Big Jimbo

Hi Simon. When i did my daughters about a year ago, it was a full refurb, but they were living there. I fitted a gas boiler with the usual single flow and return. I split the flow into 2 and ran each flow to a (bugger, cant remember the name) electronic valve. from each of these i ran 22mm flow pipes to a manifold that i made myself from copper pipe, lever valves etc. 22mm in, and 15mm out. each of the outs had the ability to be manually turned off. I ran one of the manifolds to the understairs cupboard downstairs, and one to a bedroom upstairs that was eventually hidden behind a wardrobe with a removable panel. I made sure that all the feeds to my rads were less than 6 metres away from my manifolds. This allowed me to work on the house, room by room, and anytime i wanted to add a radiator, i did not have to turn off, or drain down. I then by-passed the built in clock on the boiler, and fitted a three way timer. Water, Heating upstairs, Heating downstairs. To be honest it works fantastically, and in the future for decoration, alterations etc, each rad can be isolated and removed, without the need to drain down, or switch off.

Looking great Pocster

I believe there is some sort of Gov borrowing scheme in Scotland for self builders. Not heard about One in England.

Hi and welcome. I am only up the road from you in Bovingdon. I lived in Croxley Green for 25 years . I have permission to knock and build just outside the village of Bovingdon.

What a shame. However, i think the value of the plot is what people are willing to pay for it. Better luck next time.

Im with ProDave above. Atleast One socket on each wall. Each room on a radial circuit, and slack inbetween. Anytime you want an extra socket, cut ahole and cable is there waiting for you.

That is fab news Bitpipe. Can i ask if you don't mind, what questions you were asked when filling in the application. When reading on lenders web sites, i always seem to come across "non standard construction"

That is one of my current head problems. I have worked with wood for about 30 years. Without being a big head, i could build a timber frame without problem. I could do it out of 6x2 or better still wood i beams which i think are under utilised in this country. (Think Peter Stark) I dont work, so have plenty of time, and my designed house is basically a square with a double story porch on the front. It would be a doddle to build in timber. Now, blocks etc i just havn't done. I think i could, but i would be bloody slow......The chances are that i wont stay when completed, as i have no need for 5 beds, and 5 bathrooms, so will be looking to sell. My head says do it in timber in the 1/2 acre garden. ( i could build the frame in 2 weeks). But my brain says, do it in blockwork, as if you dont you are going to have an issue trying to flog it for north of £1.5million. People, as well as mortgage lenders still seem to have that "Proper, masonary house" mentality...... Or am i wrong ?

I totally agree with Pro dave. Untill mortgage lenders change there habits. Timber frame is considered non standard construction, and seems to be a pain to get a mortgage on

I prob just have bad taste......I think that looks shite.

Upstand not high enough. Should be 150mm minimum high. Rubber roof is badly done. Ive done loads of epdm. It's not hard to do it right, and very easy to make a pigs ear of it. IMO your rubber falls looks badly done. If you look at the bottom edge of your lantern, you can see that it is filthy. Thats from water splash because your upstand is too short.

Defo one of my biggest fears. No idea how you will sort it. Why is it so wrong ?

Looking great Pocster. Dink your wine with pride. I kin hate tiling.

Go on eagle eye Joe. Well spotted fella. Top of the class for you mate

Yep

Take a look at how much you owe this plumber ???? I would consider getting a new plumber out for an appraisal of his work, water pressure etc. Could be a couple of hundred quid well spent.

I think it is quite common. My neighbour canvassed about 20 local people to object, and most of them did.

Bags of room in there. Looks a bit of a mess IMO.

I've been away, but missed your posts Zoot the Hoot. Hope you are keeping well, if perhaps still cold ? What your builders have done, is what they have done. You will have to tackle any insulation issues yourself now fella. Poor insulation, badly done, is an issue so often seen on site. It's only the end user that really cares fella, as they are the ones paying the heating bills, and feeling bloody cold. With a bit of care and attention, even if you can't get it perfect, i'm sure you will be able to make it much better. Some of your skills so-far have surprised a few of us.

Has anybody heard of IJM timber frame company ? I have just been looking at there website. It looks like they have a fully automated system that looks super neat. I expect this will mean that they are very expensive.

My mate got done for being 500mm than his drawings. He got it passed as retro, but wasted a lot of time. Some neighbours can be a nightmare. Mine complains if i go out to my bins. I have had planning enforcement out 5 times in about 5 months due to my neighbour. In the end i had to write to the council and tell them that if they came out again, without doing due diligence first, i would sue them for harassment. I haven't had them out since. P.S. I hadn't done anything that was not permitted in on any of the 5 times. If it does get flagged up, it could cause you a nightmare.

That sounds interesting Declan

I have not been here for anything like as long as others but, tbo i thought he liked to think he was smarter than everybody else, and when challenged he would try and twist what people said to make them look bad, and him good. Im sure he was a smart chap, but defo liked to think he knew more than anybody else, and didn;t like being confronted.

What a shame. Thats me done for then. I tried sketch up, and was hopelessly lost in minutes.

Pocster can come and tile my bathrooms anytime. More than acceptable for any amature. P.S. And i really hate bloody tiling?