Mr Punter

Try Knauf Soundshield Plus as it is also tougher / harder and holds fixings better. They recommend it for schools etc. Out dryliners used it so I don't suppose they paid over the odds v. normal DB board.

With the balcony, look carefully at floor levels as you will need insulation and this will probably need to be a warm roof construction, so a step up onto the balcony. Also as others have said, look at making the balcony 2.6m deep and give the 900mm to the bedroom. It is not much of a technical challenge. I really liked the roof lights to the balcony in your inspiration house. Any chance if you post more plans you can upload pdfs? It is quite hard to see otherwise.

But well done for soldiering on. Follow what SIG say to the letter. If you are not sure what is specified, bat it back to them.

That is good as the rubber membrane looked fine, just the detailing and drainage. I imagine that just removing the build up as you have will halt the water ingress.

It is looking better with each iteration. I would lose the back door and have this in the living area - maybe bifolds or sliding. Extend the worktop and return a short 900mm deep peninsula so you can still have the breakfast bar. The kitchen units backing onto the internal wall are likely to be tall - fridge / oven / larder type. Perhaps make the dining area slightly bigger.

How far have you taken this down? Is the membrane under the stuff we can see?

Take note @Onoff!

Perhaps you can do an application showing the extent of the existing building plus PD dotted overlaying the replacement dwelling scheme, so it can be seen that the replacement is a similar scale, massing etc.

The upstairs rooms will look mean unless they are 4.0m wide. What is the upstairs corridor for? Family bathroom looks wrong. Can you show adjacent ground level on elevations and sections? Lose the extra furniture in the bedrooms as it is distracting (beds, bedside cabinets and built-in cupboards only).

Siniat Bluclad has standard installation details and BBA cert with Weber renders. I have used it with the Weber but we just used Weber LAC - mesh coat and top coat - sponge finished then masonry paint. No cracks or customer complaints after 8 years.

If you want to keep the brickwork exposed there is not much you can do. If not you could use insulated plasterboard.

Most planning depts are understaffed and underfunded. Round here they charge for pre app opinions. I can really understand your frustration. An outline application will probably take the same time to determine as full. Also, in some instances, they will only entertain a full application.

Four days work? What was the risk? You can have a ground bearing slab with no airflow at all, so what is going to happen with B & B with a slightly restricted flow?

If there is still a gap and you have air bricks on all sides I would not worry. They should still be fairly OK at the ends, just narrow in the middle. If you had to do this again, what would you do?

OK. Make sure you specify the max deflection must not exceed 8mm or 0.002 x span. The standard is 12mm which can feel a bit bouncy. 2 stairs?

I am helping from afar by focusing all my thoughts on its death.

At least you wont get people trying to wheel shopping trolleys along there.

What was the difference in cost between the replacement windows and the ones you are arguing about?

Built in.

Just ask for replacement panels. Probably much simpler to do before installation. No sure why there should be a difference in shading. Is this low iron glass?

Yet another superb self build. You could get some temporary downpipe -which is a clear polythene tube - and cable tie between the gutter outlets and the gulleys to keep the rain away from the building.

Tarmac.. yawn Fence.. zzz Hedge... whatever Stairs... Just beautiful!

This is all so dependant on the design of the ground floor walls as you will need something load bearing for a 9.4m span or steel supports. Maybe best to get the plot sorted, then a design for the house, then think about how best to build it. Dormers will be far better for your resale value or even a 1 1/2 storey.

Our extractor is noisy on full and I am now considering having the fan remotely mounted in the plant room above and just using the shell of the hood for grease filtering. I only like ducted.

I have only done one MVHR and it did not have any filters in the room vents or extracts - just on the main unit. Have you been having barbecues in the bathroom?