ToughButterCup

Bang on. I often wonder about the extent to which problematic site-based issues are a proxy for other hidden agendas. Something as simple as tiredness can make for unwise emphasis. And the sheer grind of self-building saps every last ounce of energy out of us. There's nothing more engaging and healing than a smile and a bit of kindness - coupled with simple plain speaking. But that takes more courage than I have sometimes. As for unknown unknowns: thats what BH is for innit?

Yes. Caveat Emptor.

Good post F. Nudged me into looking it up in SPONS Here's the relevant entry

That's regrettably my conclusion too. Had to do it twice so far, and another one bubbling away quietly on the back burner.

Ah cud tell thee sum stories abart they , 'appen. Raght load a Dell Boys.

Someone recently posted about the need for care when drafting a response on BH. ( @newhome, maybe ? ) She was absolutely right. I doubt if anyone of us intentionally shames anyone. And then there's another factor: how we are feeling when we read those possibly hastily drafted responses. Mix the two, add a dash of sleeplessness, throw in some normal family-based stress, and you have the makings of a really hard day ahead. The issue that provides the cream on this particular cake is a sector-widespread inability to communicate well. I am only just now beginning to realise just how much more I need to focus on asking , prodding, cajoling, bitching, insisting on an answer. How much more I need to imagine my way through a process and ask basic questions. All a contractor has to do to ' ... win... ' is say nothing. Be incommunicado. Don't answer the phone. Which is it, you ask. CDM 2015 places the responsibility for professional behaviour on the contractor. But that bit of legislation can't be a substitute for trying to create a good working relationship.

To bloody right @Dudda I'm going to have to put a good deal more mental energy into working out how this flat roof is going to be made to work. It's a nightmare (but not as much so as @Onoff's bathroom) Well at least nobody has accused me of overthinking this one.

Not just me then. Bit of a relief really.

Precisely @Onoff. There's no single method. Hence me asking the question on BH. The video shows my preferred option: squirt it on. I've got some sticky expanding foam: it works for PIR to OSB, but I'm not sure about PIR to PIR, so I'm going to try it out later this afternoon. Maybe I should use thermally broken screws for the first layer (150ml) and then foam for the second layer. The specification says foil lined PIR. If that's the case, and I need two layers, doesn't it make sense to have single sided PIR ? (Is there such a thing?) So that the insulation can be laid foil-outwards on the top and bottom sheets. I had no idea such a simple thing, isn't.

Attaching foil faced PIR to OSB isn't as simple as I at first thought. Rooting around on Tinternet only shows how wide the choices are: the Internet as shared ignorance perhaps? So I thought I'd ask how BH folk do it. This video is one which admits that fashions change. Roofers used to use nails, then screws then thermally broken screws and now foam - expanding foam at that. I need to attach 270 ml of PIR to my OSB deck. One layer of 120 and the second 150. How would you do it?

Because the crown reduction I did ended up looking a right mess, and the job done on the next tree by the local tree surgeon was so expert, from a casual glance, you could hardly see that it had been reduced.

How's the bathroom, son? ?

Tell ya wot Ferdi, top a tree yourself, and ask a tree surgeon to top the one next to it. Then wait a year or two. Ask me why I make the suggestion. Dare ya! ( I may have the photo somewhere)

Que?

They can't touch ya for it, though can they? Chasing cables.

This is what I use... bit expensive, but works

and ..... are both what I love about BH. Gives me informed, authoritative options to help me make my own choice. I'll drop a bit of flex in the hole and concrete it over then...... cheaper. Innit? ?

Thanks lads. Pheeeeew. That was close. That should put a smile on her face. ?

We've gone and done what we were warned not to. We want a kitchen island: without having planned for one. Saints alive how many times do we read about twerps like us who don't make up their minds until it's too late. And now that there's only 25mm to play with above the slab, I'm wincing (on Buildhub) while being encouraging and as positive as I can be in public (as it were). I'm thinking that's too little space to run the power line. No, she doesn't want a sink in it. (Thanks Be for small mercies). Can I make her happy? Can I tell her she can have her heart's desire?

Probably a question for Ed ( @Construction Channel ) The flexible bit of the hydraulic line which supplies the auxiliary attachment burst . Just a pop ?️followed by a dribble of hydraulic oil that's all. Nothing was attached to it. (Or will be attached to it.) I've elevated the arm, detached the line, drained the excess oil (a cup full) ; and I'm off to buy another one first thing in't mornin' Assuming I can get a spare, are there any gottchas about simple one for one replacement? Will I have to bleed anything - I'm not using the auxiliary attachment? Ta!

Grit your teeth. Focus on the future. Working with the building trades involves a learning and hardening-off process : its very uncomfortable and off-pissing. Especially the learning. Most of us are groping around in the half-dark nearly all the damn time. It stops most of us from sleeping well many nights of the year. I'm beginning to wish I was an amalgam of PedroW, Nod, The Welsh plumber, Pro Dave and JSH. I'd be bomb-proof if that were the case. 'Taint never gunner 'appen is it? Be clear about what needs to be done next List the heading and subheadings Discuss those with the next guys who will work for you. Agree what needs to happen Agree a budget: agree a set of dates when that budget will be reviewed (weekly?) - get a price Be seen on site, take photos, ask questions Take written notes of meetings. Send yer man a copy

.... well , just for the record, I've just found an unused box of Compriband - that is to say, what's obvious to you may well not be to Plonkers like me. [ '.... other than the obvious ....' above ]

Your point about the transfer from truck to install is good: there's a minor wheeze to think about there. Where are those windows that are not being fitted at that moment going to be kept? By accident, we had a small flat area of concrete 'spare' (because of the disaster last year) on which we could keep the windows safely. I had a couple of tie-downs points so we could strap them in place if it got windy : I was fussing like a mother goose about that - and when it did get windy, everyone grinned sheepishly. Watch the weather forecast. I ordered a 4 to 7 tonne telehandler from HSS. My God ordering it was hard work. Clueless of Lancaster did the paper work. Their Insurance waiver only covered the first £5000 of loss (on the machine) - and the machine was valued at £25000. Had it all gone boobs up , we'd have been left with £20,000 to cover. HSS do Not tell you that. The machine cost £23.02 to cover on the site insurance for a week. Allow half a day to sort out the paper work for insurance. Allow half a day for HSS to get their act together. The checking process: managing that well at what is likely to be the end of a working day when everyone is focused on getting home is not easy. Which makes me remember about Snagging Lists and retainers. Gaulhofer are up front about that. Is there a simple snagging checklist? If not make one. I started checking by lunchtime on the last day - and made sure that everyone saw me doing it. I still missed stuff. The lads are here this morning naggling and fettling. (Door lock won't work) Ian

@Nickfromwales..... That's the longest post you've ever written. Have an honorary PhD. (Doctorate) All that's needed for the award of a full-on PhD would be a comprehensive set of references, and a Contents List. And a Viva Voce meeting ( Oral defence of your writing). Doctor Nick: has a certain ring about it, no?

I'm listening to Radio 4. And a report which talks about Trump and Truth not being Truth. I wonder how Cohn could gainsay @Hecateh 's statement.