jamiehamy

Weird - looks like there's a quote I never said! What's going on?!

I got the door linings and stops from a timber merchant - these were cut to fit 95x45 +12mm +12mm. They are primed MDF and fit perfectly. I've not ordered the architrave yet but will be using MDF as well. The timber merchant was pretty helpful and they cut the linings to a rough size for me and ripped the depth which is a perfect fit. They have been sat in the house for 6months and all nice and straight :-) which I suppose you would expect from MDF?

We're very similar to you then. And about to order in next few days!

As Peter said, none really. But don't feel tempted to put any salt down if you are doing any work in a frost! Don't think that would react well! (we used to do work in winter with hard frosts. Bloody mad we were! We wore clip on things to stop us sliding).

Not an option but opinion - I'd probably chip out the concrete 20mm - shouldn't be too tricky - slice with a Stihl or grinder with diamond blade (have someone vacuum as you go and possibly spray water on) and then use an SDS on hammer with a wide chisel tip to chip it all out. Presumably your frame will be around 100mm depth?

Sounds good! Plaster boarding is pretty rewarding as you say, you really start to get a feel for rooms. We got a bit inventive for our lightwell and staircase and built out a temporary platform. Might be an option?

That's absolutely rotten. It might not necessarily make a huge difference, but worth contacting your MP to see if they can do anything when it comes to paying creditors even if just raise the profile of your case with 'someone'? We bought from Wren - I'd highly recommend - and ended up taking their finance deal which is interest free until next year - suited us as it keeps this years cash for other things. I quizzed them a lot on it - aside from deposit (Which we put on credit card), the finance doesn't kick in until the kitchen is delivered and we've signed to say we were happy. It worked like clockwork (as did everything with Wren tbh), and two days after taking delivery, we got a note through from the finance company that the finance had started. We ordered in March and finance didn't start until mid-May. Hope that maybe helps in terms of a possible option? For any other future self builders, it's something worth starting well in advance of anything - build up a portfolio of credit cards and get decent credit limits on them - can prove very useful.

That's awful - and agree on lack of screws, although our plasterer had a good chuckle at how many we put in - says 'o fooking chance that'll move' when skimming. You can see how many screws we put in here.

Although I've no idea how they will get the mini diggers down!

I would have thought progress would have been more given that they started in April - but it's a pretty tough site. Looks like they came up with the same solution as us - the 360degree telehandler with crane jib - a very versatile piece of kit.

"Changing the planning process would be the best way to improve housing supply. It should not be politically affected." My view in a nutshell.

Agree - upstairs hall is going to be fantastic! Fingers crossed to hit the target dare - we're hoping to have a Temporary Habitation cert by then - with garage and drive the main items to finish.

So I really don't like coffee. Never have. Except we have a coffee machine (Sage) and I make a Latte most mornings. I only ever source coffee that has been freshly roasted and not too dark. Makes a coffee that tastes like it smells rather than bitter and burnt or just like coffee flavoured milk. There are two roasting houses withing walking distance of Glasgow Central station - (Dear Green and Gordon Street Coffee Roasters). I bought some freshly roasted beans at Borough Market last week and it was lovely (Ethiopian) too. Contrast that to the times we tried supermarket beans - with no roasting date - never expressed properly and pretty nasty. Find a proper artisan coffee shop, try them out then buy the beans. It's time and money well spent!

Don't think they will work here but maybe helpful for others in future - we placed the wallplates when we poured the ICF with concrete. I had predrilled and fitted the bolts into the timber (think we used 6x2), was a case of laying on, levelling, pushing the bolts down, wiggling about, some taps with a hammer to ensure concrete encased the bolt, then tightening bolts when the concrete had gone off. Was strangely satisfying actually! https://www.roofingsuperstore.co.uk/product/roofing-hook-bolt-150mm-including-nut-boxes-of-100.html

I used these guys and Permaroof Shop. Both very helpful and know their stuff.

I'll get a pic when I can but the rubber laps down to the fascia - and there is a trim nailed in which catches the rubber and guides the runoff into the gutter. It's a nice mechanical fix right round the perimeter.

Our roof has a 5 degree pitch. Joists, 18mm t&g osb, Elotene foil faced self adhesive VCL, 150mm Kingspan (can't remember which) stuck down and EPDM contact adhered to that. It's all there 18months later as good as the day it was laid :-)

As Crofter said, read in detail the Local Development plan pertaining to the area. In particular, look for the parts that imply you can or build or develop it. Once you've done that,then look for areas of the document that support it being developed. Do a balanced assessment. Ultimately, the planners have to assess against their local development plan in the first instance. You should always find sections that will show what's possible and what's not. For example, renovating or converting Disused buildings....which are in an AONB. You could find that there is no section that relates to the building you are looking at, in which case it's a grey area and you have to consider what other sections could apply if there was leeway. In our case we wanted to convert a disused water tank (brownfield site) in a regional park. No area of the LDP actually covered this so we had to look at other sections which suggested the principle was sound but not covered specifically. It was on that basis we submitted an application. Had it been refused there would have been a good case for appeal but planners we on board and realised this because I met them and discussed it.

Very well put!

It's a very important point and one we've experienced now we're in the final furlong. We were really struggling to make head way on paint. We popped into Farrow and Ball on Great Western Road purely by chance and walked out £195 lighter having paid for a 'ColourConsultation',something you'd never catch me doing. What sold it? When he said 'It might not be for everyone but could save your marriage'. I looked at my other half and we both laughed - and we signed up. It was money well spent. It's much much easier to agree when you have someone knowledgeable who can address the technical side of the debate confidently - like 'no, that grey is the wrong base tone for that blue' - we don't argue, just accept and carry on. We have the full house planned now after a 1hr 30mins session. We're not sure about two but the good thing is,we got there quicker and never fell out. Tiles were tricky as we did that ourselves - round in many circles!

Hmm, that's a bummer. I reckon that's the cause. That grinder looks like what you need. Not used one but far better than handheld. Is a pourable self levelling compound an option here I wonder? @Nickfromwalesthe area is probably too big? Would be far easier and cleaner and quicker?

Sorry - if over two days then if it's two areas, see if they match where the pour started on each day.

Hmm, if it was one area only, I would suggest that the pump crew did not dispose of the priming cement before pouring the concrete. When we were getting our pump done, I watched out for this and noticed that they were poised to fire the priming/hose grout cement in the walls until I told them to aim it over the side until the corner concrete came through. This would mean you have a small area of fairly weak mix of cement mixed with concrete rather than the spec mix. Not sure if it's this in your case tho.

How big an area? Was it pumped in?

We didn't. No plans to sell but didn't want the hassle of box tickers that add little value if you're doing it right in the first place.