ToughButterCup

How much? Here's what my roughly equivalent (bit bigger , but not much) window cost - triple glazed. Every single person who has seen it plays with it - weighs a ton, move it with one finger. In the context of comparing quotations, I found it really difficult to compare like with like. For me, detail contained within the the quote matters. Some producers were - to our mind - light on detail, and so were filtered out quickly.

You are most welcome. My dad was a sapper (WO1, 1950s) , so I'm almost duty bound to ask you , when are you going to be installing the Bailey Bridge?

It isn't, yet The lead should be cut into each layer of brickwork of the chimney. (Step flashing) If the leadwork remains like that you are certain to have problems. Here's how it should look. Like this

Fireline PB is what we are using.... the remnants of the board not used to line the steels. Plus a bit of fire resistant foam, jobs a goodun.

Find a kit house (of any sort) and see if you can arrange a stay / short break in one?

Welcome. Hold on to your current enthusiasm. When we started a few years ago; full of vim and vigour. Currently (2nd, 3rd fit) most of that has gone: now its head-down-arse-up determination that keeps us going. That and the determination to spit in the eye of those who don't deliver what they say they will. And there are loads of those, altogether too close to home: online and off it.

Good morning. Welcome. Digging round in whats left of my brain (2nd and 3rd fit-frazzled) , I remember an experienced Buildhubber, asking someone doing the same type of project as yours about the foundations. I think the question was - will the house design require the stable foundations to be changed in any way? I'll try and dig out the thread, because that may help you.... (5 minutes)

Its posts like yours that remind me not to moan so much. Thanks, and welcome.

I found this book helpful As often is the case, Mr Griffiths and I have the same nightmare on the same day.

Hello, welcome. Got any pics of your extension? There's always something for us to learn from new members contributions...

Snap. 5 years on we are between second and third fix .... and boy am I knackered: I mean walking dead knackered. Today's the first day off in the last 30 or so. Almost giddy with relief. Go for it. Good luck.

Is the question : does passivhaus design and build cost more than more traditional design and build? If so, yes, it does. Much difference? Depends on too many factors to give sensible advice at this level. From your post, I think you might be interested in this document about the Enerphit Standard: in essence, a passivhaus retrofit standard. Here's a list of other resources you might like to read

M&S or Aldi?

Hire? I'd be tempted to consider buying two cheap ones and, if space allows, put them where it's easy to access them with a vehicle / 3 tonner, and maximises the likelihood that thieves will be seen.

Yes. Heavy, dense stuff at the bottom , neatly stacked wood and kitchen units ... and there'll be space for all the God-have-we-still-got-those? In our case the kids' A Level notes. ?

I have worked with Hilliard Tanner in Ireland for four years: slab, Durisol, steels, louvres. He has been on site exactly the same number of times as the other SEs with whom we have worked. 0 , Zero.

I could not agree more. And to top Russ' story, a drainage engineer - who came to advise us about our drainage - mentioned that his next meeting that day was to go and mediate on a site where the owner had built despite advice that the drainage -foul and surface water - would be a problem. It would interest me a great deal to analyse how and why some folk decide to proceed despite lots of well-found evidence that they should not do so.

Then plan to spend £150,000, and no more. It doesn't matter who thinks you are mad. It's the measure of your ambition that matters. This is not the time for grandiose 'big pictures' . It is the time for realism, based on evidence. If the ambition matches 75% of your budget, then you will have the last laugh Identify the size of the problem: pay for a thorough survey done by a really reputable company. A really reputable one. Identify what I call The Knitting: stuff that has to happen before (say) the mezzanine. Plan. Network. Stress realism in relation to the money you have. Accept that some expenditure headings might well have to wait for a while. Stick to The Knitting. I bet @Ferdinand will have some good ideas..... Ferdi? Welcome - by the way

Well, Mr Griffiths, at least Old Farts can find photgraphs and steal them efficiently.

We also did as @Redoctober did. Before I forget, be sure to check where the supplier wants the meter to be placed. How to put this.... our plumber pointed out a simple anomaly in the Water Boards design, and suggested we take advantage of that. I refused . ?

Welcome. Keep hold of that enthusiasm. Reminds me of the Good Old days when we started 4 years ago - God only knows I'd be glad of some of that Vim and Vigour today.

Just a quick heads up from bitter Durisol experience. If you under order, or smash too many blocks, or otherwise find that you've insufficient, getting another load delivered is not the same as popping down to the BM for some more. It's (was) a trip down to Crumlin in a hired wagon for us. And just in case you have to, make sure its a flat bed wagon. The blocks aren't heavy - but 500 blocks is a lot of handballing when a material handler could have had access to a flatbed. I lost my fingerprints for about a week - even with gloves. Fairly fit upper-body strength now though...... The point you make about Green Life could be very important.

... for us perceived speed of build (on the part of the builder) was problematic. It fostered a lack of accuracy. I don't wish to imply that that might be the case for you Jake. That initial build inaccuracy has only just been corrected by a magician plasterer. My own lack of confidence played a significant role too. Now, I would check every single course of blocks for line and level. Neither would I allow a pour without appropriate shuttering. It's always the same : Devil in the Detail, or as @Ferdinand has it, God's in the Detail. (That Ferdi, he must be Shockin' Holy)

Low running costs appear to be of marginal concern to almost all buyers - two estate agents have told us that. And, I have often heard others who build locally, that houses built to the minimum current specification are very cheap to run. So, the logic goes, why bother with a U value that's as low as passivhaus. As for MVHR ? Ya wot? Whassat? The need to explain it to all but a few says all you need to know. I can count the number of visitors to our build who knew about MVHR on one of my hands (of which two fingers have been amputated)

An estate agent, asked to value our current house , offered an opinion (but not a valuation) on the house I'm building in what used to be our orchard. We are building in Durisol. In his estimation build method, while a consideration for some, is not a strong determinant of price. Why? Because you can't see the build method.