scottishjohn

its all money --but how much is that view worth?? do you own the big cliff behind you ----

maybe you have to go with a proper sewage treatment system so you can discharge to a water course --then ground depth won,t be a problem ?

2 levels could make it cheaper to build and better insulation levels ,less slab to pay for a box is best shape in some ways .less roof area -heat goes up so heats upstairs. and if no height restricitons --

"old but trusty spade bit"--think thats says it alL have you sharpened it ever?--try that while waiting for new goodies# the type suggested are superior no question about it

I have a sloping site and this was first thing my architect wanted before he would even do any work on the plans

I also keep an eye on usa forum and there have been some real disasters with people using chinese non canada/usa certified MGO board http://www.greenbuildingtalk.com/Forums/tabid/53/aff/5/aft/85634/afv/topic/Default.aspx .I also agree that in this country to penny pinch and render directly on to it just asking for trouble - our climate is far to damp to be taking chances --strap it out with air gap and clad with whatever ,or render it I would say the same for OSB sips as well don,t really see any advantage in it for uk in afrcia where bugs eat everything --yes

yes it does it shows 2part sole plate with dpc under it and some sealer as well to stop water tracking inwards If anybody knows the right way --its kingspan

www.youtube.com/watch?time_continue=27&v=nv8LGunpYyo wtach the kingpsan tec video all will be clear

and ideal to use impact driver with as well

your rubber floor in gym will be too good an insulator for UFH to work well there are special radiators made for use with ASHP -winter is no problem for ASHP in uk as temps never get that low for that long ,or you would have to use twice the area of std type radiators ,as the heat level is only half as much as normal boiler. if it was me and you have mains gas--then that will always be cheapest option .

I have no experience but looks like it could be worth talking to them certainly getting your insulation levels up is paramount

vcl --goes on inside --thats the one you NEED to tape do you you mean breathable membrane for outside?,that one most systems are happy just with big overlaps and stapled down not taped ,as it has to breath not seal you need both

is this directly onto the walls ,if so that won,t work a lot of stone houses in scotland have the walls --then a gap and then a stud wall type of set-up with lathe +plaster . the gap behind stud wall goes from below ground floor up to the loft space --basically a vertical draft space which kept inner wall dry and separated from outer stone wall,which would be lime mortar and would breathe outwards knowing this detail is critical to what you can do . If it is plastered direct onto slate walls -- I don,t see an answer other than the first one of a house built inside a house in effect or another wall with insulation around the outside I suppose it is technically possible to cut out listed plaster coving with part of the wall ,cut off the old wall and refit it to the new walls --or get new look a like coving to replace it there are companies that will take moulds off your covings and make replicas .but that would not be cheap example www.plastercoving.ltd.uk/acorn-and-leaf-plaster-coving-br60mm-x-100mm---20-off-3860-p.asp

I just wish i had a stream then it would be a no brainer --hydro I have no doubt i could do a very good solar thermal ,but I,m not discounting solar PV - I am listening and thinking ,no hard and fast decisions made yet on PV but not convinced yet either , I expect some new government scheme ,otherwise for most people the equation will not be attractive enough to invest Time will tell

the new plots are on side of big hill so only angle that would be impeded at all is to the east south+west have no restrictions to horizon all day and will get last of sun,as ground to the west drops off 100ft+ to sea level so maybe a simple fixed s/w array or split south +west will delve into more once I,m on the plot building and can take actual real world sightings for all parts of day

just remember if you want to do alli or s/s you need a/c not dc and argon gas if not stick welding

so conclusion from those numbers is basically NO only dec+jan fractionally better --rest well down

what you using invertor TIG and s/s ? like gas welding with much more control you can go as quick or slow as you like with TIG mig you gotta lay metal down all the time

does it show more in winter than optimal orientation

and foam backed plasterboard is very good for sound insulation -- or that is what i found when fitting it on top of original plaster board --and that was 32mm --not mega thick was to better insulate outside walls --but very noticeable the drop in sound from outside

has there been any proper survey on advantage of sun tracking panels -presuming ground is suitable with a ground array it could be quite easy i to have a swing from se through south to sw

I bought the expensive fancy pliers/crimpers www.belmoretools.co.uk/acatalog/Heavy_Duty_Crimping_Tool.html to fix the these metal studs together on a job i did --bends things to make them fixed together not impressed with them --would use pop rivets next time --or if in work would use spot welder . lol once drywall is on -it don,t matter anyway

how do PV paenls work hung vertically on side of house I know a man in denmark with solar thermal and he does that to limit summer outputand get max in winter would it worrk same with PV if so that may work for quite few folk

don,t know if its possible -- it sounds like lathe +plaster -- and lime mortared walls will breathe outwards could it be foam filled behind it which might also make it a VCL someone else will say if this works or not

If house is old +leaky do you have rooms big enough to make new insulated walls inside old ones and drop your heat requirements big time concentrate on getting fabric of building right and energy requirements will plummet making all your other choices much easier and cost to run a fraction of what it will be now fabric of building first --always and if trying to run off grid it is paramount to your goal can you afford to loose 6" of room space on out side walls , then mega insulation in loft space you could also wrap it on outside if that is easier . non of these would as good as building to new house spec --bu just chucking energy at old house is bonkers you will need twice as much,or more and will be doing it for ever -