Kevan Marshall

Where abouts are you based?

Thank you Conor, I shall speak to the SIP’s company after the holidays, maybe have to install a double panel or something to accommodate, the meter box shall back onto a storage cupboard, NIE said I could build a block built box that was attached to house but dimensions were nearly 1.8mtrs tall x 1.2mtrs wide

Just had a phone call from NIE asking me a questions about power consumption I would need, the guy said if I wanted a larger supply I would need to upgrade the transformer on the pole which is 150mtrs away, he said that could end up being tens of thousands, he said that maximum supply of existing pole outside property is 18.4kw/80a, price for standard connection may be between 2k and 5k, if cable is more than 33mtrs long that’s another 2k to put joint in it (do cables only come in 33mtr lengths), he also said allow 10mtrs for the pole side so only 23mtrs from pole to meter box, I explained I may use a welder occasionally and I shall probably end up selling my large welding machine and buying a smaller inverter type but he was still a little concerned even though I can draw 8kw maximum from a modern 250amp multi process welding machine, everything else I shall have shall be an electric range cooker, general sockets and lighting and a hot tub if my wife gets her own way, I’ll wait for the official quote to come through…

Thanks Nick, I’ll get in touch with NIE tomorrow and explain what I’ll be using, I went in heavy with what I needed on the online forms to future proof incase I install EV charging and a heat pump but I cannot see that happening, I can also install a gas range cooker if need be…

I shall request if 100a is available, I know they try and only give an 80a supply on standard connections, if I need to I’ll sell my two big old welders and get a smaller machine that can run off 32amps, I’ll see what price the give me for upgrading as it may future proof things…

Just had NIE respond to my application for new electricity connection, to supply power from existing pole outside the plot they can give me 18kva 80a connection, I shall only use range electric cooker in the house, normal sockets, normal led lighting, in my garage normal led lighting, 13a sockets but require more power for my welder, my welder could potentially run off a 63a supply but I may sell it for a smaller welding machine (32a supply) rather than upgrade which would require running a new supply from 4 poles away, how many amps supply do most people go for in their new builds?

Thank you Gus, For me it is turning into an obsession, I also work abroad six months of the year but I am basically my own boss so I have lots of time to research things for when I come home every 5 weeks!

I have set some clear expectations at what I require from my mate, I was actually surprised when I shown him the quote and he was very positive about all the small details from TF manufacturer, my mate usually puts up conventional block built houses (common in NI), as my job I’m heavily involved in metalwork and engineering and although different from building a house has given me a good insight into what is required, every supplier I have spoken to realises that I have done a lot of research and part of the process is being on BH

Thank you Gus, All good advice, I have spent 9 months researching this whilst waiting on planning and I have to tell my architect how the SIP’s/TF contractor shall do things, My friend who is doing all the civils is an experienced builder who has been dealing with building control for many years so I am confident that everything shall go smoothly, my plans are set in stone and only issue I have had was the Architect changing things to how he wanted, I designed the house at the start and told him if anything needed tweaked a little for the better to do it, unfortunately he completely changed door positions, started adding fitted wardrobes etc, in rooms that we planned to put our own furniture in, it taken six drafts to get things right and they ended up near enough to my original layout, I shall speak to my TF supplier to as about windows as they assure me they have never had any issues, TF company shall send foundation drawing details for my builder and I shall ensure all soil pipes are in a good location, I am waiting for two more quotes coming in then hopefully I can start progressing with sorting out prices for windows, MVHR, electrics, plumbing, etc kind regards, kevan

As soon as I get detailed drawings from TF company I’ll ask Window suppliers what their turn around shall be, if they install the walls it may take the TF company one week to install the roof, etc so that might help me for time

As soon as I get detailed drawings from TF company I’ll ask Window suppliers what their turn around shall be, if they install the walls it may take the TF company one week to install the roof, etc so that might help me for time

Hi John, I shall ask the TF company what they can guarantee and ask for proof from previous builds

Well beyond that getting upto passive house standards

Unfortunately NIE require meter boxes to be outside on side of house or dedicated and approved box

Yes and you can not even phone anyone for advice nowadays or request a site visit to discuss anything

Yes, fully understand, he is used to new builds that are conventional block built houses and he cannot get his head around timber frame/SIP’s structures, I told him at the start that I would require him for planning applications, drawings for foundations (timber frame company shall give exact dimensions for base/sole plate), I am looking at more modern building techniques whereas the architect is doing everything in a way he has always done things, he is also going way above and beyond what is necessary but I think most architects do that, hopefully things shall get easier when I decide who I use for building envelope and get their drawings…

Yes I fully agree, architects love spending other people’s money and think they are designing the house for themselves, I gave detailed drawings to my architect to tweak a little and we ended up back at the start after draft number six, Solicitors just don’t answer emails or telephone you, their communication skills are zero, hopefully I’ll not need a structural engineer as that would just be another headache…

Hi, I have just put in an application for getting Electric on my site, I am trying to get electricity from the pole at the edge of my plot to a location within 15mtrs as this should be classed as minor works, my house is within 15mtrs but shall be SIP’s style clad with cement board and K-Rend, I would rather not have a meter box on the house and have requested it to be just beside a boundary in its own freestanding meter box, has anyone come across a freestanding precast meter box that a grp enclosure fits in that would comply with all regulations or do I have to build a small block structure to place a GRP enclosure in? kind regards, kevan.

Hi John, Going through the same thing with my architect, my timber frame company do all calculations with their engineers do drawings for building control, make sure everything is ok for signing off, do all AT tests, etc, my architect is asking for technical specs to submit drawings for building control and I’ve told him drawings from TF manufacturer shall be ok and all he has to do is submit them with a note saying “as per according to Building regulations and Timber frame manufacturers specifications”, I am finding the worst part of self building is Architects and Solicitors…

I spent a lot of my time looking at every detail as I had the attitude that if you change anything it costs money, I have also told the boss (wife) that, also went down the KISS route (keep it simple and stupid).

Thanks John, I want to be strict on no changes, to be honest I have more confidence in my contractors than I do my Architect who is questioning everything, trying to change things and complicate everything, unfortunately I need him for getting everything signed off. kind regards, Kevan.

Yes, even on the quote they are 100% clear what they are responsible for and what I am responsible for, only thing I want to ensure is that window sizes as per drawing are within tolerance and if windows do not fit due to incorrect sizes then they shall be responsible, they assure me they have never had any issues before and windows/doors can be ordered during kit manufacture kind regards, Kevan.

They have told me AT shall be well within limits, as long as I install good quality triple glazing then it should be up into passive standard

Just had a quote for supply and erection of SIPs house, my house is 180sqm ground floor area with provision to convert loft 70sqm at later date, external walls 197mm SIP panels to give U value of 0.13 or 172mm SIP panels plus 25mm PIR internal insulation to give U value of 0.12, roof is of vaulted truss system with steels in to support and boarded out and insulated to 0.12, all supporting stud walls are supplied, posi joists are supplied for loft conversion and floor boarded out, all wall and roof locations made airtight and battened out for service void ready to plasterboard, all exterior areas made weather tight, all crane hire, delivery costs included, airtight test done after I fit windows, all paperwork done for building control, with quite a lot of structural support walls going in leaves me very few stud walls to put in after installation of screed floor, I am waiting on quotes from two other SIPs companies but does this seem a reasonable price at 100k? kind regards, Kevan.

Thank you for the replies, much appreciated and looking like they shall have to remove the slates. kind regards, kevan