracite or black.

Our builder has dropped off some fascias and soffit samples, both in anthracite - one that is a slim line metal one which is the very expensive one he tells me (Alutec) and one that looks like a uPVC or composite type material with a woodgrain effect. Both of us are leaning to the composite type one due to budget but our issue is the colour. Whilst I'm sure they will look smart against the Internorm Anthracite windows, the colour doesn't seem to go with the front door, albeit it's holding the samples directly next to the door which is black but it looks terrible (slight exaggeration maybe). And yes I know they have it on the display pic in a sort of anthracite surround. Perhaps it's just us worrying.... As the front door is on the extension which is flat roof the fascias and soffits will be closer to the front door but of course with it also being a bungalow there are a lot of windows close to the fascias and soffits too. As getting a new front door is out, frankly because we love it and even if we had the money it's the exact sort of thing we would pick and we can't afford a comparible door for the price we paid so we have two options. 1. Have all the fascias, soffits and guttering black. It will match the front door but not the Internorm windows. 2. Keep the fascias, soffits and guttering anthracite, it will match the windows but not the door. The utility stable door is on a wall with no windows and is a composite dark grey with white frame so think we could get away with either black or anthracite fascias, soffits and guttering. So, anyone got anthracite windows and black fascias, soffits and guttering or a black front door with anthracite windows? Options please. Front door attached. Frame is a grey, shiny type metal (not the dark frame on the display pic)

Soooo, met plumber and he is going to sort out pricing comparison for 300/400 litre tanks. I mentioned making sure tanks had immersion element as we are obtaining some pricing for solar and he said he will raise this with Alto energy. He was sceptical on how much solar would actually contribute to hot water of the ASHP and seemed to think we couldn't do this going down the RHI route. I'll wait to see what he comes back with and in interim see what prices I get back for solar.

Thanks I'm going to get some quotes for in roof solar - around a 4.4-4.8 GSE system. I just know I need to make sure whichever 300-400 litre tank I have it has an immersion element.

Cheers I'll ask him to price for 300 or 400 little tank. I like a big hot bath most nice so the larger one sounds better.

Garage won't be built yet, but we do want a tap on side of house. We have a very large garden and as the house is almost in the middle the OH wants one of those retractable hose thingys for watering the plants and if it was on the garage it would be too far away.

Thanks @Redoctober and @Nickfromwalesand others I will raise questions this week but as you say our concern is finding someone to that not only is reasonable on price but is reliable and will do a good job. Over 15 years ago now I had a loft conversion on my first home. I was young, naive and it was a disaster. Thank god I had studied law and worked in criminal justice and had some contacts because I sued the builder and won and did get compensation but it was a long, messy and stressful battle whilst the house work never actually got finished (relationship ended). We are looking to save money where we can but likewise I've learnt sometimes saving money on some things can cost later. I'm interested in views on the spec itself and if there is anything I should be asking. I think the tank needs to be a bit bigger, don't want hot water running out!

Located my quotes from NU heat. Excluding Vat and installation, product only. The UFH was for a bit extra M2 but we have now done away with an extra room we had planned. We aren't going with Nu heat, this was a quote we had following seeing them at a home show.

Three bathrooms, two with shower, toilet and sink, one with the addition of a bath. One kitchen sink one utility sink.

We have had a three prices, the one from NU heat was around the same price and that was without the bathrooms and installation! Yes this plumber comes highly recommended, not just from our builder but a couple of other people too. We don't have to go down the RHI route and I will pose this question when we speak next week. Floor area is around 170m2 as I recall, I can't find the exact m2 at the moment.

Yes the plumber is the same guy quoting for all the ASHP stuff and underfloor heating and plumbing for three bathrooms. He then works with Alto Energy who do all the certification etc for the RHI side of things. We do need to discuss in roof solar and get pricing and make a decision on this as we were keen to use this for own own electricity and diversion to immersion for hot water so if anyone has any suggestions on this for me to raise with the plumber/electrician that would be great.

There is a lot of underfloor heating with it being a bungalow. Insulation is one area we have been obsessing over so the existing floors especially have all been excavated to allow for insulation in floors and then also the external wall insulation too.

Yes the plumber uses a company called Alto energy to do the certification and documentation.

Thanks I'll get the plumber to also price not going through the RHI scheme and see what the difference is.

Hi We are meeting with our plumber next week to go through things. We had a provisional quote a few months ago, prior to any building starting so we may need to make some tweaks now. This is going down the RHI route for our ASHP and all underfloor heating throughout the bungalow and included all plumbing of three bathrooms too (actual sanitaryware excluded as we have purchased this). I'd be grateful if I could get some opinions on this in prep for the meeting next week. Thanks Plumbing 1.pdf plumbing 2.pdf

Well we have two cats our neighbours one who sits lounging in the sun and probably couldn't care less about any mice and the real bastard canal moggie who has turned up. Once we move back in we will be adopting a cat. I fostered three kittens earlier this year who I named after Game of Thrones characters and it broke my heart letting them go.

We do seem to have adopted a cat from somewhere who we spotted with a mouse at the weekend. I guess I should be pleased it isn't a rat. Haven't had any in the traps for a few days. I perhaps need to change the peanut butter for chocolate muffins.

The last two don't match as such as one has a round head the other square. For our ensuite we have ordered this one https://www.amazon.co.uk/Mira-Showers-1-1874-005-Digital-Pressure/dp/B071NH4851/ref=mp_s_a_1_3?dchild=1&keywords=mira%2Bmode%2Bhigh%2Bpressure&qid=1597310243&quartzVehicle=25-376&replacementKeywords=mode%2Bhigh%2Bpressure&sr=8-3&th=1&psc=1 It's not like all our fittings will be the same make as the taps are a mix of Roper Rhodes and Hudson Reed.

I just realised I posted this in the wrong forum. Asking again. We are looking at two showers for our bungalow and I've ended up with three, I forgot I'd made an automatic eBay bid on one through the night. So, which do I keep and which one do I resell? All were between £140-£170 new/boxed off Facebook/eBay/Gumtree The first one is a Mira Agile ERD+ Dual Outlet https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/aw/d/B07RCY6CYG/ref=ya_aw_od_pi?ie=UTF8&psc=1 Second one Hansgrohe S240 Showerpipe https://www.amazon.co.uk/hansgrohe-Crometta-Showerpipe-27267000-Thermostat/dp/B01LLRHDPU Third one Hansgrohe E240 Showerpipe https://www.amazon.co.uk/hansgrohe-Crometta-Showerpipe-27271000-Thermostat/dp/B01MG2DESU One will be for a main bathroom and another for a guest/Airbnb ensuite. We will have an ASHP.

We are looking at two showers for our bungalow and I've ended up with three, I forgot I'd made an automatic eBay bid on one through the night. So, which do I keep and which one do I resell? All were between £140-£170 new/boxed off Facebook/eBay/Gumtree The first one is a Mira Agile ERD+ Dual Outlet https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/aw/d/B07RCY6CYG/ref=ya_aw_od_pi?ie=UTF8&psc=1 Second one Hansgrohe S240 Showerpipe https://www.amazon.co.uk/hansgrohe-Crometta-Showerpipe-27267000-Thermostat/dp/B01LLRHDPU Third one Hansgrohe E240 Showerpipe https://www.amazon.co.uk/hansgrohe-Crometta-Showerpipe-27271000-Thermostat/dp/B01MG2DESU One will be for a main bathroom and another for a guest/Airbnb ensuite. We will have an ASHP.