connick159

Hi, thanks for response, I did think about ufh pipes in the slab but there was no one around here used to doing it that way so I ended up going slab the insulation then screed. I was interested in same as you but decided to stick with what they know around here. We definitely don't have as much insulation either as I struggled on several fronts for design. We are restricted in height (small quarry mans cottage in a conservation zone so not allowed to exceed existing ridge height) and also can't dig down too much as both water table and unstable clay if we went to far. Upshot is we have opted to stick with just enough insulation as we can manage while keeping under height restrictions. In hindsight I should have pushed more for the ufh in slab as we could have got 50mm extra I place of slab but found it hard enough getting trades here as it is. Thanks again.

Hi guys, Have a quick question about whether I need to provision any pipes etc under the slab in prep for air source heat pump? We are due to pour the slab later this week and we've changed our minds from using oil to going ASHP for underfloor heating and DHW. What I'm trying to find out is if I have to allow for pipes for the ASHP now before I pour the slab or can all that be done later? Make up of flooring is as follows: 1. Hardcore 2. Sand Blinding 3. Membrane 4. Concrete slab 5. Insulation 6. UFH 7. Screed. Any help would be greatly appreciated. Thanks in advance.

Thanks for the messages... here is a bit of an update for you all. The building inspector has agreed that the sensible solution for the old culvert drain is to divert it behind a new stone retaining wall that we will be building. Good result! Next problem is that I only had to dig down about 400mm to find the sewage waste which means that we are going to find it challenging to get the fall required for the installation of the new waste pipes. We also have a bit of water in on the site now as it is seepage from the land at the back which gently slopes down towards to cottage. hopefully the French drain behind the dry stone wall will resolve this. Meating with my excavators next week to discuss the groundworks and waste pipe design challenge and the stone waller also start on Thursday. Should then get the foundations dug and poured the following week. So much to learn on my behalf!!! Cheers

hi, Out of interest re the stepoc, what size were your ones and how much footing (width and depth) did you to cater for to add the stone cladding? We have to build a retaining wall that will be about 2.5m away from house and around 10m long. It's about 1.8m high overall but I'm going to terrace it to be about 1m high first rise and then terrace back 2m and then about another 800mm up at that point. Also, how far did you have to dig back behind the wall (away from house) to allow for drainage and backfill, and did you put any of the spoil you dig out originally back in as backfill?

Thanks for the tip re FB and also for the links. will have a look tonight. Prob I have at the moment is that I just had the site cleared as the local digger driver could only fit me in this weekend but... I still need to work out exact finished floor heights and uncovering an old culvert drain right in the middle of the planned extension will need diverting so... have to try and scramble to get it all done before I can find someone else to help with digging the footings (once I know the height that is ?

Hi Peter, yes I do but all on phone at the moment and for some reason its playing up trying to send to pc. I'll sort it tonight and post some up. Cheers

Thanks Ian, we had it checked during planning stage and luckily we are all good.

Hi everyone, My wife and I have purchased an 1840's former quarryman's cottage in North Wales and have just embarked on an extension to the rear and side of it. Over the weekend we excavated over 225t and now have a huge clay pit. Still need to dig footings and also sort a terraced retaining wall. The saying 'bitten off more that I can chew' comes to mind Day 1 we struck a problem with an old culvert underneath the floor level so we will have to divert it. It seems pretty daunting given the closest thing I've done like this before is converting an old outside laundry to a new bathroom plus - I don't have a builder as have decided instead to manage it and organise the trades. Would love a builder but as budget is tight (4 kids to feed) I've decided to try and engage the trades myself and order materials so this adds to the 'what the hell am I doing?' I'm thinking of tracking it in a blog or on FB so can post pics there and link to it (if allowed). Anyway, stumbled across this forum while doing some searches and glad I found it. I reckon I'll be using it a bit so hopefully my questions aren't to daft! Cheers Connick