mjc55

Bringing the who;e self-build & CDM question up again, sorry. To a degree it does seem to be fraught with confusion about what to do in a self-build environment. At this stage I intend to take our project forward completely as a self-build. I am in the fortunate position that I have both experience as an Architectural Technologist - so have designed our project completely - and also have a goodly amount of building experience having bought, completely modernised and sold two properties a few years ago as well as extending our last house myself. It seems from what has been written above that there is still merit in informing the HSE of the project - has anyone come across any downsides to this approach? However, I know that the project will "potentially" require professional input at some stage down the line. I can and have completely rewired the projects I worked on in the past and had an electrician who was prepared to certify for me. However there is the possibility that we might get a sparky to do this part of the project. especially as we are intending to have solar panels and battery storage. We are also going to have a flat, green roof. The self-build insurance could possibly require this to be carried out by a contractor, that is something I will address in the future as I wold prefer to do this myself. The other questionable areas are glazing, large patio doors are not something I would probably do myself and a heat pump will be required. So, does it make sense to start as a complete self-build and then if circumstances change look at the CDM side of things at that point? As always, thanks in advance for your replies.

Having had a look at the excess on the Buildstore quote this seems to be set at 10% with a minimum of £1000! Seems high? The Protek premium is at £250 excess, reduces to £1635 fro £500 excess and £1505 for £1000 excess.

Protek - £1769 Buildstore - £1950 24 month coverage I need to check the small print and that they are quoting for the same thing but all things being equal is there any good reason to go for the Buildstore one? Cheers

So you put in for planning before purchasing the plot? And had the build contract ready to sign! Good going. What would happen if PP refused?

Presumably cost wasn't an issue then?

The point you seem to be missing is that I am not in any way saying that CIL (or some such) should not be levied. If the title of thread is confusing I would assume that the content would support that!

Anyone used this of late. It looks good in terms of replacing other types of less environmentally friendly insulation but haven't got far enough to look at costs. There was an old thread from around 2019 saying that it needs to be much, much thicker (their emphasis), does this mean that it is much more expensive in the long run? That was pre-pandemic and presumably petrochemical type insulations have increased in price a lot since then. Thanks

You are missing the point! I didn't say that the idea of CIL was incorrect it is the idea that if you do anything before paying then you are stuffed, that's what is wrong. The clue is in the title of the thread.

The problem, obviously is that not everyone knows about CIL. Of course you could argue that they should but that is a different question really.

Forgive me if I am wrong, but I don't remember you thinking this at the time!

The issue with it is that I just don't understand this idea of once you start you are liable! How does that make sense? It might be straightforward, and yes the people I have dealt with in Dorset have been really helpful, so it’s not the concept of CIL that I am talking about. It's not as if you would disappear from view once started, it is blindingly obvious when a new build commences. So I ask again, how does starting a build suddenly mean that you are liable for the CIL? If it's a self-build it's a self-build! I am exempt from CIL @nod so do not need to pay, but that doesn't negate the nonsense around starting and liability.

Does this just work as a motion sensor camera? Is there a way of setting it up to do time-lapse? Edit: Just had a look at website and it can be set up to do the above. Another question though, what are the costs associated with the 4G connection, does it use much data?

"Sorry, this page no longer exists" for that link! There are a number of options if you just search for safety glasses on toolstation.

Interesting. I might try this approach with our local BC.

Can you elucidate on what issues you had with SIPS. Could help others who are thinking of using this method.

So received our CIL payment acknowledgement today, we are ready to break ground. This subject has come up numerous times on here and there are tales of those caught out by the totally nonsense rules around starting dates. Is it time maybe, as a group that is primarily concerned with all issues around self-build, that we start a campaign around the start date issue. Why is it so important to have everything in place for CIL before anything starts, there is no common sense to this, it seems purely a way of catching out unwary folk. It's not as if you can hide the fact that you are building, it's in plain sight, there are lots of things that flag up the fact that a build is to take place. Thoughts?

Was watching an old GD (The Street) last night and the couple used cork insulation under the floor. They were building on a budget the assumption would be that it wouldn't be mega expensive! Just had a look to see prices and the first site I saw selling cork insulation was getting on for £100 per sq. m. (this was for 3 pieces at 300 x 500 x 1000). I would assume that price would come down a lot for bulk buying. Compare to £16 per sheet of celotex (2400 x 1200 x 50) - so around £5.55 per sq. m. - then the prices just don't compare. I haven't looked anywhere else so those prices may well be outliers, but it would still seem that cork is way, way more (too) expensive. Have things changed since 2017 (when the GD was filmed) or were they just so keen on "eco" insulation that they weren't concerned re the prices?

Yes, will do that in the next few days.

After what seems like an age (but is not compared to others on here) we have at last are formal planning approval! We had quite journey, some of which is detailed here. We were told by our planning consultant just before Christmas that it would be approved by the 10th but of course until it actually states "Application Approved" on the portal then of course nothing is guaranteed. We were on site today cutting the overgrown boundary to the rear when I got the call to say that it had been approved. So, just a bit to do over the next year or so! Onwards and Upwards.

Fantastic news, you must be so relieved.

I know it is a personal thing but I really don't get this "windows and doors closed" idea. We have slept with our bedroom window open, whatever the weather for close to 40 years and do not wish to change this. I have heard the argument that with MVHR the air is fresh so why open the window but it doesn't compute with me. We went to see someone last year who had built a 'passive house' (although I don't think it was certified) and they did make a big fuss about keeping windows and doors closed, to the extent that we had to more or less creep in. They have no UFH and when we stayed for a few days early last year the ambient temperature was great. It still felt a little stuffy in the bedroom though. We fully intend for our house to be as passive as possible but still intend to install UFH.

I wonder if there is any way of working out how much ballast is required?

Anyone on here used trays to locate their solar panels on flat green roof? I have an acquaintance who used this method for their roof, seemingly successfully but would like to hear others experience. The pros are obviously the lack of penetration into the roof membrane for fixing points but what are the downsides. What comes to mind is performance in strong winds given the lack of fixings. Cheers

Our build will start this year and starting to think about power and lighting. Potentially might look at a lighting consultant but at this point just trying to think through what we might require. We are likely to have a kitchen island (will be lounge/kitchen/diner in one large room) and am quite sanguine about power running under floor for this in current thinking to a hob (but potentially could switch this to sink. We are planning on Quooker type tap so would need power in this case anyway. In the "lounge" area we are thinking one or two large sofa's and would want some form of standard lamp for localised lighting but obviously don't want cables running from wall sockets. The floor will be solid and currently looking at limestone flooring - so very permanent - Is it simply a case of having to be quite specific about where floor socket(s) will be and planning accordingly? TIA

Not an expert but would probably help to take photos from the outside.