ToughButterCup

@Onoff - Debbie says have you got any advice on childbirth?

Thats the sort of advice which is almost priceless. Ditto.

You are right, once you take the basic decision, sooooo many questions follow. Hence the post. Yes to in-island extraction. If we pop the hob off center, then that allows for 'placing' hot stuff. Maybe 1500 square would be better? Should we put the island on the slab, or on the finished floor?

Debbie's been really patient. And the moment we had our windows in , I thought it might be time to start a conversation about how she wants her kitchen to be organised. We get surprisingly little talk-it-through-time and when we do it's clear that mental pictures aren't good enough. There's only so much Pintrest sharing that anyone can stand. So, out of the windows packing casing I made this. The box shape in the foreground is the island - which we hadn't planned for. In an effort to reduce the amount of yet more piss-poor planning, I'd like to plan the island in detail. I've made a start, but what the hell do I need to do next? She wants a hob, an in-island extractor, a fridge, somewhere to charge her command and control device (phone), somewhere to eat, a built in place for hot pans, and a bit of storage. All in 1200 square. Yeah, right.

Exactly Gary. As a hairy sergeant once growled at me on a street in Norn Iron: Be grateful for small Murphys, sir.

I'll be talking to the company on Tuesday, @HerbJ. Gently does it initially, I think.

I'm eyeing up our colander. Stick some coarse sandpaper inside it..... could work a treat. Think she'll miss it ?

I was hoping you'd pop along @HerbJ. Bang on in every respect except one. I am not certain that the fitters were given the instructions to fit the windows using Compriband. However, they now know (because I've shown them) that the Compariband is there to be fitted (£600 quids worth....). They gave me a clear explanation of why it wasn't fitted, though. @Stones I've talked to the lads (one was the foreman) today and said that, if I have time, I'll rake out. On balance, perhaps I shouldn't have. But there is no rush on this one: the door and windows shouldn't take more than a day to fettle. So, until then, I'll keep hold of my retention fee. They are a really nice crew: there's a bit of a language issue , though. @nod, never mind. It's all coming out in the wash, eh? At the root of this thread is the same issue as occurs time after time here. Talking to people . Or not. And had I watched a few more videos about fitting Compariband, I'd have caught it - maybe.

I have been given (bought with the windows order) two types of Compriband. Wide and narrow. The narrow stuff fits in the gap between the window and the wall, like this, I think. The wide stuff sticks on the side of the window and the wider section of the tape, sticks to the wall. In which case I can't be arsed to pay. There is no outside handle: just a key hole. Because the company said it is what they require. In which case, the fitters should fit it no?

Our window fitters left the site without having fitted the Compriband sealing tape. Today they returned to fettle our door (sticky lock mechanism) and , so I thought, to fit the Compriband. They explained that the Durisol surface was too rough for the Compriband to adhere to - and would therefore not act as an efficient seal; so they hadn't fitted it. The day they were fitted, nobody said anything to me about it. This YT video makes me wonder whether the information I have been given this morning is quite as comprehensive as one should expect. Here's a representative example for how the job has been finished ..... The Durisol is indeed rough. The senior fitter says that we need to make sure that the reveal is a lot smoother before the Compriband will adhere to it. Presumably all I need to do is lay on a smoothe parge coat on the window reveal - or is there another easier quicker way of doing it? Clearly, I need to trim back the expanded foam before I coat the reveal with something. Another instance where simple communication has failed. it would have been easier if they had told me either at the pre-fitting meeting or on the days that the windows were fitted or during the week I have waited for them to return - and I should have asked why the Compriband was not being fitted. That said I'm super-pleased with the windows and doors themselves: Gaulhofer. There's just one niggle. It'll be sooooo easy to lock ourselves out. The doors lock automatically when shut.

Good point @MikeSharp01: 2.5 meters would bury me standing up with some to spare.

Right folks. Thanks. I'm looking forward to the job now. Time to grease my nipples (there's at least ten on my Kubo.... )

Need to think that through in detail..... There's a concrete-it-in kit you can get I think. The one thing that's sure is that the water table will rise. And for all the world the poo tank could have come straight out of the harbour master's stock of Starboard Markers couldn't it? It'll act just like a buoy if I don't get this right. Blade on the hole side? Wot, me, make a mistake like that? Well I did once; just the once. Oh, and I'll need a water bowser then wun oi?

Yer a star Russel. Piling matt? Yeah, with a 16 tonner. Oh, bliss, sheer bliss - proportional controls, a full-on sound system, pedal track controls, steel tracks ? Why am I worried? Because the more experienced I get, the more cautious I get but the more ambitious I get. Partly deliberately delayed 'til now because the water table will be as low as it ever gets this week, (I hope)

Well, actually, I have been avoiding it. Doing a Big Time @Onoff. Procrastinating a treat. This needs to go in the green space next to it. I have the guidance on how to do it. Here There's a couple of things that are making me eat too much chocolate today. The empty weight is only 125 kg: an easy job for my digger - But will the arm have the reach? The hole only needs to be 2.25 meters deep - But the sides of the hole won't be vertical so will the arm have the reach (to dig out the middle of the hole)? Which all comes down to do I hire a 5 tonner ? (Mines 2.6 tonnes) Where's Ed Graves ( @Construction Channel ) when you need him?

I started to try and be that person. Soon got it knocked out of me.

Don't you find that effort on someone's part is the most engaging thing? We had a delivery driver who - with me - had to handball several tonnes of blocks off his lorry. (His pallet truck went u/s) " 'S awright mate , 's a bit of chance to work me beer-belly off " I made sure I rang the the company and asked for the MD, and told him how pleased I was. Top bloke. But humble.

That's not nice. Someone ought to let them know. Poor luvvies.

That is almost the core of our endeavours. (The core is the emotional decision to start in the first place) Theres talk everywhere of encouraging Life Long Learning. And what's self building about if not constant learning? In the school of hard knocks and oh sheeeet moments. This thread is yet another of those. There's good news embedded in all this. The more often we cope - even partly successfully - with difficult episodes, the better we get at dealing with them (research evidence provided if you PM me). The main factor in encouraging success is a good supportive but straight talking network of what is known in the trade as Critical Friends. The art is in choosing your supportive Critical Friend. Both parties need to agree to act as such. (More) Anyone know of a place where we might start looking for a few Critical Friends ?

Clive, it's Friday. you've had a long week. Pub tonight?

If you aren't interested in FIT (as we also aren't) then the question of return is about self consumption. I haven't gone into the economics of that as deeply as many here. I just think it's a good thing to do . Yes: scorched by the heat of my own worthiness. ? I am and Debbie is about to retire. We are therefore much more likely to consume our own electricity . We intend to make sure that, as far as possible, we schedule consumption during the times when we are producing. That might mean - for example - making sure we can switch household appliances on remotely. Not sure how to do that yet, but we'll get there. And a SunAmp of course. Quite excited about it really.

What , in your bathroom? Easy? Go on then, show us. ?

Evidence? Evidence? Forgive me, has something upset you? You're sounding a bit out of sorts.....

Right then, what have we got so far? be careful about talking to contractors take notes try and formalise the agreement maybe write it down accept that self-building is a set of steep learning curves ask for advice on BH before hand take a little time to do some research before diving into 'it' the power of a recommendation disposal off site for materials requires a paper trail (Household Duty of Care) check waste carriers license 08708506506 consider on site crushing Self building is bumpy : straighten-up and fly right despite the turbulence be present at the build if you can and finally, Dont bother engaging @jack as a bodyguard.

There's ample evidence-based and experience-based advice on this thread.