BotusBuild

@sean1933, what did you end up doing to fix your balustrade?

Perhaps should have said "The Orange Clown (TOC) and the US Elite". There is a pattern of the US "invading" oil producing nations. It's just that TOC is prepared to make things happen irrespective of non-US points of view, and even of his own population (80% + against taking control of Greenland in a recent survey referenced on one of the satirical US shows). {Bunkering down}

Why do you think The Orange Clown is so against climate change arguments. He wants everyone to be dependent on oil and gas, which he is trying to control as much as possible - i present Venezuela and Greenland as examples M'Lud. We need to get the nuclear and renewables online ASAP. Then use the time it gives us to make sure we retrain our own workforce to maintain, invent and manufacture this and the next technologies, to regain our independence. It's a long term plan that needs an autocratic regime, not a democratic parliament.

We have 3 of these at 1800k each, plus 6 spots behind at 4000k (3 in background of picture) The 3 bulbs are adequate for us. I think 3000k strip LED would be fine

I note there is a pipe clip (circled green below) on the wall for that round waste pipe. If you put the round pipe back in the clip does the end of the pipe end up over the grill again? If so, there is your solution. If not, then you need to replace the bends at the bottom of the pipe . Shouldn't need to cut the grill, but it wont do any harm if you do.

We have a similar two-part construction on the windows on the S facing wall. Gets a lot of rain and we have a similar small water ingress problem when it blows hard. This is on my list of snags to investigate. I note the "sealant in the corner" suggestion as a possible solution - thank you.

It was on the plastering. They brought in their plaster after we had installed all the PB. Done in two stages. First was December 2024, second was May 2025.

We fitted ~264 sheets of 1.2x2.4m PB = ~760 sq m of PB which has pretty much all been plastered brilliantly. We spent about £7500. This is in Cornwall

And you need PP for ground mounted systems (in England anyway). My sister- and brother-in-law are doing this now.

Knowing the build, some info: The house is already rendered on the outside. The heating is already in place. Ventilation may not be complete (@Omnibuswoman can confirm or deny this) @Omnibuswoman - let me know if another head/pair of eyes "on the ground" will help

I can understand why if it avoid design stupidity (or (expletive deleted)uppery, whichever you prefer)

Bought those @ProDave. Thanks. For any curious minds out there in the photo below, the LAP switch has a kind of "blanking plate" (red circle). The bit in the blue circle is the little bit of plastic that was part of the blanking plate which broke off inside and stopped the switch being able to "rock". (Ignore the brass bit in the lower hole - after taking it apart I obviously put it back incorrectly).

Picky 🙂

One beauty of going this way, is if you do decide later on (say in a few years time) that the original full width garage door was the way to go, you know knocking down that middle pillar will not do any harm 🙂 I'm trying to think of a downside but can't think of one.

Going back to SE is likely to cost you some money for the alteration. Will you save more than you spend on cheaper materials as a result? Dubious that you will, and it will delay the build as well. If it were me, I would just build the extra middle pillar as if it was a proper support pillar. LABC will not complain. Move forward 🙂

The 2025 flow chart has been copied and updated for 2026. But first job is a self assessment tax return. Haven't worked since Dec 2023! That'll teach me to rent out a house.

A word of warning. Bought a bunch of single gang LAP light switches (I think all 2-way) from Screwfix. In the last 2 weeks 3 of them have broken. I dismantled the internals of one and a small piece of plastic fell out - i presume the same has happened in the other two. I shall be replacing them all as they fail with another brand. Probably these: https://www.screwfix.com/p/knightsbridge-curved-edge-10ax-1-gang-1-way-light-switch-white/720yc?ref=SFAppShare OR https://www.screwfix.com/p/mk-logic-plus-10ax-1-gang-1-way-light-switch-white/13930?ref=SFAppShare Anyone recommend one over the other?

Well done the wrinklies

SWMBO tried spray painting. Gave up due to the kit. Switched to what she knew and spent probably about 12 weeks on and off rollering and cutting in. About 270m2 of ceilings alone. But, it looks great. Plan is to live with white for several months, then apply colour if/when we know it's right

Just thought I'd provide some positive feedback about Stroma. They came to site this week after a brief call to discuss completion. The BCO arrived and we had a quick walk around, he knowing we had been doing most of the work ourselves. Apart from being complimentary, he explained he would NOT do a completion visit report as that would only give us 8 weeks to finish and he could tell that wasn't going to be possible. So we have a progress report only, with 8 items. Maybe 2026 will bring completion 😀. On second thoughts ....

Try using Google translate from your phone

There's the answer 😀

5ft long screw piles will not be long enough to make up your 1m. You'd need 9ft long piles to get stability IMHO (not a structural engineer). I'd be putting in some concrete piles (as per above) and building up from those. A builder friend of mine is sold on these screw piles, but did say they have their place for small extensions, garden rooms etc.

Which is why The Orange Man is trying to put a friendly government in to replace Maduro, oh, and pamper to the Russians as well, in order to secure a future supply for their gas guzzlers and overheated and overchilled housing and office space. And of course, cozy up to the murderers of Khashoggi. How does Israel fit in? Arms (pun intended) length "nuke 'em outfit" to keeps the Middle East in check

It seems they are on to this - More North Sea drilling to be allowed in new Labour plan https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c0r9gyjkky0o