marmic

thanks Nick, one on the way + new trap. fingers and toes all crossed! Smell not through cut outs but good shout - only other pipe runs under unit (accessible) and no smell there (from shower and mvhr condensate) good point - ruled that one out (it's from shower and mvhr condensate - accessible and no smell)

wish it was a dry trap - would probably be an easy fix just adding another one in line - or a deeper one. Kitchen traps fine, shower trap fine (and on separate run as these can get vacuumed out easier if combined!) and no dead mice 😁 (or a gone off bag of carrots - had that many years ago in another house, found it eventually disappeared behind a cupboard without a proper back. Believe me that reeked!) yes very much drain smell (from STP). Rapidly concluding to try new/different trap and new elbow. Thinking maybe gas escaping at top of a joint where it won't drip???? but no obvious damage / cracks etc. So so weird............ thankfully this is in plant/utility room where we can shut door - and decent mvhr extraction! Also good we've intentionally left all pipes etc either exposed or accessible AAV internally and also on SVP externally. STP vented with carbon filter on effluent pump pod (gravity fed from STP - kept it separate for ease of replacing pump if it ever packs up - works hard pumping c. 240m, and max 2m rise albeit little head. obviously non return)

morning all, We have a stink emanating from somewhere around trap under sink - but no water leak. 1 1/2" plastic waste. Could the trap be 'faulty' somehow? It's not dry/blocked etc etc - (no smell from sink). There's also an elbow after trap. Both removed, cleaned, reinstalled - but still stinks. not making any sense - new fittings maybe? any bright ideas please? very frustrating!

just put some cheap car sun shades on windows (from halfords - cheaper than amazon etc!) - temporary measure until we decide how to build brise soleil. not going to block it completely but should make some difference. if they stay up!

anything to reflect will probably help and yes outside - but better to stop sun hitting glass at all. Brise soleil can take many forms. if only temporary a cheap gazebo outside maybe? but may be worth looking at something more permanent if solar gain in these heatwaves is an issue.

not as far as i know - until those in power change things

Can home batteries help save the climate and save you money? Not sure to the first question - I'm not convinced. And the second one I'd say eventually, but quicker for higher energy users! Decided against batteries due to cost and our energy use is very low anyway. We produce more from PV than we can use during daylight hours so there was very much a possible argument for batteries - but would have taken a very long time to be financially beneficial. And I'm not personally convinced that batteries are the answer anyway - albeit I've not researched deeply......... There are big environmental questions I have about batteries - this is touched on in this 'report' but not properly answered. I think the truth is hidden and/or not known - nobody seems to be able to, or wants to, answer properly. At what point overall do they actually become beneficial to the environment taking into account sustainability of production and mining etc? Not just CO2. And ultimate disposal? I may well be wrong but as far as I know they aren't recyclable (??). What will actually happen at the end of battery life? I can only assume there will in time be a huge toxic battery land fill or similar? Maybe the moon........ My employer has EV only policy on company cars (which I need for my job unfortunately). The last time vehicle changed I was given options, when reviewing these not one car company could (or would) answer these questions. One did unbelievably suggest once batteries are worn out they will be used in houses! But then even if feasible what happens once properly worn out? My understanding is production of EV vehicles is more environmentally damaging - there must surely be an average mileage of a vehicle when it begins to pay off and become beneficial. But this will be variable of course dependent on production - and probably not possible to answer accurately anyway as also subject to how clean the energy is used to charge! The same principle applies to home batteries too - or for that matter any batteries! and as for government grant for EVs (if still running?) this has to be mainly just giving money to those who can afford an EV and would buy one without the grant anyway! Yes there will be exceptions I am sure. But this is a whole different topic! Would be interesting if anyone can throw some more light on the subject. The truth is out there - or is it? Now to be non PC - there are too many humans on this planet! The sun is the source of all our power (well most of it), and we are the source of most of the problems

morning all, Need to buy some kee klamp / key clamp / tube clamp - fittings and tube. Looks like many options on market - any recommendations / experience please to save me time trawling through! 'true value for money required' - reasonable quality at sensible price

if you're not going for high performance (as in insulation and air tightness to passivhaus stds or close) and this is more about healthy environment / ventilation rather than heat recovery have a look at passive and also positive input ventilation. A LOT less money! Assuming you are going for MVHR strongly suggest whatever you decide making sure of a summer bypass setting. Our first summer and when it's been hot had fan speeds on full blast of a night - cool air without the 6 legged beasts!

"Viva la revolución"

interesting - we'll have this soon. hopefully they aren't like their planning office! keeping fingers crossed they'll just do it on paper based on m2 and number of bedrooms???

has your detail changed?

but if you asked me about groundworker whole different story. all fine in end but the grief!

believe me it was good. we had planned to use smoother (leveller) but was pointless! Not your normal LVT with trowelled adhesive - more like a carpet tile without any fluff. (Interface)

assuming 'slab' not structural have a look at liquid screeds. Finish that good we just needed primer and tackifier adhesive + suitable LVT straight on top. No 'leveller' (which should be called 'smoother' in my book anyway - that's another topic and daily conversation for me!).

I'm no expert but agree with charring - pretty sure CLT producers have test data too. (We would have liked to have used CLT on our almost completed build but was cost prohibitive - only for the rich on small projects!!). So back to the point, I was working with an architect on a highly sustainable tall CLT building - probably about 5 years ago now. Possibly 10-12 storeys from memory? (my bit was just some specialist internal items). The whole design had to be changed as UK insurers wouldn't touch it, despite the type of structure being proven and used for many years in Nordic and central European countries. Probably same people jumping to conclusions and 'advising' insurers. Progress in the UK - how dare we! On a much smaller scale we needed to make a small claim on house insurance few years back in our previous home - I can honestly say the underwriters and so called surveyors sent out didn't have a clue. Same sort of people giving 'advice' no doubt. It's sometimes good to rant

and be careful too with 'big names' - never assume as not always what it seems!

so reading further need to be cautious - so probably not going to risk it. Not just corrosion to metal but nasty staining - would be a lot of work down the pan! interesting the different thoughts - links below. Looking back we had some black staining around fixings which would have been I am sure tiny specks of ferrous material off drill bits! Sweet chestnut and oak have I understand very similar properties. I have dropped a note to tdca who were very helpful previously - I'll post copy of response. Have to say even finding the right screws for cladding wasn't easy! Once you dig deeper stainless grades are also important and not always obvious. Found some good ones in end which were also not astronomical cost! https://www.englishwoodlandstimber.co.uk/talk-tannin-oak-chestnut-cladding-beam/ https://oakbydesign.co.uk/blog/tannins-in-oak-buildings/ https://hardwoodsgroup.com/understanding-tannin-staining-in-oak-causes-and-effective-treatments/

12.5m elevation, not just the 3 windows!

if you need to open the window yes - but ours would be shut keeping heat out if shutters deployed! Air from mvhr........

whilst clearing the jungle in the neglected veg garden area this afternoon had a similar thought, but not as elegant! I was thinking fabric/sailcloth of some sort made to measure to work with reveal liners with eyelets - with hooks / screws / pegs of some sort into liners. can still open the window a bit and hopefully the gap would dissipate heat further before hitting glass. I like the magnet idea though. But don't want to stick anything to aluclad windows.............

Also a door, and 2 more windows, 1 larger, 1 smaller - going to get costly as would need to be bespoke, probably aluminium louvre panels. I too think potential to look smart particularly if same colour as windows - but having now measured / visualised going to look too much on the elevation!

nice idea - but pricey and we're already generating more we can use from PV on roof! Probably some fins out there with pv too - like the stuff tata offer as option on standing seam??

Ummm good point. Moreso when wet. And thinking further more leaves for the gutters! So maybe not such a good idea! Exmet??