ultramods

I went to see a Timberframe supplier recently and this is an sample of their closed panel. They factory fit the interior VCL and service battens, the battens where the VCL from one panel joins to another panel would be left off or be loose. In terms of air lightness would it be better to attach the foil VCL once the panels has been erected on site?

Thanks @AliG I'm still looking forward to the "photo shoot" that you promised

Does anyone know of a company that would make a basin/vanity similar to the one below. I contacted the company that made this one (Marble City in London), however they are too expensive at around £5500!!!

@newhomedid I mention I have a house build to PM? Seriously though I would have been happy to develop something, however from the comments there seams to be resistance to it and or people don't think it's required or would be useful.

A fact file, rolodex, electronic clipboard (certainly not a database) that could be queried. @PeterWwe are now into semantics

@PeterW I appreciate the complexities of working with the existing unstructured data (I develop software products that need to do this for optimising oil and gas production), but I am not suggesting that. I might now have made my self clear. I wasn't meaning to structure all the existing data. As @newhome and I suggested there could be templates to capture project information such as house type, location, size, u-value, build method, windows, DHW, heating, flooring, wall tiles, roofing, kitchen details. For each item an optional reason for choosing for example ASHP could be given and also optionally the cost of each item. A timeline of build with key milestones could also be included. Final cost psm. Key suppliers. This would be similar to what the various self build magazines note but in more useful detail. And of course photos of the build.

What I was thinking for example is all the variable/formulas required to perform heat loss calculations for a house are probably scattered about this forum. However Jeremy's spreadsheet makes it far easier to calculate as all the information is in one place, all the user needs to provide are some variables specific to their build design. Similar could be done for other aspects of the build - What sort of house spec should I use to achieve y based on my budget x (and obviously various other variables such as location).

I like the Roku box, I use it connected to a Samsung TV. I found it better than: Roku Stick - it's faster Amazon Fire - Roku box has more channels that I wanted Apple TV - Roku box has ore channels that I wanted Samsung Smart TV - Roku box is far quicker/responsive

I am wondering if the forum should have a database that captures the decisions that members make with regards to funding, foundation/slab spec, roof walls, windows, heating, hot water, cladding/ rain screen. Location / size of house etc, and the reasons behind each decision. And also maybe a link to the house floor plans and elevations and photos during the build. This would provide more structure to a lot of the data the is currently hiding within various forum topics. Also a time line on the key stages during the build with the ability to annotate, to highlight problems that have led to delays. I could create the database and the associated web pages.

What render system/product would you recommend for block work? Architect seams obsessed with k-rend, is it better than a sand based render, the type standard house builders would use?

Are you offering to come up to aberdeenshire?

@Triple07 Robertsons - i have sent PM with the details

I have been quoted £8220 for materials + labour (£44.25 psqm) for 180 SQM of K-Rend, standard colour scratch coat on 2 storey house. That's render applied directly to block wall. Does not include the cost of scaffolding. For cladding, our garage in timber that would then be painted black we were quoted between £2000 - 7000 for about 48 SQM. This price is for materials and labour, but excluding painting. I have decided to do it myself for less than 1k

@newhome the hall will be a community hall, so shouldn't be used that often. I have seen the blinds that you can get that come up from the floor. I am thinking we could have floor and ceiling roller blinds for that window, we can decide exactly how much of the bedroom is visible from the outside at any given time of the day.

We are planning an 'Amsterdam' theme The neighbours for the foreseeable future will be the bats and mice living in the old hall across the road.

@newhome The middle window is a double height space, so there is no first floor there

South west. Do you mean the middle panel to watch the render, like below?

From an aesthetic/design perspective what do you think looks better, large or small window for the master bedroom (First floor, furthest right)?

When using the heat loss calculator, do you need to use different total house volumes for the attic space dependent on if it's a warm or cold roof?

But is it as quick and easy as this?

I sent my house plans (scaled elevations and floor plans) to a roofer and he replied saying that he would provide a quote once I tell him the roof area. If a roofer can't work out the area himself would you trust him to tile the roof?

@newhome I don't think they are for sale yet, only recently been approved. I think the developer that bought the estate in 2009-2010 paid £1,000,000 and has since then converted the main house/castle into a wedding/corporate venue. http://fasquecastle.com/

I think those particular plots are 2 - 3 acres, so shouldn't have people passing too close by.

the price of oil will be back up to $120 any day now