Nestor

From the last year (2021) in our new build, 275sqm, well insulated with PV and MVHR the Ecodan control panel reads out 21000 kWh delivered and 3700 kWh consumed for DHW and heating, I appreciate this is subject to our personal requirements but your heat demand estimate is realistic. Would be interested to know the capital costs for LPG for future reference if you have them.

No specialist building skills but had the time. My Dad who is in his 70's did all the drawings by hand and helped erect the frame. Everything except plastering, electrics, ASHP inc commissioning for RHI and windows ( badly installed ) though fitted 8 Velux myself. Timber frame, 11m steel ridge beam, heaps of insulation, Air tight, MVHR, UFH, Seamed metal roof., Cedar cladding, Concrete work tops and on it goes.

I made a frame similar to a skateboard half pipe on the ceiling then fitted a layer of red faced ply followed by glued and pinned 4mm birch ply, it was a challenge. I have built most of the house myself excluding electrics and skimming.

I had similar issues trying to avoid a large steel ridge and MVHR pipe work. I decided on building a curve using birch plywood.

I will be replacing a broken / cracked, stepped fixed double glazed unit on a very shallow conservatory roof to see if that resolves the issue first. The above feeds into the lead lined box gutter where water is appearing inside the room where the box gutter sits. I cannot see any obvious cracks in the lead. The pointing on the wall is also very old. Would a Desmopol type product be suitable to cover the lead / brickwork? Any input appreciated.

I used screws and Caberfix D4 on top of the joists and joints, wear gloves.

For my EPC I was told an Air Tightness Test was not compulsory, we got an A without it.

Same as me. Photographer for 30 years and now let's go building, though my dear Father (78) helped me build the frame. It has been a challenge but worth it.

Love the blog, photos and video. You have skillz

My poor explanation probably, I used some cut batten spacers, 355mm in. my case for 400mm centres. Once I start with the first horizontal at the bottom I place the spaces on top vertically and put the next horizontal on top of the batten and then fix. I built most of the house myself so needed a way to support longer lengths of batten. I still measured and levelled to keep it all horizontal. Hope that makes sense.

Hi there, I would cut the horizontals short to meet the closest vertical ( cover half the vertical and half again with the next piece). You have enough timber in the example above. I would also start at the bottom with some batten (400mm / 600mm) spaces to hold the horizontals in place for fixing.

My frame had 600mm centres, underneath the membrane is 40mm Pavatherm so fixed vertical batten through to the studs. Horizontal battens at 400mm, cladding is western red cedar, about 195mm wide with a half lap. My window details took a few before I was happy. I put a 15 degree angle on the horizontal batten at the top of the window and cut a drip channel underneath the cladding. Fitted the reveals with the cill in place. Fitted some stainless steel mesh at top and bottom of batten just to keep rodents, insects out as much as possible.

My BCO rejected my first self certifying report as the Anemometer had no proof of being calibrated. I recently hired this : https://www.inlec.com/testo-417-vane-anemometer-with-flow-hoods so hopefully will now accept my report.

Ash dieback (Hymenoscyphus fraxineus) will probably kill it anyway. Just cut low to the ground. Hedges will need maintenance periodically.

@Tom Sorry to hear about your issues. I know you are local to me but if you are looking for another builder in the future I can recommend an exceptional builder here in South Devon. (Not me). Hopefully you will remedy the current situation.

@SuperJohnG https://www.robinsonwirecloth.co.uk/online-shop/Soffit-mesh-stainless-steel-30m-roll-p49612077 Excellent product and SS staples. Spend some time getting the detail right.

This.

Have a look at this link I have tried using the ASHP in cooling mode but had minimal effect here, we have no shading at all so can overheat on the very warm days. More effective is to close all the windows for us. Also plumbed and wired for separate AC unit to cover the upstairs bedrooms and main living space to install later. For us, getting a good nights sleep was the priority.

I have 40mm Pavatherm fixed to timber frame, then membrane, batten, counter batten, Cedar cladding. Put some stainless steel rodent mesh top and bottom behind the cladding.

Having lived with an Ecodan for over a year now it has used just over 4000 kWh for both DHW and heating. This is for a very well insulated, air tight home with 5 adults. Never run out of hot water and the noise this particular unit makes is not an issue. It is sited outside next to the wall of the house. I originally planned for it to be sited 15 metres away but the suppliers said its not necessary. However in built up areas and in poorly insulated properties the results might be very different. And yes the RHI did influence the decision to proceed with an ASHP.

As noted above it does depend on your location, even from the same supplier the price varies by 30%+.

Thanks Ian, lowest rate from PFP is 16.84p and that's a variable summer rate. Fixed is 20.25p. Do prices fluctuate that much across the country from the same supplier? No detail, just current news reports which you are right to be sceptical of.

Please let me know where I can find a supplier for 12.5p/kWh. I have just changed supplier to find the rate of 18.97p/kWh who have just announced an increase of 11.7% on the 2nd August. The Government is looking at delaying the ban on gas boilers to 2040 due to soaring "net zero" cost.

Not an expert but having but my own house with an EPC of A I would not recommend an ASHP in your property. The electricity cost would be substantial and not sure it would be able to provide you with adequate heating. I would hang on to gas / lpg for as long as possible before being forced down the electric only route.

Similar build to yours, 275m2, 3G, MVHR etc and 8.5kW, Ecodan, 300l pre plumber cylinder. Works perfectly for our family of 5.