Conor

How does a wheelchair user / pram get from the garage in to the house? We were faced with a similarly sloping site. Any of the split level designs looked awkward. So we went full basement and lost all steps. Both ground and lower floor are accessible, and it's great. It might be too late for you, but consider changing the split levels. Digging down a bit more here or there is more money, but you recoup that through knock on effects.

For lenders, I can highly recommend ecology.

Good plan but you just can't beat hours in the machine. Was the fourth hire or so before I came what could be considered competent. Just keep at it and get the feel. Fyi the larger the machine the easier it is.. more stable. It's fun. Enjoy.

It's not a sewer /water chamber. It's some other utility or service. It could be a valve, air release valve, telecoms, electric, anything really. The orange PVC cap is covering something. Fundamentally, it's not yours to mess with.

It's grand. Rustic. Won't see half of it anyway once you have the oven in

Is one of those units a fridge freezer? If so move it to the left of the oven. And move your hob one unit to the right on the island. You don't want it right at the end. We've a 400mm wide unit at the end to push the hob in a bit.

From hiring many machines over the last four years, bigger is always better. 5t would be my choice. The bigger bucket will make cleaning up faster.

Gravel grids, 20mm stone, and edged with plain concrete pin kerbs.

If there is no wayleave in place, they will have to move it, if you insist. If there is a wayleave, then you'll have to pay for the privilege. Your legal pack when you bought the site should have this info. If not, request from the network owner.

+1 That's what we do. Runs flat out for 7 hours each night. Doubt you'd ever make a saving using batteries for that sole purpose.

Worth it for the drum.

Cars in Fermanagh are mostly turf powered anyway.

In a bungalow you have a disproportionate amount of heat loss through the roof. What's your loft insulation situation?

You need to do all your "customer side" works first (to their required standard) before they will come out and connect up. Id budget ~£2k

Do you have a water meter? Take a reading next time before you go away for a day or two.

A diversion would be required with a new manhole being needed in the public highway. Budget somewhere around £5k minimum. Maybe £10k if the rest of the section needs to be modified. But there a chance the records are wrong, it certainly looks a little strange, worth lifting a couple lids to check.

Deffo eye level oven. Under counter is a thing of the past. Btw your kitchen design is lacking storage. I understand your philosophy but you could make much better use of the space. I'd replace the three units where the hob is to full height, one with built in oven, another microwave and third storage. And put hob on the island and lose the overhead extractor. And extend the run down to the end of the second window, put the sink in the middle. Finally... We hardly use our oven these days, 90% air fryer. I'd have provision for one somewhere that's not in the way.

We put render board and rendered right up to the slates (with 8mm foam tape between)

Round here they paint them red oxide and leave it at that. I wouldn't rub down too aggressively as you'll remove what galvanising is left.

What are the iron levels? You might need an active filter if both are high (indicating a geological source.)

You can't do that, new dwelling needs it's own independent vehicular access which needs to meet current highway standards. Unless they are selling that as part of the site and they have an alternative access?

Does it have access? Id have thought you'd have no chance of meeting visibility splay requirements around the corner.

Forget 2x2s, you'll want 4x2s as per above (with noggins.)

Installing a 2100mm ring is a fair bit trickier than a 600mm plastic ring! I used a 5t digger for our 900mm rings and there wasn't much breathing room. Tbh best speaking to a ground worker.

Why aren't you putting the dishwater waste in to the sink trap? You can go a couple of metres with the outlet hoses.