JohnnyB

Ok, I'll leave the MVHR until the dust has settled. I've been opening windows slightly when it hasn't been raining during the day and there is a lot less moisture on the windows now and mostly on the glass, not much on the frames and only when it gets cold overnight. I've left the dehumidfier running all the time and still trying to keep it warm inside and the air moving with fan heaters on when the windows are closed. Thanks for the advice. I sweep up the dust from chasing out the walls for electric cable in our first house with a brand new Dyson DC2. It didn't destroy the motor but I did cut out, I sassumed it overheated and the safety cut out did it's job. I think I had to change the filters but it kept working for many more years. I did learn the lesson and use workshop extractors after that!

I was going to get it switched on ASAP to help dry the house out, what are the problems with switching it on early? I thought it was in the paperwork with the MVHR unit that I read the suggestion to run it on full fan to help the house dry out. The house is slowly getting sealed up, I'm not getting much air movement and there is a lot of moisture inside. I did open the windows at the weekend as the weather was good and that seemed to help a lot but i didn't want to do that when it feels wetter outside than it does in. There are other things I would rather be working on thatn the MVHR so I can leave it until I have finished creating dust, but that is a long way off and we will be living in some parts before I have finished.

I hadn't thought about dust getting into the heat exchanger, does it create many issues? It is still very dusty around the house and it's going to be a long while before I stop producing dust but I really need to get the house dried out. Where do you find cone filters @JohnMo

OK thanks, I'll carry on with the insulation and get the MVHR running ASAP. I was wondering if others have experienced the same. I've already got a dehumidfier running upstairs 24/7 and the loft has enough ventilation to dry out any moisture going up there.

Yesterday I was drilling holes in the ceiling for the MVHR vent points and found there is quite a bit of moisture trapped just below the vapour barrier, between the plasterboard and VB. I realise this is what the VB is supposed to do but I'm wondering if seeing moisture trapped and the back of the PB being damp is normal a few weeks after the plaster was put on and the ceiling looks dry inside? The plasterers have only just finished but the upstairs ceilings were plastered a few weeks ago. I was intending to put the first layer of loft roll down this weekend and put the MVHR pipes in to help dry the house out but now I have seen the moisture I'm wondering if this is normal and will dry out from inside the house as the plaster dries fully, or if I need to leave the loft roll wrapped up for now and possibly split the VB in areas to let it dry out and then tape up the splits with airtight tape once it is dry? I have used Steico Multimembra5 above most of the ceilings which I believe should let some moisture through slowly, but above the bathrooms I used a green plastic VB from the local builders merchant. The plaster on the ceilings is onecoat at about 8mm thick, not multifinish, and that must mean more moisture in the plaster than normal.

I am still available tomorrow evening but will have more time between christmas and the 5th Jan.

I'm free on the 11th at the moment.

Are we on for this Thursday, probably today by the time anyone reads this? If so are we meeting at the Cherry Tree and at what time?

If only I had the time I'd love to!! oh, I've never played cricket so I'm not sure that would go too well. Plus one for visiting another build

Anything for an evening out and escape the build site sounds like a good plan at the moment😁

Yes, we watched it last week. It was interesting to see someone else using. I would be interested to know who their structural engineer was as the frame looked a lot less complicated than ours was.

I used Miktec in Stowmarket. Mik was very helpful and has done several of his own builds in the past.

No, but it looks great having those huge oak beams standing there on their own

That doesn't sound boring, the frame going up is exciting, or it was for us. I'd like to see your your oak frame before it is too covered over, maybe I can make time for a trip to Woodbridge then head up the A12 to IP17 next week. Wow, that sounds quite a while on one house, how many in the team? I don't have the front and back doors in their frames yet so still have a gale blowing through the house.

Thanks Alan, great to meet up with a few fellow self builders again and looking forward to the next one. I would be interested to visit your build, as I'm sure others would be too, and I would like to see how @G and J is getting on.

I wouldn't make it either if it wasn't at mine, the plasterer didn't leave until nearly 6. You are welcome to come round another time and take a look if you want to @zzPaulzz, or anyone else.

If we meet at Battisford Cricket Club at 6.30 on Thursday that is close to site, unless people want a drink before heading to site. Now it is getting dark reasonably early and I don't have lights yet it is noticably dark inside fairly early, I think by 7.30, but it does look like it will be a brighter day so that will help. We can then head to the Punch Bowl afterwards, it is about 1.5 miles away. I don't think they serve food on a Thursday evening. If 6.30 is too early for some we are close to the cricket club and would be easy to find, I can more details to anyone who might need it.

You'll feel at home on Thursday 🤣

Yes, the 18th works, lets go for that.

The 4th September doesn't work for me and I expect I will be very busy on the 11th as we will have just come back from a few days away. Other than that it is when it works best for others to head over.

This week is OK for me, but equally happy to wait a few weeks if that is better for all.

I'm free on the 22nd or the 28th. Most weeks are ok for me, but not the 4th September.

You could visit our site. The slate roof won't quite be finished next week but it will the week after and we should be fitting the windows the week commencing the 25th. There's very little plasterboard up yet but most of the sevices are in so there is quite a bit to see. The closest pub is Battisford Punch Bowl, in the next village. It is a community pub, run by local people, and I've been told it is good but I've not yet visited.

That is what I would suggest. It will be the cheapest option, you only need them for a short while, and they will be used to the machine. Whether you can get one to commit to a time in advance at this time of year is another matter.

My HP has integral pump but it will be several metres away from the house with about 15 metres of F&R pipework and I have been told I will need a second pump indoors to pump the water around the UFH. The pump on the HP isn't large enough to do everything. The HP has a minimum water content of 30 ltrs so a 50 ltr buffer/volumiser is large enough to satisfy that requirement. Whether it will be enough to stop short cycling I don't know, I haven't asked that question. I don't intend to run it all the time when it is just the bathrooms where we want a warm floor, I intend to run it on a program so the floor is warm morning and evening when we are showering. Running for a few hours each day I'm not expecting it to be an issue.