ToughButterCup

It took 8 full years of building to mix exactly the correct amount of mortar for the job. 8 full years. Normally, too much - what a waste. Often too little . Oh FFS. Anyone know the trick of how to mix exactly the correct amount of mortar for any give job?

I've written a checklist about diggas here on BH somewhere...

That was not the case for us.

Network. Find out who he/she's had him work on their projects before, and who he works with (other trades folk). Listen. As written, I'd be very tempted to ask someone else to get the job finished. However, I (we) can't see the full picture - for example, who does he 'drink' with in the pub in the evenings? Are they the people you'll need to work with sometime in the future? Will you need to employ him (or someone with his skills) again? How many other (say he's a ) carpenter(s) does he work with? Will he put poison down about you, or do they all know this bloke as a bit of a [...] ? For a small amount of money, it's a finely balanced decision.

Exactly. Router, > old bit , > 20mm, > lap in, > mastic, > cover with batten, > fasten. > clean up. 1 man, half a day, 10 meters.

Does this help? I'm almost sure we recessed the VCL into the wall, sealed and battened over the top 75mm ish? We also used an expensive oil-based compound on top of the sub-deck that 'improved the breathability' according to the roofer.

No. But 3g windows are much harder to smash right through. Ask me how I know

Great to see your progress and optimism. You'll need to remember that in years to come '... Between us we are working incredibly effectively. Long may it continue....' That's the key to success

Steel Wired Armoured cable is what you need ( SWA). There are loads of YT videos of people doing the same job Why SWA - because in years to come you never know who is going to put a spade through the cable - hell it might even be you.

Another of those clutching-gonads videos. Its a bit like seeing a car accident. Makes you drive more carefully for a bit. I was pleased to see the operator stand up at the end......

Hello. Access is unlikely to be a Planning issue. Why do you think it might be a problem?

In haste... Look up the NHBC standards.....

I forgot that @BigBub 😑... thanks

Welcome. Nothing like starting with a bang eh? To help you we need the following detail: unless you want us merely to speculate ... The Delegated Officers report The Planning Officers original report The Decision Notice. In general terms ( speculation) , it seems - as written - that two officers offered different opinions on same topic. Its what they wrote - and how they phrased it - that's very important.

How many joints will there be in the pipe that'd be under the road? 0 ? Forget and carry on ... Several? Suck your teeth for a bit longer.....

Give us detail... summat to get our teeth into, otherwise we're just guessing - and so not helping as efficiently as we might.

Hello, welcome. My Groundworks truisms. An experienced person and his machine will do it -better- in a tenth of the time it takes you to do it on your own. Buy a digger anyway.

After 8 years I've just about stopped doing that. Much to SWMBO's relief. My 'line' was to say that it should be a criminal offence to leave a digger unused in a field where passers-by can see them. Diggers should either be hidden or in use, and NOT left out in the open to cause distress to needy non-digger owners. Mind you, my mate has a 60 tonner out in a field within sight of the motorway: every time we drive past, Debbie dares me not to look. Fail every time. He won't let me play on it. Wonder why.

Imagine you had the responsibility for maintaining the services under the wall. If the wall incorporated a suitable duct or 'bridge' through which the services pass, then that would enable the ducting to be maintained. They may never ever need maintenance - but that is irrelevant. On our site, water and electricity pass under a properly specified building foundation in a suitably designed duct (specified by the relevant authority). Ring them or write to them and ask, or get your builder to do so. The Water and Electricity people are keen to help usually - for obvious reasons.

Welcome. You've had a hard time - you're amongst friends. Many of us have similar stories to tell. One way of making progress is to take each point , and list the arguments the Officer made rejecting your application. For each point, in as few words as you can : list the ways in which you have sought to address those arguments look at recent builds where the LPA has not followed the advice given to you (I see you've started to do so already) I 'see' more clearly in some form of table: arguments for in one column, against in a parallel column. That technique reduces mental clutter. Present that table to a Planner (whom you employ) - with the end-in-mind being - If we present this case for Appeal, is there a chance of winning? If you can clearly show that Planners have applied different criteria for your Application than those used in other Applications, then you've stated to weaken the LPAs case. Brevity and clarity of presentation are powerful tools Good luck, Ian

The point made above about water supply is correct. No water no habitation. But the District Valuation Officer who visited us never saw our water supply. She did see a sink (through our kitchen window) and assumed we had a water supply. I asked her to substantiate her claim. Silence. As I understand it, Valuation Officers appear to be becoming more assertive. And that fits the pattern of increased pressure on Local Authority budgets.

Keep the HERAS up and secured. And if possible a time lapse camera - to evidence who has - and who says they have (but hasn't) - visited the site. The BC is irrelevant: but the District Valuation Officer is relevant . How I wish I'd known that four years ago.

Upstairs flooring laid yet? Downstairs ceilings in yet? A (Several) photo(s) of the problem would help us help you more quickly

Where did the mud come from? Its hard to tell from the image...... I ask because I'm not sure whether you have merely one problem or several. If the issue is the mud - stop that, and (one of ) the problems disappears, perhaps? Could it be that when the drive is swept, the rubbish ends up in the 'trench' ? Or do you jet wash your wheel arches and the mud gets into the trench

Morning.... you've brought the sunshine with you . Thanks Waste time on here and you'll wonder where th day(s) went.