Kevan Marshall

I am going to phone several companies to discuss options of open cut and trenchless options, whatever I go for I feel like it is going to be expensive…🥲

I can dig a trench on my plot, the other side is 1.4 mtrs below my plot and drain below road would run into drain in farmers field..

Yes unfortunately in Northern Ireland everything involved with roads, environment and planning takes months and months, if I go down the open trench route this could be an issue as although it is a dead end small road there is a lot of farm traffic, traffic to houses, people going to the beach, who ever was opening up the road would need steel plates on standby to let traffic by, I have one mains water pipe running along the grass verge, no sewage electricity or anything else, is it possible you could PM your friends details please?

That would be an option but the two culverts are 10 meters left an right from the sides of my plot, when I looked at the stone culverts one was collapsed below the road and the other is really only suitable for septic tank run off, when my site floods it really floods, it never used to happen but now it floods badly two or three times in the winter

Unfortunately there is no easy solution, I need to ensure no storm water is running through over my site, I cannot put any form of bank or wall at rear of the site as this shall divert storm water through my neighbours garden, this was highlighted with objecections from both neighbours at planning stage, planning was granted as I said I would resolve this issue, no objections from the environmental agency as they said it was not on a flood plain, I need this resolved once and for all so I never have issues in the future, at the rear of plot I am installing a storm channel with flag stones on top with a 2cm gap between them and galvanised storm grating at lowest point, then run an 8”/10” drain through the sight and under the road to the field across the road, I could tie the drain to be installed through my site into two small 4” sewage pipes from both neighbours but during heavy rain this may create issues with sewage backing up, I also do not want to finish my house and landscaping then have to dig things up again due to trying to cut corners at this stage

Hi, On the plot I have bought we have flooding issues with water running off the farmers field at the rear, through the sight and running across single track public road then going into field in opposite side of the road, I plan to install storm channel at rear of site and pipe to front of site, I was going to pipe into two small stone culverts that go under the road but they are connected to neighbours sewage outlets and may cause issues during heavy rain, I want to install my own pipe below the road and into the field opposite into the ditch, the farmer is ok with this, has anyone ever installed an 8” or 10” pipe using horizontal auger boring and how expensive was it, to dig up the road and install a culvert would be a nightmare by the sounds of it, any advice would be very much appreciated! Kev.

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…