ToughButterCup
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Everything posted by ToughButterCup
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@Onoff, I have watched the video, twice. With the the best will in the world, I'm never going to understand it. Which makes me ask; Do I ask my sparky to fit them? What reason might he give for refusing to fit them? [ A refusal from a sparky is a big deal for people like me] Ian
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@Adamantium, is the SE insisting on CFA piles? If so why? I ask because SEs recommend what they know about and or specialise in. And so do all professionals. Our SE (Tanners) were thoughtful enough to include one sentence in their recommendation. Paraphrasing: despite the Soil Analysis Recommendation , other piling methods are available. The important thing is not the method it's the outcome The matter of the distance from the Water Company's assets: we had an exactly analogous problem. So we read their policies carefully, and after a bit of research found out that if we did this (image below) all would be well. And indeed it was. As to piling mat. Are you on a slope? If so, make use of it in helping make the piling mat. Ian
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@JSHarris is right. And it's exactly the problem we had. My heart sank when I realised we needed piles. . Read this . It might go some way to reducing the rictus grin and sucking of teeth about piling: well the cost of them: intial quotes - silly money. Evental cost £6.500 for 64 piles. This is written in haste: concreting today, so I'll come back to this later. With luck we'll soon have caught your stumble.....
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Right. Thanks @Nickfromwales Now the key question: the one that'll make the coming week bearable or Hell. It's up to you, Nick. Can I light the fire to provide a bit of radiant heat? -
Yes: and then it bubbles up into the top-tank (for the hot water)
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4 exactly as you say
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We have an open vented central heating system with gravity fed hot water. For reasons over which we will draw a polite veil, we (well 'I') drained the radiators, refilled them, flushed out what I could: and ............made the heating problem worse. At the very best time of year for that to happen. So, in a fit of rage and frustration, I re-drained the complete system took all the radiators off and, at long last, discovered what the problem is. I don't know what I'm doing. Anyway, here's the thing: 's gonna get cold in the next few days and I'd like to stay married. The 'boiler' is a multi-fuel fire. It has a back boiler which is now empty. Please tell me I can light the fire anyway, even though there's no water in the heating pipes. In other words use the fire as a simple space and running hot water heater...... If I can't there's a nice warm hotel right next to where SWMBO works, and .... well you can guess the rest.
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Thats really interesting. Presumably there's an idea PVA - water mix (or maybe no added water at all ? ) Anyway thanks for the advice.
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Gate worktop ( for very small workshop) a few small boxes another small gate some shelving
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I'm off to buy a biscuit jointer later today. Strikes me that someone here will know how to make your own biscuits......Anyone?
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Excellent. Tonight, let your hair down. Tomorrow chill. Sunday: the papers. Monday ' ...hope[..] for the best and prepare[...] for the worst...' And keep coming back to BH : we're all a bit nosey here
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Deemed Discharge of Planning Conditions
ToughButterCup replied to RichS's topic in Planning Permission
All you need to know in one document. Return of fee; page 4 The only thing you will need to check is that the document hasn't been superseded. Ian -
Hi, I'm at Junction 33. Roughly where are you? If you're passing J33, drop in. We are two minutes away. (PM me) So, you've found the Slog-It Club. Most of us here are in the same boat..... Head down, tails up get on with it, no matter how we feel about it. For this build, today is one of the better days. Our Polish builder has arrived in site, and injected a healthy dose of energy for which I'm very grateful.
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I tried that, partial knock down of a partially built house. Yep, I got a better version built as a result. Brainy that guy @le-cerveau
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Have a look at the guidance given by your DNO online. Our DNO, was very helpful: detailed drawings and a dedicated helpline with a real person (Tracey, a very nice girl, very very nice girl) who knew what she was talking about.
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Welcome @Tiny. Sounds like a challenge that, '....raising the roof level...' You could do that down the pub without the same expenditure level. Thought of that? If you are driving past, drop in. Ian
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@HerbJ, you were right. I rang up and asked and they (selfbuildzone) added the windows in storage there and then. Thanks
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Thanks @HerbJ Ian
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We have to store our windows for a short while. They are in a proper warehouse. The insurance cover that comes as part of the storage is poor. I can find lots of insurance quotes for self-storage: but this isn't. Its storage in a warehouse, pending further shipment. I have looked for insurance policies that are suited for this bit of the market: so far I have only found one and it looks to me like a colander. Has anyone faced this issue ? Did you insure your goods in a warehouse (not self-store). I'd be grateful to hear about it. Ian
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No matter what the results of the costing exercise are, don't acceptable any figure as accurate. Question each and every single one. For example from our project: QS cost for piling £22k - actually paid £6.5k. 5 expenditure headings which were never applied to the project (Total of about £7k) Wrong assumptions on the part of the QS (among them Muckaway never used, some items on site already) Some expenditure headings missing. And we paid for the QS' work! Bills of Quantities are useful as a general guide. But no more. They are a small-scale risk-reduction exercise I now use a blend of SPONS, Internet research, asking here on BH, and local networking.
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+1 to @Onoff's advice. The only thing I'd add is use a blower if you can to clean off the roof: a broom takes ages, and will never be as thorough. As luck would have it, my repair lasted a few years - long enough for me to forget I had repaired it. But you are right, it needs doing thoroughly.
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No. Just NO. Simple. No. You know it makes sense (not to).
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interesting interview with Kevin Mcloud
ToughButterCup replied to joe90's topic in New House & Self Build Design
Thanks @joe90 for the link. Surprised they sell the Grauniad down your way.... As it happens the man himself is also in the news today for unhappier reasons This bit could have been written by @JSHarris ' • Grand Designs don't happen without what McCloud believes to be the essential component of any home improvement project: an architect. "Expert help needn't be impossibly expensive. Everyone deserves and needs to work with talented individuals. If you go to a good architect, your fees will pay for themselves." and most uncomfortably this is all too true I come across people who are very successful in their own sphere, and really believe they can do it all themselves, but they can't." Ouch. Thanks @nod for teaching me that. -
I will be watching this one like a hawk. Had we such a system, I'd have sorted out our analogous problem long ago.
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Pop round to mine and take 4..... We'll agree a sensible price whenever. You know where I am . PMme. Ian
