ToughButterCup

Quite.

Type 1 foundation? Is that equivalent to MoT1 foundation?

I'll have just one more attempt ..... Mass building isn't the same as self-building.

Thanks both. I wonder whether for any given specification, I could substitute a stronger beam (i.e. a bit bigger all round) - but one that is available 'down-the-road' ?

@Hecateh, don't. Just don't Head up shoulders back, look them in the eye , face them down. Don't make yourself an easy target. (And then have a weep in private) What you are doing is perfectly reasonable and to be expected in a house build. This isn't to everyone's taste, but just have a listen

Tanners (our SE) have specified two glulam beams for our ridge; 140 by 270 in 5 laminations using C24. One is about 4 meters long and the other 6 meters. I have asked around and nobody does exactly that specification (or at least I haven't found anyone who does yet) in terms of either length or wood specification. Here's what one manufacturer came back with (we have had similar stories from other manufacturers) 90 X 300mm PEFC GL32c Glulam Beam. What does PEFC and GL32c mean? Is 90 by 300 an equivalent to 140 by 270 In addition they have also quoted us for an 8 meter beam and a 12 meter beam. What's the story with Glulam beams? Why can't I get exactly what the SE specifies?

@Hecateh, have a little read of these.... 'Warts' number 1 and 2 will ring a bell Objection overruled, m'lud More recently, this Of the 20 or 30 people who have stopped to natter while the build is in process, a handful have made reference to our neighbours public objections. Without exception, their diagnosis of the motive for negative comment they had personally heard or seen was jealousy. I don't know whether that is right or not. A couple of years on and I'm getting the odd smile, a brief chat from neighbours. And ten years from now it won't be forgotten, but the pointless minor spats will be. And finally, this will put a smile of recognition on your face: @JSHarris at his best. Grow a thicker skin: and take it off as soon as there's a hint of thoughtfulness on the part of your neighbours.

We aren't comparing like with like. The word self is not the same as mass.

Scaffolding is mentioned in SPONS. (2015), but there is scant detail. I suspect it's too job specific to be able to give a set of figures. The best SPONS does is to price scaffold towers at between £3.17 to £7.79 per single or double 'bay' (2m by 7m high)

So, a non-self builder joins a self-build group. Excellent I say! Bring it on - about self-building, that is.

There is a nurse in the house.... @Hecateh, I think. So, just do as you are told .....

I did. After I had posted. Eeeejit

Hmmm, the Gospel according to @JSHarris, @Nickfromwales as modified by @Onoff and @ProDave, translated by @Ferdinand, exemplified by @jamiehamy, rendered by @nod, softened at the edges by @lizzie and @Hecateh, and videoed by @Construction Channel is free. Yes, its asynchronous, but you don't need to go back to the Aramaic, nor the Greek (geeks we have in plenty, but not Greeks, except the honorary one called @TerryE) for translation. Asynchrony is solved by the PM system by the way. There are as usual words of encouragement in the real Bible. Trouble is it tries to tell us about poor build practice indeed, the stone the builders rejected became the corner stone (one of Mark's little gems I seem to remember) . Now, work that one out.

Are you @richi trying to get @Onoff into even more trouble? Good idea.

@Charles Ebden might well be a private planner, @Oz07, and so have no influence at all on the process. Welcome @Charles Ebden : good luck with the dissertation. A few of us here are retired Senior / Principal lecturers. I for one would be happy to read drafts of your work as an interested, critical friend. Plus I'm bloody nosey. Ian

My insurance renewal will be an interesting exercise because of the little local difficulty, not to say fight, I had with ours. Here's the back story (with a quick summary) I should add a small counterpoint to the somewhat churlish attitude demonstrated at that time. As a direct result of the delay caused by that disaster, we have had to store our windows. I am told they are in store in a storage warehouse in Birmingham. I rang our insurers to tell them the windows were in store. After a quick check, the same company that gave us so much grief earlier have agreed to insure the windows while in store for free.

Welcome Matthew. You're clearly one of the more discerning types.... most of us here are so worn down by the Hell of self-building, we're just glad to get stuff at a sensible price. So your post is the more valuable for lifting our sights a little. I take it you meant us to understand 'valve' as the bit of plastic that sits on and in the wall at each MVHR inlet and outlet vent? Care is needed because the word valve actuates the brain cells of our resident Welsh Plumber, who is still drunk after the rugby this weekend. Perhaps invisibility has something to say for itself where inlet and outlets are concerned? Anyway, you're most welcome. Ian

If I had my time all over again I'd have......

Reassuringly badly (that is seriously out of date ) designed website: often indicates sensible prices.... not to say that in general, I generalise too much

Being an Admin doesn't get any tougher mate!

Lads, I'm just guessing here, but you have no technique for contacting an oft-uncontactable tradesperson then, have you?

I have 14 square meters to cover. Using this calculator (there are many others) I can obtain number of slates required per square meters tile batten gauge for slate total linear run of tile batten in meters It sounds to me, reading between the lines that you might like to get yourself a copy of SPONS: expensive, but since there's an online version of it sold with each copy, invaluable in the long term

Well 'ee needs a kick up the Bryn Glass then dun 'ee?

Que?

This place is brilliant at helping anyone think calmly about a disaster. If you don't believe me read this Remove the rush: store the door. Look for the opportunities provided by the problem. The mere process of doing that softens the blow. You have a good trade network it seems: tap in to that expertise You aren't dealing with an impossibly difficult problem Stagger costs by phasing the work: all trades folk understand the need to work to a budget Post some images: try to imagine what we will need to see if we are to give high quality advice We've most of us felt as sick as you do now. Just grit yer teeth and keep talking to us.