ToughButterCup

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.

Ask @Construction Channel. He'll know....

Nowhere near as good as English. Lots of my German mates use English swear words fluently in an otherwise all German sentence.

Zero. But please can I watch you try?

Now this is more like it. Warming up nicely, (as it were) Go on son, give it some ! #ThermalMassMyth

You've hit a nerve @Alexphd1..... We have a local recycled IBC supplier. Lever ball valves - just the thing for old arthritic fingers and shattered hands like mine. Thinking of putting the IBC on top of our shipping container (to give a decent pressure) : will it be able to take the weight of a full 200 litre IBC? If I put it on a couple of scaffolding planks to spread the load?

Welcome! Very fond memories of training for the Long Mynd Race at Church Stretton in the 1970s. We look forward to discussing your plans. Ian

I came here expecting a fight about Thermal Mass. #DisappointedOrWhat

Exactly. I think a combination of two or three rows of raised setts to show our curtilage three stone-filled gabions with a small tree in each and one or two removable bollards each with a concrete core some low-level lighting might well do the trick. meanwhile HERAS right up the front, until the end of the build. Ian

? SWMBO strikes ?again. £9.98's worth of pure joy : two brushes. Job done. Bit of swearing now and then, but hey! Anyone know how to train a wife as a plumber then?

SWMBO says she'll review the advice in this thread later. At the moment, she's deep in the bowels of our 16 year old Bosch washing machine changing the brushes of the motor. And there's me saying that Bosch stuff doesn't break down : the Bosch dishwasher packed up last month

Hmmmm. He was tired and under pressure.

Right. Here's what's under the sink. And it isn't good news. The photo is of the hot water supply under the mixer tap in question. Approaching this with what I think is logic (but probably isn't) .... work back from the tap towards the newly fitted equipment. Take a close look at the valve thingy. I thought it would be a good idea to rotate the screw in the middle a quarter turn to see if that changed anything. And immediately got a squirt of water coming through the screw seating. You can still see a drop of water on the screw head. Cue quick exit, photo and this post. Just the kitchen sink. Other taps on the line are flowing normally. The kitchen sink is the last in the supply line from the boiler. Opened fully and then backed off a quarter turn. This feels like the issue is local to the kitchen sink. Ian

Still on my knees looking for obscure bits of plumbing; bringing her breakfast in bed ; offering to do all the shopping ; polishing the bread..... you know, the usual

Of all the different things to think about, decide upon and track down, lighting seems to me to the most annoyingly frustrating. Full of 'professionals ' who when asked simple questions simply can't answer. Or attempt to skirt round the issue and suggest things they have for sale instead. So called Lighting Designers if I meet one at a party, I'm gonna ... ? For example: recessed tracking for LEDs. Not tracking for other types of lights. Or tracking you can see that sits proud of the ceiling or wall. Proper, purpose built tracking designed to take an LED strip that disappears into the wall - or ceiling. I can't find any. Have I just got Fridayitus?

What does a Pressure Reducing Valve look like?

Colleagues, I may be some time. It was nice knowing you........?

@ProDave, I really don't know. I don't think he touched the kitchen tap. The hot water flow is reduced also...... Does that help?