vivienz
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Posts
1378 -
Joined
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Days Won
15
Everything posted by vivienz
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We used everedge in our current garden a few years back as all the beds, borders and grass areas have curved edges and keeping them that way could have been tricky but it works very well. I don't know the current price for it (steel has been cheap for a few years Now, but that's just the raw material) but we would consider using it again as it is a good products.
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I will need to purchase solar PV at some point this year. I have no idea what spec yet, but definitely plan to include it in the build.
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Ah yes, I recall the thread now. Either way, it would be nice if the doors were as beautiful and functional as the cladding! Windows and doors seem to cause as many problems as everything else put together in the self build process.
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That looks lovely! It's a pity that the sliders still need replacing, but they look great.
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I will be asking plenty of questions in this area soon. I'm planning to gave an MBC build and I'm very keen on using sunamp in the heating/DHW system.
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As far as I can see, the conditions aren't onerous at all. They want the usual confirmation of flues, vents and chimneys, etc., proposed tree planting/landscaping schemes and attention to the bats; no removal of POD either. I don't think there's anything unexpected there, but I shall be going through it with a fine-toothed comb with the architect.
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To say I'm thrilled is an understatement. Our architect gave me a call this afternoon to say that planning permission has been granted and with no changes to what we submitted. I was fully prepared for the worst and even had a plan B in place so that we could deal with the summer bat roost in the roof of the existing bungalow before it becomes active again at the end of spring, so I can set aside that bit of scheming now. I had some concern that the planning officer would object to the larger size of the new building or its increased height but my concerns were unnecessary. One of the main parts of our briefing to the architect was that we didn't want more rooms than we have in our current house (3 bed with a loft conversion), but we wanted larger rooms. Much larger. In this case, size really does matter. Anyhow, all's well for the time being so we best our game face on and start the hard work part of it.
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- planning permission
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Today was d-day for us as far as planning permission is concerned as it was the decision deadline. Approved, no amendments, exactly how it was submitted. I had hoped for the best and prepared for the worst and got the former. Now the real work begins!
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- planning permission
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Nooooo!!!! No rock or music related bell rings, please! If I used Dancing Queen as a bell ring, he'd divorce me on grounds of mental cruelty. I've applied to the council for the name changed and explained to the lady there that our first choice was a very strong first choice. She asked my why, so I told her. I believe that she could have used the common abbreviation of PMSL, expressed her sympathy and said that she would see what she can do. I also explained to OH that Ronnie James Dio House was not an acceptable alternative.
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Good point, Jeremy. I don't know is the answer at the moment, but OH is likely to be more upset than I will if we can't have it.
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I thought it would be timely to get a blog started on our proposed new build in north Dorset as I'm eagerly (driving me nuts) anticipating the decision on our planning permission which is due on Thursday. That said, it may well be a damp squib as little that comes out of North Dorset Council is on time, apart from the direct debit requests for council tax. So let's deal with the proposed name of the new build as here lies something I don't talk about too much in public. If you take a look at a map of north Dorset, you will see an area called the Blackmore Vale marked on it, so it would be natural to assume that's what we propose to name to the new house after, given that we aren't too imaginative about these things and that's where it's going to be. You would be wrong. OH has a deep and abiding love of heavy metal rock music and, as far as he's concerned, the house is named in tribute to his all-time rock guitar playing hero, Ritchie Blackmore. As far as I'm concerned, it's still the first explanation. Particularly since I told him that the doorbell would not blast out the riff from Smoke on the Water whenever anyone calls. Or any other riff/rock anthem/heavy rock associated musical theme that comes to mind. Have I mentioned that I'm looking into really good acoustic insulation around the house?
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Brilliant - thanks, Jeremy. That steers my decision towards which one to have.
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I understand that (kitchen) appliances aren't eligibile for a VAT reclaim, but saw recently that downdraught extractors do qualify since they are classed as ventilation. Can anyone advise what is the situation re. boiling water taps?
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Stamp duty query
vivienz replied to Pocster's topic in Self Build VAT, Community Infrastructure Levy (CIL), S106 & Tax
@ProDave - that could be worth thinking about as the excess is in the region of £7k. The previous house is, indeed, our main residence. It's a double-edged sword really, isn't it? We're lucky enough that we can work our finances around and remain in our current house whilst the new one is being built, but £7k at risk if we go beyond the 3 year point after purchase. @Ferdinand - I hope that it will never come to an offset situation with CGT as we plan that this will be the last house for us. One never knows, however, so I shall make a note of it somewhere safe as it's quite possible I will not have enough memory to retain a detail like that if circumstances dictate that we have to leave. I will put a post into the mortgages and funding section shortly with details of the method that OH and I are using. It may not be widely applicable, but someone may find it useful. -
Stamp duty query
vivienz replied to Pocster's topic in Self Build VAT, Community Infrastructure Levy (CIL), S106 & Tax
I certainly wouldn't! Three years seemed like a long time at the start, but 1/3 of the way through it with no change to see, things become a little more urgent. -
Stamp duty query
vivienz replied to Pocster's topic in Self Build VAT, Community Infrastructure Levy (CIL), S106 & Tax
Our plot has an existing dwelling on it that we will demolish, hence the stamp duty as it is classed as a second property. If there is no existing dwelling, then the higher SDLT won't apply which, I guess, is the case for you. We just have to make sure we meet that deadline! -
Stamp duty query
vivienz replied to Pocster's topic in Self Build VAT, Community Infrastructure Levy (CIL), S106 & Tax
+1 of ProDave's comments. We completed on the site of our newbuild nearly a year ago but had to pay the higher SDLT because we still had our main home. We have 3 years from when we completed on the site to get the new place built and the current one sold in order to claim back the difference on the SDLT. -
Impressive that a cat of that age could still get up the stairs, Ferdinand! Considering a stair lift or improving access for limited mobility is still worth considering, I think. Hubby smashed his heel to pieces a couple of years back and then I broke my leg 6 weeks ago and whilst we have either mended or are on the mend, it does focus the mind on how well one would cope in later years when limited by frailty or poor recovery from injury.
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Thanks again, chaps, very useful. @PeterW - a useful point re. getting locked in to prices with BMs. I'm planning on using MBC for the foundation slab and frame so it will be everything but bricks that i'll be looking for. If all goes to plan (or the submitted plan in this case) then it will be stone clad on the ground floor and tile and timber for the upper floor and roof.
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Thank, chaps. I'll drop by the local BM and pick up a few samples.
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I need to get hold of some material samples for a house that will never be built. Bear with me, it will make sense in the end! Earlier this year, OH and I bought a site in north Dorset with an old woolaway type bungalow on the plot. There was an attached full planning permission to demolish and re-build; the proposed house is fairly ordinary, 3 bedroom, 1 1/2 storey. We are in the throes of applying for a new permission to build the house that we actually want, but between the backlogs at the council and an architect with no sense of urgency or even speed, this is likely to take some time to be agreed, even if it goes through without any objections. I want to demolish the bungalow under the existing planning permission because it has been confirmed as a summer roost for bats and this needs to be done before the end of April, when they come out of hibernation and may take up residence in the building again. It's quite likely that we won't get the new permission in time to satisfy whatever permission conditions are attached and give notice to building control, hence my desire to use the current permission. To do this, the existing planning conditions require me to submit samples of the external materials that will be used in construction, as well as windows and doors. I have been advised by the planning department that the tech drawings supplied by window and door manufacturers in their brochures will suffice for that part, but I still need to get hold of some bricks and tiles, etc. Can anyone point me in the right direction for this that won't cost me too much and that the council will accept?
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I have used audible for years myself and I'm a big fan but I'd like to see if I can get him set up with free unlimited audio books from the library, too. If he takes to it really well, 1 book per month may not be enough for him.
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The joy of upcycling...
vivienz replied to Lesgrandepotato's topic in General Self Build & DIY Discussion
Brilliant! I've seen something like this done with Bombay Sapphire gin bottles. Empty, of course. -
Does anyone have any experience of writing new 'skills' for Amazon's virtual assitant, Alexa? My father in law has completely lost his mobility in recent months and is nearly dying of boredom so I've bought him an Amazon Fire 7 tablet so that he can listen to talking books on it. The tablet comes with the virtual assistant, Alexa, the same as on the Echo device but activated slightly differently. Alexa can be used on the tablet to activate Kindle and Audible books, but nothing that's not propriety to Amazon such as RBDigital that is available from public libraries. I've gone through the tutorial on the Amazon Web Service (and signed up for a free account there) but it doesn't seem to link in to specifying using another app on the device. Although my father in law could learn the tablet screen controls, he struggles with them due to his hands which are very large and now arthritic, hence my thoughts that voice controlled would be a lot easier for him. Any thoughts or hints would be much appreciated.
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Part 23 - Final Groundworks and Landscaping
vivienz commented on Stones's blog entry in An Orkney Build (in ICF)
Breath taking views and the house sits so well in its surrounding. Lovely.