jamiehamy

I thought about that after posting. Keep quiet to any of the authorities about a garage, make a turning circle your solution and hope bc is happy Def an option anyway!

How about you put a 'turning area' in as cheaply as possible. Then once you're signed off, build your garage on this prepped area..! Thinking about it, I'd do that. Just play the game a bit.

As per @JSHarrisHave you been down to your local station for a chat? This will have been completed very likely by a form filler. I've never met an unreasonable fireman, I'd be interested if you showed that response to the station chief what the response would be. In effect, its saying that in the extremely unlikely event of a fire, after the event, a fireman can't reverse his truck. Its I think what's called 'gold plating requirements'. You have to install a sprinkler to save someone having to reverse. There must be other options!

Ah! Excellent point @ProDave! We've mulled one or two beds. Was swaying to one, but I do very much take on your point. We want it to be small enough we don't attract - party guests... To be polite. I have some friends that whilst lovely, would never want t hem as neighbours even for a week! Regarding retirement, probably worth saying we'd like to retire much earlier if possible,or at least,part time working. Once we got older, we did actually discuss whether, years down the line, we move into and sell the big house. Really interesting thoughts. BR exemption isn't a deal breaker, just a bonus.

Thanks folks - interesting! Rich will message you shortly. Have done some research this morning - we are inspired for this idea of high quality self catering as I say by @Crofter, having stayed on Eigg (Sweeney's Bothy) and recently on Harris in a stunning self catering house. So figured we may offer something similar here - Largs is a perfect base for tourists - there are ferries for Arran, to Bute, to Cumbrae (Millport) and to Argyll all within a 20minute drive. You have Ayr, Prestwick, Turnberry Golf Courses down the coast. Loch Lomond and the Trossachs are not far. You have the Arrochar Alps within an hour, the Country Park starts in the back garden. Largs is a nice place to spend time as well. So overall, it seems logical there *may* be demand for a nice, high quality self catering house. So I looked on AirBNB, Booking and Visit Scotland (which uses both the aforementioned + others). And found not a single place offering what we would. There are some hotels locally - a couple of good ones - plenty of old fashioned Guest Houses, and LOADS of - to me anyway - rather horrid offerings where people have turned their bog standard 1 or two bedroom apartment into a holiday offering. But no self contained, modern and dedicated tourist accomodation. None I would ever stay in. I've looked at the local plan - oh how I remember that well - I'll need to meet planning because like last time, we're in the Country Park but that doesn't neccessarily rule out development. Will be tricky, but I see some opportunities. Interesting around the RHI stuff. We are fully electric and I'll be honest, hating the bills - I like a warm house. That said, I did again do a quick look at ASHP and some other options and remembers why I ruled it out at the time - large capital outlay we didn't have. But I digress! ANy issues building on top of a garage? Would need to be well sound insulated - not sure what requirements there would be for Fire? It's a sheet metal decking roof - the undersode will eventually be insulated with rockwool, with battens and plasterboard.

Thanks @Crofter. I've started looking at the local market. We're just outside Largs which is a popular tourist place in summer, 3 marinas within 10miles, airport 40mins and the whole of the Clyde, Argyll and the west of Scotland with all its delights on the doorstep! In terms of going BC exempt, I think I've seen what you and others have done and like the idea - potentially a cost saving on architect fees/bc fees etc. It will also help keep the design more simple I think, we'd be building it ourselves. There is also an element of the 'doing it that way because we can'. I like that, I'll admit! Let wise, we are always flexible and can work from home when needed, which is good. Theoretically there could be a market for some sort of longer term let due to the power station (esp when they start decommissioning) - friends did similar and often had pilots stay for 6 months (they were next to the airport) . Tonight is the first time I've given serious thought to his idea - previously we'd thought of buying land on the west coast and having our own wee holiday home we could rent when not there. Second home style... But I do have concerns on various levels, not least being a poor neighbour! It's not a great model for Scotland or communities so think I've talked myself out of that!

Hi all, Been laid up feeling sorry for myself with a cold or something. Fed up with job and wondering what the next project should be. At the back of my mind I've always thought we could build on top of the garage and now I'm seriously thinking of it. Would like to hear thoughts. I've got nothing firm other than the below: Garage roof is reinforced concrete and was rated at 10kN loading by design. Area is approx 7m x 11m Walls are 250mm reinforced concrete Thinking we could build a single bed apartment on it. With a view to a retirement income, we could build to a high spec as per a few of the folks in here and let it out. I've not done detailed study of the Local Plan yet so clearly absolute condition on that. Would be single storey with same pitch roof as main house (5degrees I think) to keep a low profile,possibly sharing the drive or steps from layby with option of wheelchair access using the main drive as required. Could I build it such that BC regs do not apply? I could use icf, would be really easy but permenent. If I did timber framed, could I build it in two sections such that it could be craned off if needed? The thinking behind it is as much around trying to generate an income that could support us in retirement as much as anything else. We have no plans moving so making an assumption we will be here when we retire. I've attached pic of garage. As you can see, driveway is not finished - if I was going to attempt something like this, I would try incorporate 'things' into the drive, like possible soil drainage to the existing outlet (water run) possibly different levels to support true level threshold and disabled access, maybe prefab concrete steps up the side(assumption is entrance from this side) Thanks, Jamie

Er, I did the floor last on all mine! Didn't want it being made a mess during the works! I missed THE August episode!

Has he even started the floor yet? A good 6months still to go...?

A few months? Even then it's hard to notice. I'm referring to our shower tray, which gets daily use, other areas I have used have never been bleached and have been down for a year. I'll try get some pics tonight if my brain remembers!

I was actually going to add that ours goes back to white with a spray of Flash with bleach. Barely needs scrubbed, but yes, it does yellow ever so slightly.

What's the difference between sanitary silicon and CT1? I'll never use anything else now, sets very solid and takes bleach like a hero! Do you want best look or function?

History in the making!

Mine is secured with the stipulated 5nos. M18x160mm anchor bolts per side. 'swinging' on a gear box is more likely to disturb the vehicle on the arms and not going to make the slightest difference to the security of the posts. For something that takes 2t per side, if an 80kg human can pull it from the ground then I'd say you'd be lucky not to already have been flattened!

Single phase ?

Hmmm, so the water inside the light well will come from... Where? If from the sky only, then is there an option to put some form of roof? Or if from the ground through and inlet, which if I read correctly is right, then there will be tanking options available I think. It's actuary something I need to do for our garage before we backfill. I didn't out in a water bar for various reasons, and will want to tank externally, but the main challenge is finding a reliable tanking method compatible with our XPS ICF walls. Paint of solutions from the likes of Alchimica won't work, so will need a combination. That's still an option for you I would imagine? With close attention to detail and care AFTER the install, no reason you can't get water tight. My comments on strength of wall were based on a worst case scenario where the pump failed (whilst in holiday) and the lightwell filled substantially. I don't doubt its likely to be strong enough but might be worth doing some calcs to be sure? Worst case, which is a valid scanario, there could be 3m water in there with sfonfococant lateral/hydrostatic pressure. I'll be completely honest, were it me (which in a way it is because of my backfilled semi undergoing garage) I'd consider tanking the basement from the inside too (if you're not already planning) . You are reliant in the water bar working 100%. I know its easy for me to say but I think it's worth suggesting and considering?

It's not water tight?! Plyd is the join strong enough should the pump fail and water gather?

Just read the other threads on the matter here and you'll be fine. We submitted ours a few weeks ago. Immediately got a query back saying we did the wrong form (we did new build not conversion). We've gone back quoting their own guidelines and hope they agree. It can't be a conversion with no floor, walls, doors windows or roof!

I'd be tempted to peel the dpm/membrane back and run a decent bead of clear ct1 along the full length where it meets the window (dry it and clear all dust/debris). With your finger, run along it and make sure its pushed right down into the concrete. That should provide some respite, however the main issue appears to be the fact there's a vertical dpc but nothing to stop water travelling horizontally, hence your issue. The above will go someway to help but you need to get the edge of the membrane sealed properly. Possibly then get rubbery mastic and paint it thick over the concrete and embed the rubber down onto it. On the inside where I could see foam under the window, I'd be tempted to push that in under the window/compress it, and again, a good bead of ct1. I did that there for an almost identical issue. Never leaked again even in driving rain. (I should add, I had this issue twice both at the level thresholds)

I nailed mine first as per diagram. Then coach bolted. Difference was noticeable. No reason why not other than services as mentioned. Belt N braces.

Is that the gap at both ends or one? Could get a Rolled Steel Angle fabricated and coach bolted into the timber? Would ensure the down force is almost unchanged rather than bolting in timbers which I doubt would be acceptable.

The plasterboard one is on the left. As you can see, we still have some painting to do. ?

Hi @Onoff @Tennentslager @Weebles! I'm here, been so busy with other things recently I've not been on much. One thing I would say, definitely use the 6mm ply. I did one by cutting the plasterboard and one with the ply - the result on the ply is far superior. Our plasterer who skimmed both was wary about the ply in case the plaster didn't bond right, but a year later, it's been fine. He put on mesh and PVA. The Plasterboard one was a lot of edges and very hard to get a smooth curve - we might get it plastered again on top to try get it perfect, but plenty other things to be finishing (yup!).

We put tissue faced PIR onto the OSB deck - OSB>VCL>Insta Stik>PIR>Some super sticky-put-it-on-both-sides-contact adhesive>rubber. Not sure whether Insta Stick is compatible with the foil faced boards however. The insulation and adhesives were all recommended by the EDPM provider. We contemplated using thermal fixings but getting them long enough and actually just getting them was very very tricky - I needed around 200mm and no-one could provide them. Was very odd - the suppliers (Rawl I think in Glasgow) only provide them to roofers.

When I got double glazing in the flat, a pane cracked the next day. Was replaced foc. Parents recently got triple glazing and oddly, one pane cracked too (north facing). It was replaced. Unless there is sign of physical damage id fully expect it to be warranted.