Mr Punter

They will often agree to extend the determination date if you suggest it.

I have done a basement on a tight site and used a combination of semi contiguous auger piles and king posts with sleepers for the temporary works. A lot of this is down to soil type. Can you get your SE to design this, or suggest someone who is experienced at this?

I have used https://www.screwfix.com/p/spax-tx-countersunk-self-drilling-flooring-screws-4-5mm-x-60mm-300-pack/88716. Glue and lay the boards a few rows at a time, then chuck in a few screws.

Regarding the proposed use, the PD guide says "A purpose incidental to a house would not, however, cover normal residential uses, such as separate self-contained accommodation or the use of an outbuilding for primary living accommodation such as a bedroom, bathroom, or kitchen."

Can you ask the staircase firm what engineer to use? It sounds like they do a fair few of these for developers so they must have worked out the simplest and most cost effective solutions. Give them a bell.

Why would anyone sell good spec functioning windows? You may get a few one-off mis measures but not a house worth. Another option could be new housing that has been condemned e.g. substandard mortar or foundations and the houses get binned and rebuilt.

You may need building regs for this, and that could dictate insulation etc. You may need to do the floor and ceiling.

You have about a mile of pipe in the floor. I don't like it when the runs back to manifold are tightly spaced. Can any of the pipes go under the walls?

I understand that the full amount is covered even if you only pay a small percentage on credit card.

That must have cost a fair bit to cut, package and send. They won't be making a profit from your order! They probably expect £1000+.

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.