Mr Punter

Well spotted. Not terrible but you are paying for a proper job. Tell them to redo it. No fun onsite welding but if they priced for it they should do it properly.

If this is self build then you will probably be able to get cil exemption but be very careful as the rules can be inflexible.

Would it be possible to dig down to the foundation following the line of the vertical crack on the left to see where it starts and if the crack runs through the footing?

It is good to vent the cavity. It will allow the stone to dry and will help prevent mould.

Is this an RBM beam? Hopefully someone who knows will clarify.

Did you consider using Rockwool instead? No issues with fire risk.

I had a look at some previous posts. The current roof looks good. Why are you proposing having it stripped and replaced?

Did you get any other quotes? The quote seems to cover many issues.

This is a base level DPC. As long as it prevent water rising up the wall it has done the job. Chopping out bricks in sections just sounds silly. This is not halfway up the building where it will possibly allow water into the wall below, it is at ground level, where it will soak harmlessly into the ground.

I think you can hire a powered stair climber.

I would fold the dpc down or cut it flush with the sole plate. You can drop the battens down to cover the sole plate as long as the cladding is at least 225mm above ground level.

Umm no. If you are upstream of them, their blocked drain will cause yours to back up. If you are downstream of them (which seems to be the case) any blockage on their side will not affect you. If their drains need jetting or rodding, they would be better doing this from their side or they risk pushing the blockage further up the pipes on their side.

The main thing is that you need a DPC. It can be separate for inner and outer leaf or linked like a tray / skirt with a fall to the outside. Because the walls are already built there is not much you can do if the DPC bridges the cavity and is flat. No water will rise past your Marmox blocks unless you are doing a basement.

They will need to retain the access / inspection chamber or make alternative access / inspection points.

I notice that BBA have withdrawn their certificates for EcoBead and Thermobead and replaced them with versions that are more circumspect regarding behaviour in relation to fire. I imagine this is the case with all blown poly bead products.

Interesting. I wonder if that holds for most new build resi projects?

What is a TA? The insulation will cost about £35/m2. I am not keen on the parapet wall as they are just another weak point but maybe it is for aesthetics.

Dpc is very cheap. Damp issues are very expensive and difficult to fix. Having more than one dpc is normal.

We had Cemfloor completely level and flat with no ufh and the flooring people still did a thin coat of stuff before the lvt.

Is there any common ground where you and contractor could compromise? Even if it costs each of you ten grand it could be doable. Once you go to court the cost can really escalate.

I think this is a legal matter. The language used here is rather incendiary. "Safeguard kids", "unfettered access on their terms", the owner of the property on which the septic tank is located has grown a big old shrubbery around the F'ing thing..." etc. Shared access / driveway, rights etc. can be a real pain. Can you install your own STP and break the toxic link?

You are right. Foam is not suitable for long term exposure. It needs to be covered with some trim, like plastic, timber, metal etc or rendered. Also, most foam is not closed cell and will let water through.

Your bigger problem is that the way it is set up with the insulation and shower room it will rot out within a few years. You have a cold flat roof and there should be a continuous air gap above the insulation so that there is an easy airflow path all round. You don't have this, so any warm moist air from, say, the shower, will find its way up until it meets the cold decking and roof joists where it will condense keeping them coated in water, with no way to escape. Unless you have insulation above the decking this is a disaster.

Well, they seem to have the correct Declaration of Conformity, so fill your boots!

Well you can only play it from where it is. Do you need to obtain Building Regs, or can you just ignore it? You may be able to obtain an indemnity policy for future sales so that the buyer would not risk being pursued by building control for the breach.