ToughButterCup

Well, are you sitting comfortably? Then I'll begin. First the references given from Nulok (I had asked for customer references) were to companies that fitted Nulok, not end customers. But frankly I'll take @PeterStarck at his word any day of the week. So I wasn't too concerned about that. Its a niggle, though. I had a long phone chat with Paul Stevenson, and no, the company doesn't take Credit Card transactions (there's no call for them) I pointed out that that might be because CC transactions aren't offered. Self-fulfilling prophecy and all that, maybe? The tone was cordial and we came to a simple agreement: fetch them myself. So, I'm going to hire a wagon, go to their yard in Birmingham and pick them up, and wire the money to him. Convenient living not far from the M6 innit?

The curse of the auto-correct.

Time for a little chat with Paul Stevenson, then. Thanks everyone for your efforts on my behalf I'll report back tomorrow. Ian

The solar tiles are wired in series. [:-{ I'd just like some tiles, please...... paid for by credit card.

Here be dragons. Have a look at this

I'm looking for openness and answers to simple questions, @PeterW. You know me: I'm an early adopter and have no real problem buying 'non traditional' products (for example Durisol). I agree wholeheartedly, Nulok does look very good. Anything that moves the sector on a place or two has to be good, but I also agree that most want to build as they've always built before. The current importer has been asked for customer references: an attempt at an answer was made, but no customer reference was given. A small deposit on a Credit Card covers the whole transaction, I understand. 4.5% of £1000 is nowt. For all I care his company can add the £45.0 to the total price if it's a concern.

I'm sold on the idea of Nulok. But....read on I have talked to and exchanged emails with the current importer The business has been operating for 2 years. But more than long enough to avoid this sort of thing. A whois.com search doesn't inspire confidence either. The company will not take credit card transactions. I have asked by email for customer references. The answer I got was evasive: no references, just links to commercial partners. A chat with @PeterStarck (who fitted his roof with Nulok) confirmed that the system is indeed worth detailed consideration. But Peter bought from a different importer who appears not to be in business any longer. I have searched for alternative suppliers of the Nulok. No joy. Anyone know anything about the current Nulok importer, or know of a supplier other than Lilyash.com? I would be most grateful if you could help me ..... thanks Ian

Thats what makes it so worthwhile.

Time to several the ties? But it is time to pick your fight. And because most don't choose that , he gets away with it.

I have come to expect laziness within the building sector as standard. The first thing that suffers as a result of laziness is attention to detail. My ecologists lack of attention to detail resulted in a 6 month delay. I paid half his bill. That resulted in instant attention. When, as we agreed -in writing - , he resubmits an invoice for the balance, I'll pay it. 3 years later, no invoice. My ecologist will be aware of his character trait. And so will your architect. Withhold an appropriate amount: wait for the fuss to die down, and then don't pay it until you see a change in behaviour. Why should unprofessional behaviour cost the same as the opposite?

fun evening.

First of all welcome. Now for the hard part. Read this. : And this : The answer is yes. But not for me. There is only one word at issue, here 'legally' For those of you who don't have time to read the links above, here's the abbreviated version. Man buys field with planning permission to build stables, next door to me. Man moves caravan onto site. Man moves in with family (thats the important bit). Man applies for PP for a house. Man asks for permission to stay in caravan Is given permission to stay in caravan pending outcome of PP application PP is refused, at Committee and at Appeal. Man continues to live with family pending completion of stables In 9 years, 30 blocks have been laid to the stables. Here, verbatim is the email response by the Head of Planning to the question: why is the owner of the land allowed to stay in his caravan? '... The case remains open and is monitored occasionally, but at the last visit the stable block was under construction and therefore during those works the caravan may be lived in without permission. ...' and later, a more detailed explanation, also copied direct from an email to me: '... We appreciate that this is not a satisfactory situation, however, the developer is making use of permitted development rights which we believe provide a loophole for someone wishing to live on a site, but one which we cannot easily deal with. We tried a few years ago to take enforcement action on a very similar case elsewhere in the borough and lost. We are therefore reluctant to go down the same road unless we have a strong case. It is probably a matter on which we will need to get specialist (and expensive!) legal advice. ...' Here is a link to the source documentation Here is the Google Maps reference : look at the Satellite version and look at the Street View version. The look at the dates of both: the Street View image shows the PP Application notice pinned to the gate : date ? 2009. Because I live next door - just to the North of the applicants land-, (you can see the build in progress on the Google Map) it is inappropriate for me to comment further. I wish you every good fortune in your quest to self build. Ian

What a pair of self-indulgent, narcissistic twerps.

Depends. If I can get her to put the underfloor heating on, .....

Somebody pllllleeeaaaase give them a leek each , before they all start singing. Greetings from Germany.

@Construction Channel and @PeterStarck: I'm right handed. My left hip and right knee are shot. So, I'm after a safe perch for my botticelli. Somewhere to rest for a bit, and maybe put the odd tool safely. Nulok has metal battens , Ed.

I work non-stop, the weather's too good to 'waste' But you are right

Damn. I was right....

25....

I am now deep into the full-on DIY self-build process, and it looks like I'll be using NuLok roofing. Because I can DIY that, I hope. To make things a bit more tasty, I have a slightly annoying hip, a pretty annoying knee, and less than optimal hands. But I'm not going to let that stop me. Researching the issue of how to perch my fat @rse as comfortably as I can while on the roof, I bumped into these . But they're Murcan. And I can't find any made in the UK. Well, if Trump wants a trade war, he's got one. I'm buying nowt from the Yankees. That'll teach him. I've asked around and the roofers I know (drink with) all think I'm soft: they never use them - indeed most had never heard of them. But we will have, won't we? Apart from @Construction Channel who has prolly made his own, does anyone know where I can lay my hand on one (some)?

Got it in one. See a job which needs a bit more thought when there are 5 easy jobs, which would you (we) do? Come the Revolution Citizens we will overcome : Long Live the Republic. Death to the Aristos. Death to the Middle Classes. (Citizen Academic)

Your experience is yet another snapshot in the Too Much Work So Stuff You album. On a good day, the kindest thing I manage to say about them is that many trades folk are just that, trades people. Some are even good at their job. Communicators they are not. Emotionally intelligent they are not.

In later life, I found it professionally politic to try to hide the fact that I went there. I came to detest the incestuous bitching and awful politicking that went on in our department. (post-grad at The Department of Educational Studies)

My hip, hopefully @newhome. If I sit down for any length of time, and then stand up quickly, there's a widely audible click and an cheeky level of pain in my left hip. I need some medical WD40 . Recommendations ?

Shaaaaadup you ....... Got some left-over painkillers from my little amputation(s) . God send.