vivienz

Eek! That sure is a nasty surprise. Very little seems to be cheap once a DNO is involved. The electricity supply to our plot comes in on an overhead cable that we will have buried and ballpark figures for that aren't cheap at all.

Well, that doesn't do your blood pressure much good, does it? Pleased you got it sorted, but definitely a salutory lesson.

I've looked at z clad but little comes up for it other than the main manufacturer. The version that the local guy has doesn't show on their website, so I'm not sure its one of their projects.

Hmm - I had better go and have a look at a real life project, Declan. There is one I know of that's fairly local, so I shall go a state at someone's house tomorrow.

Thanks, good to get a second opinion. A Dutch friend of mine has been raving about them but not enough for her to bite the bullet yet!

We plan to have the ground floor walls of the new build clad with some sort of stone cladding (TerryE, I've been reading your blog notes on this with interest) and I'm favouring one that comes in an interlocking z shape tile format at the moment. Although there is a supplier local to me, I'm having difficulty locating alternatives so that I can compare prices. I think the local guy is reasonable, but that's just in comparison to loose stone cladding that doesn't come in tile format. The tile type is appealing as, I'm guessing, it will take less labour to attach to the building and less (if any) mortar. Can anyone suggest any suppliers?

Lizzie - which version of the Bora extractor did you opt for? Is it as quiet as the manufacturer claims?

Waving from Bournemouth, but soon to be building in north Dorset. What a lovely job you've done of your retirement bungalow, and even better coming in on budget.

Congratulations! When do you plan to start work?

Bugger! I was going to ask about your PV system, Barney, but I may hold off for the moment. Let us know how you get on.

Thanks, chaps. I think I've used the wrong terminology - the 'windows' in our roof, AFAIK, are just fixed windows. I don't intend them to be openers.

@PeterW - can you say who the suppliers are? I also need to source 3G roof lights. Thanks.

Hmm - a very timely reminder. I have some hedges that border between the residential curtilege and the bit of field that we also have and these will be removed, but I better get them cleared when I get demolition done, otherwise it will completely mess up our landscaping plans until next winter.

If bats ate all the newts and then died from over indulgence, that would work out pretty well! Fortunately, only summer roost bats right now. It could be so much worse!

The first big money was spent today - I signed my contract with MBC and paid the deposit. I think I could use a menopausal hot flush about now, to counteract the cold sweat that comes over me at the thought of spending all that money. I haven't been idle since getting our planning permission through, either, as I know that the clock is ticking on loads of things that would be done later due to the type of build. Stuff like how the cabling from the internet satellite dish will run into the house. I rang the ISP and asked them how they would normally approach things - "well, we will just drill a hole through the wall". Oh no, you won't! I'm waiting for them to call me back to have a chat about cabling requirements. I also found out exactly where the water meter is and the route of the supply pipe. I have been known to be lacking in powers of observation for things I'm not interested in, and a water meter would definitely fall into that category. However, I have specifically looked for it a few times but not succeeded and I found out why today - it's a few hundred metres down the lane, outside someone else's house in what the water company described as 'a large chamber'. All very gothic, but at least I know where to look now. The architect is moving at his usual glacial pace with things, so I have my rockets ready to be inserted in strategic places to make sure he keeps up with everyone else rather than slow things down as I think will happen if left to his own devices. The glowing taper is approaching the blue touch paper. Currently waiting calls back from: Wessex Water Architect His preferred BCO (for a quote and a chat about the house build) Highways management (what we need to do when creating the new vehicular access to the garage) Planning case officer (about the bats and our roof, to agree timing on removal) Time to go and do some paid work now. Sigh.

I've watched with horror the unfolding story of your private BCO and can only echo all the comments that have gone before. I met with our architect yesterday to get things moving on our build as we now have PP, and he is very keen for us to use a private BCO. Your experience was at the forefront of my mind at the time and I told the architect that I was happy to consider his recommendation but would only take things further if I received assurances that they were comfortable with MBCs building system and wouldn't require me to educate them on anything that would stop the build progressing. Small comfort to you, I know, but thanks for being so up front with it all as it has been a valuable lesson for me.

Hmm. The site of the existing septic tank will be under the footprint of the new house. Aside from making things rather smelly for the MBC crew, is it still a good idea to just fill it in? If it gets completely dug out, does the spoil need to be disposed of in a particular way?

Great, thanks Dave. A neat solution.

Our site has no mains drainage and the existing bungalow has an old septic tank that will need to be dug out and removed. Are there any particular requirements around this? I have no idea how old it is or of what construction, other than it's possibly in the region of 40 years old and has no electrics or pumps involved.

Thanks, Lizzie, that's a really good point. I need to get an old septic tank removed and sink the new sewage plant along with some rainwater harvesting tanks, so I guess I could do it then.

I haven't, Dave. Do I need to? I'm not really an IT supremo and I don't plan to run a business from there.

You're a man who just can't resist temptation! No.

Very helpful. Thanks, all.

Another bit of positive news - our request to change the name of the new (replacement) house to Blackmore House has been approved. OH is pleased, but I'm still resisting on the doorbell tune.

I need to commission a soil survey on our plot so that the timber frame/foundation company (probably MBC) can do their calculations for the foundations. Can anyone give me an idea of what the going rate for this should be?