marmic

no! sorry no idea...........

I feel your pain! Was a difficult process selecting. Narrowed down by decison to go supply and install only. We have Timber Innovations commencing on site next week with a Larsen truss system. I will report back when they are done. Ruled out sips quite early - yes proven systems but just didn't feel right! Careful with rafts all inclusive - I looked at this carefully early days as did seem attractive. If soil survey recommends suspended floor (as with ours) structural warranty provider / BCO may not be happy with raft. (we are on heavy clay and have deep strip footings with beam and block in end after preinsulated slab manufacturer moved the goalposts!) Careful with over enthusiastic proposals. You will also probably find initial dig and sub base will be excluded so any failure / movement this is where the finger will be pointed. And if 2 purchase orders/contracts expected the reduced risk starts to disappear. And you may find an unreasonable written contract by supplier/manufacturer is demanded (read the small print!) - as opposed to a contract in the form of a purchase order from the person spending the money! You may be offered windows too but will want separate contract probably so again not as shiny as it sounds. Might be fine of course and reputation good - but i wasn't prepared to accept risk and sign contract careful too with raft insulation providers - brilliant systems, but i know somebody who had problems with gaps etc which defeats the object! if we had the right soil would have gone with raft without a doubt. would have saved a whole world of grief with groundworker. (I know best - been doing this for hundreds of years guv etc!)

ouch - i've got just under 24m - thought that was enough!

ps - i that the Lindap half round gutter (JamesP) ? Looks good and on my list as a possible. All good or any issues? many thanks

thank you both for your thoughts - very helpful. 99% certain concluded as per sketch. Fascias first and clad over in trim to match roof. Cladding to underside of fascia (of any type!). No additional roof overhang with fascia planted on cladding which means not pushing beyond limits of OSB / standng seam. I can't be only one to have had this headache - move one thing to correct and something else is then wrong! It was more than just about wonky fascias on feather edge! please let this be my last conundrum!

Evening all, We need to fix barge boards and fascias direct to horizontal timber cladding. If cladding is feather edge (visually our current preference) there isn't a flat surface to connect to - is that a problem or am I overthinking this? (if we use a lapped cladding it will be flat). any thoughts appreciated please many thanks

having worked for and managed builders merchants for 18 years until 2003 (with a small stint at a tool/fixings distributor) I know the business extremely well. (now work for a specialist sub-contractor mainly in fit-out market). And yes it's one of the only industries left where having to haggle is the norm. You need to know the score! I did at one point consider setting up a new company - but didn't want the grief of being an employer so remained employed! The majority of conversations I have with merchants now (as a customer) tend to be me telling them what they are doing! Often poor knowledge (assume lack of training - used to be a big thing!), little commercial awareness, and astonishing how many clearly don't give a sh##! Welcome to the 2020's!! Unfortunately the 'professional independent merchants' are no longer imho. So often corporate groups just looking at bottom line doesn't help. The knowledge required to understand all products, how they are used/markets takes a long time to accumulate and very few people are interested - and merchants don't pay the rates required to attract and retain the right people. The building industry has changed significantly too - and with MMC increasing merchants will I believe need to adapt to retain levels of busiess (must already be shrinking?) - albeit there will always be a large traditional market for them. Our self build walls and roof is timber frame panels ready made out of a factory craned into position which has cut out a significant amount of procurement from merchants. They will also be more careful these days about the liabilty of providing informaton that could be deemed 'professional advice'. Most general builders merchants will I think seriously dumb down their range of products (probably already happening) and concentrate on heavyside/associated products, and timber. Lightside covered by plumbers/decorators merchants and with the likes of toolfix and screwstation who would pay double for a box of fixings / power tools etc. Builders merchants will probably continue to do well with direct to site sales from manufacturers who insist on supplying through merchants (not a bad thing) - will I assume still receive a typical 5% or so handling fee - I have had to do this on a few items, but have sorted the details out first with manufacturer. Too many have also tried to become DIY stores over time too and failed - apart from anything else it alienates ther core customers! Items we have needed have so far come from numerous businesses, including direct from manufacturers/distributors - would have had to been via merchant in past. Also used merchants of course - but from various depending what we need and up until couple weeks ago hadn't even bothered setting up an account anywhere (finally established a good contact - its the right person you need, the company less of a factor!). I can see merchants trying to sell everything shrinking - less money tied up in stock too! Already happening by default I feel with multiple companies selling specific product ranges on-line nationally with websites of varied user friendlyness - and a select few with remarkably good back up service with phone conversations possible with real people which is unusual these days with anything. And when I say real people i'm referring to those who do give a sh## and have a brain that contains common sense in addition to knowledge of what they are selling. The need to now use multiple suppliers is almost in a way turning back the clock! I could go on all day on this topic, but won't - I've rambled on enough as it is!! bottom line is (imo) as a self builder you need to know what you need and understand the market - info and opinions from merchants etc always useful but don't trust/rely on. So to get back on topic of setting up a dream builders merchant - sounds great, but good luck, plan extremely well, and be very careful........ and going off topic I've heard some ridiculous things over the last 6 months from merchants, disributors, and even manufacturers - and more so from trades who think they know better - 'I've been doing this for 30 years guv' scenario - then making mistakes and costing themselves money and time because they didn't listen and reluctance to change to new ways of doing things! One has cost me a little money. time and grief too (sloppy not immediately obvious things i found after they had completed - sorted myself as no point getting them back as they'd probably f### up something else and moan!) - needless to say that one won't be getting the next phase of works they were particularly keen to do! right thats enough, feel better now!

and how membrane is cut /folded etc? need extra? drip detail at head behind membrane? + intumescent between battens.

moving on from the supply chain does anyone have a detail please for the reveals externally? We have flat boards with windows set back midspan of insulation and doors futher back on the structural stud with compacfoam at base. Battens and timber cladding to outside. Windows and doors fixed back to internal 140mm structural studs and sealed direct to boards - or am i missing something here? should they be lined first with membrane??? I don't think so but seems to a detail thats top secret! Timber frame company leaving openings covered by membrane to avoid ingress of rain whilst waiting for windows, so this won't be opened up until window fitters ready. Windows and doors will be fully sealed with air tight and precompressed tape etc. But doing some serious head scratching here how the connection is made at the outside to avoid moisture ingress into boards. Or am I overthinking it? Timber frame company / window installer all saying 'by others' - need to get this right! Also now thinking is there any risk of condensation under extended sills? extract of drawing and image example of intent herewith.............. any thoughts appreciated please.............kr ....mextract ref pro passiv to reveals.pdf

we're not as yet in contract but we will almost certainly be using Nordica - who use Viking and Slowinscy. We have decided on the latter. Transparency with regard to the manufacturter / actual product* They will be providing a deeper base to window to ensure adequate fall on extended sill. Extract from their proposals: 1* Frame packer 30x105mm (A30*105_40_M) Length 700 mm, color: Lacquer Regarding fall on sill there's nothing in building regs! Which are supposedly there to protect us - there is lots of good stuff in there, don't get me wrong, but there is lots of daft stuff (some ridiculous) in there too as we all know. But there are simple things missing too which is just as daft! Whilst talking to numerous people/companies i discovered not unusual for extended sills to end up flat / almost flat. Which in theory complies with regs - because there isn't one! Wouldn't suprise me if some end up running backwards perhaps!! * many UK suppliers rebrand and have found resistance by some in providing info and insist they are the manufacturer when they clearly aren't, but why I have no idea as this is not a problem! (I come accross this regularly in my day job, on the other side of the fence, with competitors doing the same and buying whatever they feel like to suit their margins!). With regard to who 21deg use I have no idea as didn't get very far - they didn't want to talk and didn't even bother to respond, and IMHO no point chasing people like that as my assumption is it's not going to get any better! Assume supply only too? Their other departments were somewhat mixed, some ok, but needless to say we won't be buying anything from them! Originally thought it could be a one stop shop and they'd be super keen with potentially one point of contact to reduce my stress levels! But alas not... ASHP/MVHR/PV we're procuring through heating engineer. Compac foam easier through UK distributor!

We had shortlisted Nordan (no.1 at one point) but crossed off mainly due to not offering extended sills and not understanding (until I pointed it out) the adjustment required to maintain a fall. And wouldn't offer install, even though they were happy to recommend installer - who would have supplied the extended sills. windows would have needed to be ordered undersized - they proposed packing up with ply/similar which i wasn't happy with for obvious reasons. Shame really as otherwise ticked all the boxes and communicated well - more than I can say for numerous others! Decision almost made now and will be placing an order very soon based on supply and install with another company. Been dragging on as BCO was indicating escape windows required which would have meant increased opening dims - but once discussed further regs approval finally arrived as current design.

spoken to a couple of companies again - as assumed they clearly hadn't listened previously! People have been the biggest headache from day one on so many things - something i didnt anticipate going into this!!! One is now proposing fibre reinforced flowing concrete 75mm thick which is almost as original intent! (and I can't go any thicker). Waiting for call back from the other thanks all for comments - glad it wasnt me going mad!!

no confusion! pls see earlier responses / comments!

thanks John.........

maybe none of them listened then! frustrating as original intent was no screed with insulated precast 'slabs' ready for self leveller, but had to change as manufacturer moved the goalposts. But too late then to change the timber frame!

thank you - 75mm with fibre? just sand i assume to get around pipes?

Morning all, opinions and experience please on type / thickness of screed.....? beam and block; DPM wrapped up and over perimeter supporting walls sealed to DPC; 150-175mm PIR in 2 layers staggered joints and taped + upstands; membrane; UFH pipes; floating screed current intent is 150mm PIR + 75mm reinforced floating screed (type / spec tbc) Screed will be laid before walls and roof are on - timber frame company also building internal non load bearing stud walls straight onto screed. Reduces risk and grief! Continuous build with no option to down tools for a week or two whilst a screed goes in after roof on. Confusion and lack of trust now klcking in - screed companies quite excitable about liquid screeds and keeping to a minimum thickness and increasing insulation - which is fine. However, I'm now losing confidence as it seems the ones I had narrowed down to simply didn't listen with regard to the fact this would be open to the elements. Appreciate can't do any of the options in rain, but moving air (wind) and sunlight is unavaoidable! One has now suggested I put up a temporary roof which is bonkers! Sounding like I may need to revert to original intent? Which would be a shame as liquid screeds sound very good and also less cost! guessing I'm not the first person with this conundrum!

block and beam in + course of 140mm marmox thermoblock (have a few left over to be ebayed!) + 2 courses of 140mm coursing bricks directly above 140mm fundation blocks below beams - ready for timber frame (larsen truss) soleplates. DPC wrapped up from under beams and will be lapped and sealed over top course with DPM which will be directly on beam and block. Then 150 or 175mm PIR (2 layers joints staggered and taped) + vertical upstand sections to screed level. Membrane over, open zone UFH pipes, 50 or 75mm screed. Outer skin of block/brick just to look nice and holding 75mm extruded insulation and sub-floor vents. Also keeps 'ground' away from supporting walls. Once timber frame installed the gap over bricks and 'foundation cavity' insulation will have horizontal section of extruded polystyrene - maintaining gap to underside of larsen truss and then sealed with precompressed tape. Then timber cladding................... BCO/structural warranty company happy.........

We have decided to use Nordica, supply and install inc air tightness and weather seals (we are building to passivhaus high performance). Will be placing order very soon. They use Viking and Slowinscy. We are going for the latter with Lumis windows. Less cost and performance fine. They also communicate on a human level and clearly know what they are doing. Will update here in Autumn.......... Nordan were close at one point using an approved partner to install, but completely lost confidence - we have thick walls with the windows being set central to the insulation therefore set back - which also reduces summer sun. Our openings are flat, no cavity - they just didn't get the need to increase the base of windows to enable a fall on the extended sills. and splitting the package creates blame issues if anything goes wrong. And they don't offer extended sills - these would have had to be supplied by installer. And we didn't want ply packing window up and ordering underheight to allow for fall - which was suggested! Supply only which we had considered: Some would have been absoutely fine had we decided to do it this way. But some quite the opposite! For example, 21deg didn't even bother sendng a quote and didn't want to have a conversation. Maybe they have more than enough business anyway and can be selective? We tried talking to them about other items too inc mvhr/pv (which they did respond on) as seemed sensible reducing number of suppliers and thought they would be super keen with added value but don't think they were bothered - separate contacts for each department and seemed rather disjointed. Had the impression there wasn't in depth knowledge either. Dismissed them mainly due to disinterest on windows/doors. We also decided supply and install anyway, also for pv/mvhr. Other supply and install offers which would have been fine simply wanted way too much money. Norrsken which gets lots of mentions seemed to initially tick the boxes on the surface with supply and install and had been recommended - but once i'd dug deeper these boxes were unticked. Uncomfortable exclusions and caveats such as weather seals/air tightness. Also mistakes on quote (which they didnt correct when flagged) and insisted they were manufacturers which i found annoying - they use Viking too as we all know and were expensive in comparision to others offering - yes rebranding is common in all industries and fine, but why lie when asked!! Sales chap arrogant - I think must have worked in double glazing in the 80's! I speak honestly and only as I find.............. be careful out there!

everything on the 140mm. manufacturers response to question about gap: We’d expect a circa 10mm gap (for your yellow highlighted section) to the underside of the Larson so it wasn’t loading the brick / insulation cover. This could be closed with a compressible foam (compriband or similar). thermal bridge free - absolutely! if you've done this would appreciate seeing a detail please? for increased thickness we'll need to go down as height restriction in relation to adjacent stable block. hence wondering about beam and eps

albeit our walls are much thicker, and with timber cladding

just found this which looks reasonably sensible (actually replicating one of my thoughts but hadn't got any further!) - be interesting to see the other section with beam ends. and not sure what happens structurally at the sub-floor vents!?

nothing built. commence spring once ground dried up! but need to get ahead........... extracts of drawings herewith. 1. timber frame section (ordered) - scribbled bit will be insulation bonded on. May add brick plinth? But probably just insulation as you would with raft and rendered over, or bitumen, or a capping of some sort. 2. SE foundation design (strip footings) - not final, subject to the design drawings for the insulated precast planks - which are overdue and getting nervous! 3. strip footings on plan with direction of planks.

Good afternoons, I have also asked same question on an old post, but thought it worthwhile adding a new one too! We are using a larsen truss system from Timber Innovations (ie all the load on inner 140mm stud) and have to have suspended floor due to heavy clay, trees, hedges. We are at passivhaus high performance (won't quite meet certified due to form factor - not huge and single storey). Current plan is preinsulated planks (avoiding screeds etc) with timber frame sitting directly onto edge - so almost replicating a raft, but suspended. But getting very nervous due to long delays with design (need for coordinated drawings for submission to building control), therefore now urgently exploring other options. Seems to be a few beam & EPS products out there - but how to detail edges with no traditional masonry/brick, where to sit timber frame, and prevent/minimise thermal bridging. Plus dpc/dpm/ventilation detailing.......... I'm probably not the first one to be doing a lot of head scratching on this topic! Would appreciate any pointers please... many thanks kr.........ma