Declan52

The whole self build experience is basically like them guys who spin plates on a stick. You run around like a headless chicken trying to keep all the plates spinning but sometimes trades or companies let you down and you smash a plate. This then gets you stressed out more and more and you lie awake at night over thinking every last aspect of the build, we have all been there. Close the site for a week and just focus on yourself and your family esp your mum and just remember it's only a house. Your health and family are far more important than it so go for an outing in London, was there last week and loved it, and just live a bit. When your family have drove you insane then it's time to restart the build!!! As above make the list of what needs done and by who, set up dates when they need to be on site and just knock the jobs of one by one and you won't be long till its finished.

Can you crane the complete unit over then remove the sliding doors and then lift these in on there own.

Think I might hire one out first and see what it's like and keep an eye on the electric meter and try and figure out rough running costs. I also was looking at the wooden tubs that have a stove attached to heat the water but they are near £1500+ and they are permanent. The blow up ones can be took down and put away which would be a positive for me.

That was my original plan but after I cut all timber left over from my build and my trees and i need space for a pallet of pellets plus a work bench, golf clubs kids bikes I couldn't fit a bucket of water in the shed.

Has anyone got/used one of the inflatable hot tubs before. Am looking in to buying one but never had the pleasure of using one before. Next decision is then to build a deck for it to sit on or dig a hole and sink it. Cost wise probably not much difference between the two. And if I dig a hole and shutter some concrete I can put a temp bench in for a sunken seating area and put a chimea in the inshot where the pump and heater will sit when the hot tub is in place, so will have an extra place to sit outside and enjoy the rain. Drainage will be easy as storm drain for the house will be pretty close and can get power from the shed. Oh and before someone else says it I already have a large bowl for all the car keys!!!

Lovely site. Are those the red hills in the distance??? For your ditch how much water flows through it in winter when it's at its worst. Is 150mm enough to take it away?? What's downstream of you as in if it blocks here where will the water go if it can't fill up the ditch?? Bt is grey duct. Water pipe can be laid in sand or dust with no duct.

Bet you didn't do burgers over them hot flames.

Green is normal for cable TV here, red for fibre optic and purple for motor way communications. CCTV can go in grey won't make no difference. The important ones are the yellow and black. There the ones that can kill you. Make sure you have them covered with marker tape 250mm above the duct. Have come across water pipes in grey before. Most times waterpipe will just be laid in sand/dust with no duct.

I have the solar iboost for my system. Not much to say about it. Works away and diverts the electric with no issues to date so far.

100mm duct makes it alot easier to pull cable esp if there are bends. You would never pull 35mm cable through 54mm duct as the rope and tape will catch at a bend and then you are in the shat.

Just phone a good few as they all travel so even companies based not within a few miles of antrim will give you a price. Make sure you get a price that includes the cost of getting them back to do a lift when different trades need it done. Add all the sums up and see who comes out the best. Make sure you ask about their insurance certificate.

Cheap one as once you have finished beating the blocks it won't be fit for any woodworking.

Marigold gloves are what I always wore.

Never seen a block house get screeded before the windows went in, near one of the last jobs to be done. You need all your first fix plumbing and electrics in so if there are any in the floor they get buried in the insulation. The hose from the pump is only a ft wide so will go through a window never mind a door.

When you are doing any street works the footpath is classed as part of the road and is treated the same. Any i ever set up never had traffic lights though. There is no way it would take three days to do 8m, a full day would be more than enough. If they insist on lights then hire a set out. A days hire of the lights, a few men at work signs , two blue arrows and 10 cones should be no more than a £100. You can also use remote controlled stop go boards.

Put expanding metal up the joints before you plaster it or it will crack or tooth a few blocks out but that's a bit harder on the elbows.

The longer it sits the more it will dry out so try not to fully seal it up so wind can blow through it. If you need to put flooring down upstairs cover the windows in them rooms to keep the rain out.

Long sleeves gloves and glasses and mask. Nothing stops it itching. Don't scratch your arse half way through by mistake!!!

I used the roll I had left over as a French drain behind my retaining wall. A couple of mins drilling and it's working fine. Saved a few quid.

Same here I made a slight boob on my first length so added a good ft on each run from then and it made it easier to connect at both ends instead of pulling it tight to get it to fit.

I didn't mean two ducts just two ends of the duct needs enough slack to be able to connect it to the plenum and the ceiling plate. Very easy to leave a length short.

Something in the news a while ago about the EU taking the executive to court due to us not paying for water even though do via our rates. The charge will happen it's just deferred at the moment but it will come in. The question is which of the lunatics we have running the show wants to be voted out as who ever brings it in will not get reelected.

There was only £200 in the difference between sand cement and liquid screed when I got a price from ces when I done mine. But the horror stories of liquid screed soon made up my mind.

Leave extra in length so its easier to join both ends up. Have it sitting on a stand like the spark would have a reel of cable so it's easy to pull. Make sure where the ducts are going they will fit, no toliet pipes etc in the way, before you start. Have you checked that the actual main unit will fit where you want it to go and have enough room to get at it for changing the filters.

I used mapie 704 in mine and had the same results. You need to let the screeders know as it has to be mixed into the mix either before its delivered on site or added on site. Think it was about £200 extra for the additive.