ToughButterCup

Thanks all. Thunder-bolted a wide bearer to the top of the wall : which of course wasn't level - because I hadn't checked back to see the replies. Should'a bedded it in a bit of muck...... Plonka. So I cut a hunk of TR26 and ripped it mm perfect on the table saw. And attached that to the ' wall plate' , set it dead level with a laser. Thanks everyone for the swift responses. Ian

Have a look at this please: The photo shows the joists supporting the (temporary) floor, and the Durisol wall which is at the head of the (currently temporary) stairs. The wall is 100mm short of the level of the top of the joists. I need to build the wall up to that level. There are three ways I can do so With Durisol alone With wood alone With a Dursiol base and timber 'bearer' built into the concrete. My concern is to make the level of the top of this bit of wall exactly the same as the level of the top of the joists. I ask because this is the head of the stairs, and so will be a high-traffic area. And, while I suspect that many of you will mutter ' There 'ee goes overthinking again ' , I'd rather have that than come on here wailing that (say) I wished I'd used a wooden bearer built into the concrete to support the chipboard floor..... The problem with Durisol alone would be that fixing the chipboard directly to concrete is not the best idea. The concrete would have to be perfectly flat and the perfectly level. Concrete shrinks doesn't it? So, it's an all wood bearer fixed into the Durisol as is, or a hefty wooden bearer concreted into some Durisol Wadja fink?

It may or may not be. I think the key thing here is to to break the whole thing into little bits, formulate a plan for each bit , and then follow up on them. To make it easier for us to help you, perhaps a short, succinct post about one of your proposed next steps?

My direct experience of ecology as a sector is, that those involved in a professional capacity - while very keen on their subject specialism - are not good at communication. That's a sample size of 8 ecologists. I am not in the least surprised that an architect doesn't mention ecology. The only defence we have is to be fully informed ourselves. That rather reduces the value of employing an ecologist . I now think their value extends to the mere possession of a valid licence to practice. The customer needs to follow up every other detail. As my mate @TerryE says : welcome to skiing in front of the avalanche.

A quick interim summary. Two issues run through this thread the technical discussion and the way the company communicates with its customers One member has reported direct experience of a SunAmp product failing to recharge. That member reports other users' (not necessarily members of BH) similar experience: the unit fails to recharge in a timely manner. Another member reports multiple problem free installs. Given that many readers (let alone members) of this forum appear to be considering purchasing SunAmp equipment, it would appear that the company's communication strategy leaves something to be desired. Technical discussion is on-going. It important to note that units recharged via a hot water source aren't a concern. The problem is with those units linked to solar PV generated energy. The argument is made that intermittent solar energy supply appears to compound the core problem : the unit fails to recharge in a timely way.

This is a post that's full of pain. I'm left a bit stunned, and wishing that you had found us in early 2014 - heartily wishing you'd found us much earlier. What do you propose to do now? Please tell us and we'll give you at least a sympathetic ear, but also a series of things you can do to protect yourself from further ' damage '

That cliche grates more than most. Almost as much as this morning's lesson. I'd put in a temporary first floor - made from OSB. And laying the proper chipboard meant that I had to take the OSB up first. The lesson? Never underestimate how well OSB hides screw-heads. What's your building lesson?

The title had me worried for a bit there @lizzie...... It's always good to solve a seemingly intractable problem. Time to enjoy it now! Ian

Welcome indeed! Ahhh, Offa's Dyke country! Sunsets and spectacular dawns round there - from somewhat romanticised memory - , so I'm glad to see you making the best of the South and West aspects. Might there be an argument for (say) a larger terrace round the Eastern aspect so you can watch the gales go past you in the shelter of the house. Just a minor thing you can do at the end of the build... Welcome anyway Ian

IC ?

Ignore the dash and the last zero (I think)

Ja, @Ferdinand, aber die Frage war fur Minimum Bestellung ... nicht Kostenlose Bestellung.. Quatschkopf Du...?

No. I've scanned the relevant pages and - bleary eyed though I am (poor me) - I can't see a minimum order value before sending to the UK. I bet the person on this number +49 2237 6556-0 (their telephone contact number) speaks English M f G Ian

Guten Morgen Jungs! (Du auch @newhome)

Und was wollen Sie kaufen?

Aha ! That explains a lot. Mmmmm hmmmmm.

I once sold a newish house with cracks like yours. The purchaser asked if I would reduce the price on the basis of the cracks. I agreed to do so if could show me a house less than 12 months old without similar cracks. Sold that day....

You call that a rant? Really? Ed, you have too positive an attitude - still - to have a proper rant: a proper juicy, spittle filled rant; one thats as unpleasant to write as it is to read; one thats as cathartic to write as it as as crotch-gripping for the reader who has to read it peeping between the fingers of the other hand. Look at all the things you do right: all the videos you publish freely, giving those who haven't got a clue (like me) just enough courage to have a go for ourselves, the guts to work at the day job Monday to Saturday and then spend evenings and Sunday on the house. Need a proper rant? Send me a copy before you publish the next one and I'll sex it up for ya. Proper job. Free of charge. ?

How long is a piece of string? Tell us what research you have already done for yourself.

Welcome. This forum is probably one of the most supportive I've seen. The quality of the answers to each of your questions depends on the detail you give us. At the moment, it's too easy to reply ' it depends ' to each of them. So I suggest you choose the appropriate sub-forum and ask there. A plan, a photo, or a scanned sketch help us to help you.

Have you considered the Planning Permission issue? Took 10 seconds to get these prices......

Soap Under Direct Supervision : its what cleaning folk do, supervise the saponification of grease stains .......... OR Sustainable Drainage Systems : can't remember which.....

Got the urinal set at the right angle too. Top man!

Welcome. We need a bit more detail to be able to help. A simple sketch plan would be great.

Well we'll have to see what Debbie has to say about that then, eh? 'She's welcome to 'im, long as 'ees back on the build on Monday 7.30 sharp ' I have such a hard life folks....