ToughButterCup

Yeah, the build's killing me mate.

Do so by all means. But first arm yourself with the resources contained in this post. Now (not back then) I agree entirely with Ed I have noticed that people who own houses often think the have some sort of say over the land they can see. They don't. But, like the objector in our application when, at the Parish meeting, I suggested that our application could not be considered on the basis of what our house might be used for A Councillor gave herself of these immortal words, " Aaah'll speek me mind and there's nowt ye can do abart it mert....: it's gunna be a retarment 'ome , tha's innit ter mek munney" SWMBO got her stiletto into my foot before I could open my mouth (again) . Lucky that. Bless 'er.

46 sq meters and a roof of 10 sq meters. Wanna laugh? - I put them up on my own with the following results......

Welcome. Sounds like you'll have forgotten more than i'll ever know

£1800. Three different specs. and this is what you can do to correct builders' errors ( that is building by eye, rather than with a line and level ) Steve at Cheshire Roof Trusses helped me through that particular trauma. Be sure to specify exactly how the joist is attached to the wall plate, and measure the width at each and every joist station along the wall. Ian

A whiteboard screwed to the wall outside my workshop.

Why should you know? I still (four years later) can't believe I didn't [...] don't [...] haven't [...] should have [...]. There's one tiny (at this stage) crumb of comfort - you get better at solving problems the more you have and face successfully. The bummer is you only need to solve that particular one once: as you'll know soon as one things ticked off, there 7 million others (oh and that other one) to solve. Notice I say ' face' (not solve or resolve or sort out) Its the process of facing problems and - in some cases deciding to give it to someone else thats important. Not dealing with a problem (not simple procrastination) really gets everyone down. And the one thing you will always have is a BH ear or 20 to talk to. That has always worked for me.

I'd be very hesitant to offer advice - I have no experience with that brand. But of one thing you can be sure - someone has faced the problem before. What does the manufacturer or local rep say?

They really do take folk for idiots don't they? And its so easy to Google (other search engines are just as good , if not better) the subject and read the critiques.

Yes, I am sure: from experience (with Durisol) , I know it can be done in one of four ways Grind the concrete Shim the blocks Trim the blocks Lay a 'correction' mortar bed during the build of the blocks A combination of all three (should have said five above ?) I gulped when I saw your numbers: my sincere commiserations 's not funny. Can I ask before I make any further suggestions, which ICF are you using?

Well, there's the odd draft. Exactly the same issue as you Pete. I bought a 6 month policy. Head down, arse up, go.

I have heard an ICF rep claim to have poured two storeys per pour. Hmmm, but there's no reason that the four storey shouldn't be poured in four pours - just possibly 3. How well are you prepared? 5 experienced crew? And a pump operator who knows his stuff ... Knowing what I now know, I'd shoot for getting it done in Durisol in a week. But I'd be all over every joint , every detail, every window, every door head and be a right royal pain in the arse for the crew. But most of all I'd insist on a super tidy site with all trip hazards minimised

Depends on your appetite for risk. Sit tight and plan to the 'n' th degree Go for first fix and 'believe' Keep fit, keep positive, keep fizzing. ? Ian

I seem to remember that J rigged up his own test before the official one didn't he? Is that a possibility for you?

It was stored in a hole for just under a year now, the hole you see (albeit not very clearly). That hole filled with water, and because the tank was canted over at an angle, the outflow pipe was - for a while - below water level. So it filled up - and presumably also emptied until the water table was lower than the outflow invert.

Thank God for small diggers is all I can say. If only I'd managed to do what I said i'd do - when I said I'd do it. But then I have got form on that - nowhere near as bad as Clive ( @Onoff ) This was the intention . And this was (until yesterday the outcome. The delay wasn't all my fault Yer Honour. Bright eyed, bushy tailed, chuggle down the garden this morning, digger all revved up to yank the tank vertical. Nay borra, Jimmie. easy. Done this before. Hook up, sling up, go. Hold on, why isn't the bleedin tank moving ? On lifting, the cab rocks a bit more than normal. Finger-tips begin to smoke. Nother little nudge, nothing. Oh fer *+&% 's sake boys and girls. Whass-that-about? Click! Take the tank lid off. Oh dear, never mind what shame. Pillock, should have thought of that before. During the winter months it's filled with water. The dry spell lowered the surrounding water table. And so now it's semi-filled with water. Pump arriving this afternoon. Had a five tonne digger, I'd have ripped the strong-points out of the tank. Thank god for small diggers.

Here's chapter and verse. Read paragraph 3 I think it may just be that nobody has an incentive to point out that Councils are outsourcing their responsibility to others.

How often that happens ... ?

Not one would be displayed locally if that process were adopted here.

Yes.

Done

We're not that far up that particular creek... yet

A curb mix.... I live and learn every day .... Exactamento. Why dry? Laziness, and curiosity, and cos J's lot did it with a dry mix ; but now I know its a curb-mix, and isn't completely dry. Fascinating stuff concrete. There ya go, simple, practicable easy.

Nothing. There is a 'puddle' of water at the bottom, about 2 meters down. I asked about how dry is dry because at the moment, my sharp sand is very dry indeed. It's 'crusted' - I need to break it up before i can shovel it. Whereas the same pile of sand was easy to use a month ago.....

That just about nails it. Evidence-free supposition , written by an author who should know better given her previous career.