ryder72

That should be possible. I haven't specified one to date

Actually the Bora is a good product at that price point and a hard one to beat. Siemens are about to launch a very similar product. I dont know anything else at this point on the pricing but expect it to undercut Bora. The problem with all of the above is that you will have only 4 cooking zones and this also applied to the Gutmann Mesa or Abajo. Both are superb products (have seen them in action) but a little bit dearer than Bora. I trust Gutmann as a manufacturer so I would quite blindly buy any Gutmann product in the knowledge that its engineering is hard to beat. I can get some pricing for your on the MEsa and Abajo if you like. PM me.

Our house is being partially rendered on the outside and it is out intention to use a thin coat render system on render board. Having done some research here are my findings- There appear to be broadly 2 options, Acrylic and Silicone. Silicone is dearer but meant to be breathable and more flexible Additives are available to inhibit algae build up Silicone is meant to be better to washdown with a low pressure jet Some of the higher end (dearer) brands like Sto insist on using their own branded renderboard, mesh and stopbeads etc but claim to offer better warranties and product suppport Others more mainstream brands like Weber, Parex, Mapei dont offer such comprehensive support and are less prescriptive for the application. The product is freely available through builders merchants, so works out a little bit cheaper. There is a school of thought that these products are cheaper for a reason, but the reasons seem to be more subjective. I am totally confused and while the render system itself is proprietary and will inevitably have minor differences, I cannot see how a product that has been around for nearly 40-50 years can have massive differences. I cannot understand how a Sto renderboard can be any different to any other. A good established brand like Knauf should be as good as any and probably offer a good saving too. Does anyone have experiences/opinions on these types of systems, products and recommended applicators?

Weigh up the numbers and if the difference is minor, get a work package. The hassle is also outsourced and may we well worth it. You also get assurance that the work package is zero rated. You dont have to cashflow the VAT. And you eliminate the risk that an item you expected to be zero rated isnt left to the whim of a VAT inspector.

I will post some pics of what we have done later today. For reference- BEtween 140 studs we have 1 layer of 70mm PIR. In front of this is fixed a 140*38mm timber between the vertical studs so we have the weight of the frame/toilet/user to atleast 3 vertical studs. In front of this will be the membrane will be a 70mm PIR layer and then 38mm studs. We will be cutting out the PIR and replacing it with more 140mm timbers fixed horizontally to the studs or previously fixed timbers ensuring there is complete timber to timber contract into which the frame will be fixed. Having looked at Nicks solution, I can see how this would have also worked if the 140mm timber went across multiple studs, but I also suspect I might not have got it past 4 studs given what else is going on in the bathroom Thanks very much for your help guys.

The former is on the ground floor (concrette slab) and the latter on the first floor (chipboard). I am paranoid of formed screed wetrooms so preference if to use a wetroom former of some description.

Thank you Nick. I think our proposed solution would meet all of the above criteria.

Trade secret - Trend is the same thing as Mereway. Basically Mereway is available only to displaying dealers and the manufacturers provide some exclusivity in trading areas. Trend is available to anyone who wishes to sell it on a non-exclusive basis. The range is also slightly limited. Unless you are looking for something special, its a good option. Mereway will not point you to a Trend retailer unfortunately but if you could PM me your location, I know a couple I could point you towards. I dont do bedrooms myself, so nothing in it for me.

Bespoke can mean 2 things- A company makes doors in many sizes and they arrange a combination to get as near to the size as possible and then infill the rest. This is not really bespoke. A company measures your alcove and gets doors measured to whatever sizes you require. The latter is usually going to be more expensive. In any case, Sharps are the rump of the now defunct Moben/Dolphin/Sharps operation with all the ethics and integrity of Tony Blair and Donald Trump rolled into one. See if you can find a Trend/Mereway or Crown retailer locally and get them to quote. Its probably the best no-nonsense product you will find for sensible money.

Further update- Ampatex distributors have confirmed the the installation is correct in the context of the type of roof build up. The issue of sealing tape will be addressed with a liquid applied system they offer. Thanks for your help Jeremy.

I couldnt either. I suspect the membrane is air tight both ways but vapour permeable one way and I suspect that would be smooth side to rough side to allow moisture to trickle out but on in when installed smooth side in.

Jeremy thats a very good point I hadnt thought of. I dont know why they have done it how they have done it but it clearly looks like a problem. Do you know what the moisture and air transmission properties of this membrane are?

The joints have been taped on the smooth side so there is no issue with the taping. Its just a question of whether the right side is facing into the room and right now I think its not. http://www.ampack.eu/fileadmin/user_upload/ampack/00_Produktdaten/Bahnen/Ampatex_DB90/Datenblaetter/Data_sheet_Ampatex_DB90_lr_EU.pdf

Our house has a flat roof construction with the following build up- Open web joists Airtightness membrane 18mm OSB deck Vapour control layer Tapered PIR insulation 150-350mm thick Single ply fleecebacked EPDM membrane The airtightness membrane used is a mixture of Siga and Ampatex DB90. The Ampatex membrane has been installed with the smooth printed side facing the OSB deck and the rough side facing into the house. Ampatex DB90 data sheet instructions indicate that the membrane should be installed with the smooth printed side facing into the house. Does anyone have an opinion on whether this is correctly done? By the strict letter of the installation

Recirculation extraction will not affect MVHR system. Extracted systems will hence the move to a recirculation option.

Elica sit in a different market to the likes of Bora and Gutmann. Its a very mainstream product mainly around products designed to a price with inevitable compromises that go with it. Gutmann/Bora are more the lets make it correctly and then price it. No its just assembled as one. You can buy their hob components seperately if required but them used with the hood, they go in a sort of frame. The advantage is that a lot of components end up with little gaps between then. Of course this is more an aesthetic thing and nothing to do with function. Yes its a good price point. The reason I have not chosen to get involved with that particular product is that most clients at that sort of price point want 5/6 zone hobs and of course the Bora is a 4 zone hob. Its a neat little package though.

JSHarris - that is a very good point. For me the most disappointing aspect has been feeling very let down by someone who I felt could be trusted to deliver a quality job. My feeling is that they have taken on a style of house (and it isnt the Sydney Opera house or the Eden project) they were lacking the competence and ability to execute and its gone from one bodge to another.

Jack/Declan52 -thanks for your inputs.

Yes. Agreed. Hence why I said, me too. With extraction, I have always trusted Gutmann. Bora is an impressive product and well engineered but what I have seen of Gutmann is a bit better for less money. Interestingly, Gutmann is owned by Elica but run independently.

The Gutmann solution is very bespoke starting from a 2 zone induction hob, wok or teppanyaki with a hood to 2 zone with 1 hood to 3 zone with 2 hoods offering a very large number of combinations. If you have anything specific in mind let me know. All said, its cheaper than Bora. I get your point. A manufacturer is entitled to maintain its brand image and the best case in point is an iPhone which is never discounted and tightly price controlled. I never hear any complains to that effect. That Elica product is a me-too productmade by Faber. You will soon see a Siemens and Miele lookalike. I am not saying who makes them

I have attached two more photos showing rather large gaps (as much as 8-10mm) which I assume are not acceptable either? The proposal was to foam fill them. Is that acceptable or should every piece be carefully measured and cut to suit? I am so glad I notice the original bodge. This has opened another can of worms.

Yes agreed and that has been a consistent weakness.

Granted that blown cellulose will most likely eliminate any voids but there is surely a proper way to fit PIR insulation.

What you are seeing is the outer layer. The inner layer is better. NO idea. It didn't make sense to me.

Multiple questions have been asked lately about various extraction options. I have also seen some questions about Bora questions. I thought I had decided the extractor hood for my own house, but recent discussions with various members particularly JSHarris forced me to seriously reconsider by line of thinking and look into other options. I have generally not been a fan of downdraft hoods due to their limited ability to extract odours and grease once its escaped the local extraction zone. This limitation applies in both extraction and recirculation mode. Ceiling recessed units are very effective in extraction mode provided ducting is correctly installed but if limited ability in recirculation mode. Inline downdraft hoods have really taken off recently, a segment pioneered by a German company called Bora. Hoods made by Bora have been discussed on this forum do I decided to investigate. This style of extraction has taken off in the past 18-24 months and a number of manufacturers have brought out new products. My investigation revealed that products from a number of major brands (I wont be revealing brands here for obvious reasons) are all contract manufactured and a clear case of jumping on the bandwagon. Bora make a great product. I must admit I am partial to a brand called Gutmann, a very high quality extraction specialist. Gutmann hoods are all handmade, uncompromising and very reliable products. A visit to their facility to investigate and carry out some real life cooking in recirculation mode has left me without any doubt of the suitability of the product for my house. The range is quite flexible and bespoke and one is able to configure it into a grid, manufactured to order. The most impressive aspect was a lifelong recirculation cartridge that can be regenerated in an hour in an oven at 200 degrees at a frequency of between 6-18 months depending on use. Gutmann claim 88% odour extraction efficiency and 98% grease extraction efficiency. Most importantly, I had sight of independent tests that revealed that Gutmann hoods are able to draw air into the hood at speeds of up to 5.7m/s, about 35% greater than their nearest competitor. Happy to answer any questions.