Russdl

We have porcelain tiles on pedestals. The ground underneath is anything but level and the pedestals we’ve used are from 50mm to 300mm high to give us a level patio. No grout required, water pours through the gaps. Jet wash it once a year and it still looks as good as new. As with @Andehh our tiles are the same inside to out. Slippery little bastards with frost on them.

I’ve just built a garage, slightly larger than your proposal but also within a meter of the boundary so had to be fireproof. Ours is single skin blockwork (clad in Rockwool EWI) and I used ‘C’ Section steel purlins for the flat roof and then plasterboard underneath. BCO were happy with that.

Welcome on board Alex. I’ve no idea what a DYI guy is (ok, maybe I do) but you’ll surprise yourself with what you’ll be able to achieve with the help of all the talented help available on here.

@runcyclexcski that looks better than the picture you painted in my head. Ours looked similar after about 3 months. I would say it’s unlikely to be just from your neighbours fires unless your MVHR intake is right next to someone’s chimney. Air is generally dirty, there would be no rain without dirt and that’s dirt of any description - pollen, volcanic ash, salt particles, even soot. It’s certainly worth getting your own filter material but don’t get too wound up about it, it’s doing what it’s supposed to do.

😃

‘K’ not ‘k’?

It certainly makes a difference, just having the sun show it's face reduces our heating requirements, the PV is an added benefit.

Southern England 22.7kWh today. It's been a bloody long time coming!

What level of insulation and air tightness are you aiming for? If you’re aiming for high levels of insulation and air tightness then you’ll almost certainly discover that you don’t need a wood burning stove so have a ‘Plan B’ for your focal point and save a bucket load of cash into the bargain.

For sure, but dirty from soot in three weeks?? They must be right next door to some dark satanic mills if it is soot.

Some interesting observations but are you sure the intake filter is darker through soot? That seems a bit wild after just 3 weeks. My hunch would be mould is starting to grow considering the wet conditions you describe.

Until I gave it a bit of thought a few minutes ago I would have said “nothing” but now having given it a bit of thought I’d say “air curtain”. Like I say, it’s always been like that, the supply has always been slightly higher than the extract. I have no reason to doubt the data the machine is giving me so perhaps the manufacturer thinks it’s a good thing? Standing by for the contrary views.

Absolutely no idea, it’s what the Brink is reporting and I’ve no reason to question the accuracy thus far. As for the “why” that’s the way it operates and always has but being slightly ‘over pressure’ seems like a good thing to me. Isn’t it? We’re quite airtight but not a sealed box. I haven’t given this a huge amount of thought until now but surely that slight over pressure will act as an air barrier to any small air leaks we have - ensuring the air leaks out and not in - so we’d be giving away a little bit of pre warmed cold air instead of welcoming in the little bit of cold air that hadn’t been pre warmed.

Our supply is always slightly higher than extract, so theoretically we are slightly over pressured.

This quite interesting video about Octopus put me right.

Yep, if you’ve forgotten a bit and all else fails you can just scrunch it into a ball and stuff it in the gap.

Here's a detail of the insect mesh under the window cill. Basically do what ever you can with whatever you've got to seal every possible hole that an insect may exploit. It's a labour of love.

Definitely don’t leave a gap and don’t leave anything that could become ‘gappy’ over time. Any gap, no matter how small will be exploited. I’m trying to remember exactly how I did ours. IIRC correctly I attached the mesh to the timber frame, then the battens and folded the mesh over the top of the battens and secured the mesh with a counter batten so, to cover a 25mm gap I needed probably 75mm of mesh. I’ll see if I can find one of my drawings which may make it clearer.

We used stainless mesh and staples from a BM, but lots available on line. Just imagine you are a wasp 🐝 and do whatever it takes with what ever you have to ensure that when you have finished that wasp can’t get behind your cladding. Rest assured if you leave a gap a wasp and all its friends will find it. There is no right or wrong way because every build will be subtly different, just make sure there are no tiny gaps when you’re done. If you do buy the mesh wear gloves or be prepared to smear your blood all over the place.

I did a lot of research into the Komfovent when I was looking for our MVHR, sadly because I’m a goldfish I can’t remember the specifics but I do recall concluding that the Komfovent was not the way to go for us. Something to do with the rotary wheel system and its efficiency - or lack of, in a domestic setting. It may be worth researching rotary wheel MVHR pros and cons before you head in that direction. Sorry I can’t be any more specific. Probably an age thing.

What’s the road situation? Highways may have a lot to say re driving in and out in a ‘forward’ gear. Your plot shape brings to mind that amazing triangular house featured on Grand Designs a few years ago that was built on a very tricky plot.

Success!! I’ve got the dome thingy off 😃 I’m not sure if it will go back on again though, it didn’t come off without a fight. We have two of these taps, here’s the dome thingy from the other tap, the one that isn’t leaking. Incredibly thin material. And I’m delighted to say that the manufacturer is going to pop a new one in the post. I’ll keep a closer look out for a slow leak this time around.

@Don33e try SketchUp. It takes a bit of getting used to if you unfamiliar but there are tons of YouTube vids to get you started.

Here you go, and if she can’t help she may well be able to point you to someone closer who can. Good luck. Jackson Planning Ah, I’ve just reread her website and she does the south of England but stops at Sussex, it still may be worth getting in touch though, can’t hurt.

I have a hunch that you’ll remember that even without reminders 😅