Willow

Hi Everyone , our house isn't complete we are in the 4th year now just got 2 bathrooms and the paving front and back of house and driveway to complete , I am being hounded by the local authority to be put on the ratings list but am fearful if I do this I won't be able to claim the vat back on the pavings etc which will be quite expensive as it is a massive area , so I spoke to the vat helpline and they would only give me 'it should be fine to still claim it after being put on the ratings list' but in the same breath wouldn't commit to a definite answer which is rather frustrating as they make the rules ! Any advise would be appreciated , thanks .

Not sure what you mean by standalone extract fans they are fitted in the ceiling and turn on when the light switch comes on ?

The water calc link looks rather complicated , wouldn't know where to start

Thanks , How much should I be paying I have been pricing up air test he said £20 plus vat per fan ? Not booked an air test yet still shopping around , probably fail as I have a very reluctant husband that cba going round checking /filling gaps (he is the builder )

HI , I need a water efficiency calculation cert and mechanical extract fan test ? Any recommendations cheap and cheerful near Wigan please ?

Hi Can I just jump on this convo , our house is 3 storeys the plans say fire doors for second and top floor but ground floor doesn't is this correct ?

have you got their details please ? Thanks

Thanks I will contact them for a quote

Hi We need to do an air test to get the house signed off, any recommendations who to use we are based in Wigan , any idea of cost and if it fails whats the situation ? Thanks in advance

Thanks NOD did you fit them yourself and how long did it take for manufacture? Thanks ToughButterCup will have a look at stairbox too just need to get something in place a bit worried about the timescale .

Thats fab and more or less what we are looking for , did you shop around , was it expensive ?

Thanks I didn't realise they did staircases thought they only sold the components I will pay them a visit. Do you know any decent kitchen design/installations in this area too? Been to B &Q too basic, Wren didnt have quite what I was after , waiting for Howdens to come back to us but they did price utility room which was pricey and that was for their budget range .

HI can anyone recommend a oak staircase manufacturer that covers north west and doesn't cost a small fortune please ?

We have the Titan one from screwfix was only about £40 quid wet and dry and its very powerful love it

So a quite a few months on and I still haven't taken the plunge had a new quote for £2800 with Protek which includes 2 visits the roof is on now , I am getting the impression it is a waste of money but you don;t know what is round the corner we don't intend to move in the next 10 years but you never know, if retrospective is only a few hundred quid more I am tempted to take the risk and leave it , one of my concerns is if there is a problem with the structure etc but I am assuming once complete a standard building insurance policy will cover any defects etc is this correct? I'm really struggling to part with my money on this one as you have probably guessed, plus someone else has mentioned about an extra charge for CDM .

it took 2 days with the telehandler they fitted the big ones as they went up but then got the rest up to the following day, to be honest half a day was taken up organising etc the can't wait to get the scaffold down just waiting for them to collect it

Hi yes it was a replacement dwelling

Hi can anyone recommend a where I can get a good deal on 120mm celotex insulation for the roof please ?

All went well thanks everyone next lets hope it continues, although having a nightmare trying to get the structural warranty sorted bit late in the day I know

Thanks everyone you have all been really helpful, we have decided to go with the telehandler gonna cost £400 plus vat for the week plus a driver £100 a day plus insurance £78 the height is 12 metres but as its on a hill it will be more the trusses are 12.5 metres wide and there is quite a few of them , keeping everything crossed it all goes up by the end of the week with no drama but i'm not holding my breath, as we have had floods , storms, rain and now the virus which has held up the trusses for a good few weeks .

Hi Peter I am told about 9-10 metres the house is on a hill which doesn't help matters

We have just had quite a lot of very large trusses delivered and have been advised we are going to need a crane to move them in place we are in Wigan area any recommendations or advise please would be appreciated ?

Hi We had drainage installed back in August , been a nightmare to say the least, the contractors we used employed someone who wasn't too sure what he was doing (he no longer works for them ) , as they went on their hols and left him to it,.It is still not quite right, the main problem being it wasn't installed to a acceptable depth to allow for stone and paving on top so it was too high. They have blamed the building inspector as they was told to lift the height of the foul drainage as she didn't think there was enough fall to the outfall chamber, this caused the surface water line to be raised too much to have enough cover for paving, which apparently the building inspector then passed not realising the proposed height of FFL as no outer skin of brickwork to work to (these are his words not ours) . From day one they have had the drawings as they did the footings which were fine and my husband made a wooden structure as a guide to various level which when we have been to site it always comes out as he is very particular about his levels as you would be . Some of the gullies are still too high , they have been back and rectified most of it but charged us 2 days work at £620 per day , we haven't paid them for anything they last came out the end of October , I am now thinking we could do with some sort of warranty /guarantee from them , hes pressing for his money now but not sure how to work it any advise would be appreciated . Hope this makes sense ! I know I'm female but surely everyone needs a level to work to ? He is also charging us £1500 vat which will be another argument, as he charged us £600 for the footings so that will be coming off this bill .