G and J

Ours was made in a couple of hours from 6” x 2” strings and treads and spare battens to support the treads. Stand the strings up in situ, cut a birds mouth at the top and use a level to get the angle right. Saved us hours and hours and no end of energy, as well as being massively safer than ladders.

I’m sure the chrome cap will prize off. You may have to soak in viacal or similar and work your fingernails under it, but I would be very surprised if you didn’t find a grub screw under the cap.

I’ve spent part of today going through the details of both systems, not including cost. So thats useful info Nick, thank you.

Looking absolutely lovely, and yes lots of planting opportunities

We have just taken building insurance with LV. Timber frame, part block skin part timber clad. Standard terms, remarkably good value. Such good value that I rang back in and checked that they had noted the timber cladding.

OK, I’m going to risk sounding dumb now, but is it really worth the effort to replace the manifolds? Maybe ensure a few isolators are put in so that just the cold or just the hot can be shut off, but given that the horse has bolted will enough time be saved in the future to repay the extra time and delay (and the knock on effects of a pissed off tradesman)? If there’s a leak you shut down, deal with it pronto or whack a stop end on the offending bit till you get the parts. I maybe guilty of Hep2O think here, but I put isolators everywhere in our last house and in 34 years most of them never got closed off.

Ours are (and/or will be) hidden away in nearby cupboards. You need access every Julember so why worry about convenient access?

The basic premise of the design was a single circuit running above dew point to take the edge off heatwaves. (Downstairs with the UFH that’s working a treat already). We took an active decision not to go for aircon type cooling. We don’t want wet floors so if we encompassed significant condensation on the fancoil(s) then that means a second circuit and a volumiser and, and, and…. And whilst that may be needed that’s not our first choice. We want to keep it simple, and if my arithmetic is correct we only need a little cooling. One odd aside, we’ve found that we can sleep comfortably with the MVHR induced lower humidity at higher temperatures than we could have done in our old naturally aspirated house. I’ve nicknamed the Zehnder “Life Support” but perhaps I should call it Turbo.

I’m too much of a whimp. I looked at one from Germany and apart from the unknown of import duties (thank you so much Brexit) the possible grief of maintenance worried me off of the idea. I would prefer to have a uk distributor who hopefully will carry spares for a good few years. I can dream.

Well done Nick. Will investigate.

I thought that. When I contacted them they clarified that it’s only the concealed (i.e. naked) units that can be hung from a ceiling. The briza units are a lot more attractive.

Our concern with recessed ceiling units was that we didn’t want to build in the need for loft access for maintenance. I’m creaky enough as it is let alone in 15 years time as I approach my 9th decade!

Brilliant. Thank you. I have googled and googled fan coils, fan convectors, hydronic terminals, heat pump convectors, and many other combinations and not seen them. I've had a look at their website, and it appears exactly what we need. I’ve had the same conversation repeatedly, and been met with confusion when I’ve tried to explain what we are trying to do. These guys appear to have already got it. @nikotime who are you getting a quote from?

If you think Welsh Nick is going to replace me as tea boy and cleaner you’ve got another thing coming. I’ve got a talent and I’m going to use it! One lump or two?

I know who is to blame. Little, round, bald guy with a dodgy sense of humour. He got lumbered with the labels of Principal Designer and Principal Contractor but his real talent was as Head of Global Operations for On Site Catering and Sweeping. Humph. One tries….