jamiehamy

Hi all, We are building the internal walls at the moment and at the point I need to finalise the internal rough openings for the doors. We are going with 826 doors as per our architect spec (I know, I can hear you already!) - I just wanted to check before I put these in what people would size them at. The lining is 18mm, so 36mm total - plus 2mm on either side? So that would give 866 - however I've seen elsewhere some suggesting as big as 900mm opening and shim later. I understand the logic but 900mm seems OTT - but wondered what people on here do for this? 880mm to give plenty room for maneuver later? Thanks, Jamie

Same here.

I agree - if you want fairly standard uPVC or timber windows, then there are plenty made in the UK, but for timber AluClad to the u-value we were looking for, I wasn't aware of any UK companies doing this - once you dug down you found most of the components were made elsewhere.

So, just over 5 months since the first windows arrived, the replacement glass for the largest unit arrived today, having come from abroad. It had originally been supplied wrongly with Solar Glazing which was not specced and made the glass look blue when no other windows on that elevation had that tint. I had a quick check before it came off the truck to make sure the spacer bars were the right colour. Once it was off I could see a dusty material lying in the glazing gap. I phoned the window company having emailed this pic and was told the unit was failed and couldn't be fitted. We are still waiting on the glass to be taken out of all the units and fitted with security tape and a new set of French doors to come in January, as well as the alu cladding to be replaced on two that don't match the rest (which, are actually ALL the wrong colour). Glass left 20 mins later and I'm meeting the MD of the window company tomorrow. I'll see if we can resolve this amicably but I took legal advise this morning so let's see how it pans out. Where will it end - and more importantly - when?! Unreal. I'm only being kept from getting too angry by the state of the world elsewhere which does put our problems into perspective.

You said it - trivial. I'm picking my battles and this padticular battle is not worth winning. All will be told one day.

We installed them ourselves - I put a double bead of clear Sikaflex and brought them together. The coupling panel was actually a cover/joint panel to go down the gap - but despite it being in the tech drawing, it would have looked odd. However, there is a gap between the alu framing where you can see the timber beneath and that annoys me. However in the grand scheme of our windows, this is fairly low down the list. 5months since the first arrived, at least another month to go before they are anywhere near what they should be.

We had the same with ours - tech drawings show a coupling panel but supplier say not required. I wasn't satisfied with that but what can I do?

Ikea do?

My internet was going slow and stopped, started then stopped again before resuming. In that short time all i heard was 'cut 9 inch'.. Did I take that too far?

We had to ditch most of the PiR seconds we got - there were about 5 different types of board and countless thicknesses for our nearly flat roof. Would never use again for anything where it was contributing to a surface that had to be flat.

I found a credit card that did money transfers (Barclaycard) at only 2.9% and no interest for 18months. That's come in useful a few times, esp since I got the credit limit at 22k! Much cheaper than any loan and very helpful for short term funding.

When i was looking at windows, I paid close attention to the payment terms - many were around 25% deposit and, 65% on delivery and the remaining 10% when fitted. I was always brought up never to pay fully in advance and thank goodness I stuck to my guns - 5 months later the issues are far from resolved. In this instance, the window company didn't have the option to pay by card so the 15% deposit was not protected per se. If we had paid the remaining 13k or so on delivery, we probably have ended up in court. It's a bit of give and take - I get the other side but ultimately, the risk has to be shared but I would never pay for something upfront ever.

Is putting an 'S' in the visible part pipe moving the valve out from the wall but lowering the radiator slightly not an option? I'm assuming from needing a plumbe that the system is pressurised now?

Critical. We swapped architects when we changed project - having him a 15min drive from us and the site made a huge difference. Lot easier to have face to face meetings that I think were critical in building the relationship.. Previous one was a good while away from us and the site and I found it a pain trying to coordinate visits - and being charged for each.

I will correct you there - the markets drove the value of Sterling down. We shouldn't really perpetuate something that blames people incorrectly.

@Grosey - pretty sure this is the light oak - we ordered a single board and put what we could up.

Yup

Tresta Pure is lovely, with a lovely price to go. I think we got a Marlay light oak full board and really didn't like it - having a bigger area changed how it looked compared to a sample. Will try dig out pics when I get home.

From a different angle. They do a charcoal colour I think (on phone at airport just now)

We've used Duraclad, and quite happy with it.

Vijay , wouldn't you just put the radon barrier up one more course of icf? Ours was slightly different as we're building inside a tank but we brought the dpm up to the next course above the concrete topping. I wouldn't put it across the concrete tho for reason you give.

Please do

Question is - did he get on the ridge using the ladder?!

Always worth trying tho. Jet floor wouldn't quote, said they wouldn't be competitive but eventually I persuaded them - they weren't that far off either.

And therein lies the fundamental problem with our economy - exposed but not created by the Brexit vote. When will governments wake up and realise that really, as an economy, we cannot sustain such a trade deficit? My brother works for a company that sells the products here but virtually everything is imported from the EU - never mind the risks associated with inevitable exchange rate fluctuations but sale of these goods contributes next to nothing to our economy. Bonkers. I won't go any further but for as long as your example is the case for anything we build or sell in the UK, our economy will never grow properly. I have tried to source from the UK but it's pointless - even Russell Timber Tech don't even make their windows in Glasgow - they get them from elsewhere in the EU - only the doors are made here. I know my ICf blocks used to be made in England but for one reason of another, they are produced in Czech. Depressing.