ToughButterCup

Get a grip man. Just empty it. (Your partner has not told me to write this post )

Hello, good morning and welcome. So, what's the story then? All sweetness and light? Mutual admiration society with the designer? Do tell! Ian

That's all that needs to be said.

Take the sugars and proteins out of the wood and coat it with cement. I cannot evidence that process, nor verify it. I just use the stuff. Other ICF systems are available, and are probably more interesting.

Yes.

My Durisol blocks have been out in the rain for a minimum of two months on site and one month outside before delivery. Some blocks have been on site here for nine months. So I used it.

'Keep yer mind on yer driving Keep yer hands on the wheel, And keep yer snoopy eyes on the road ahead, We're having fun Pumping all the concrete And kissin' and a huggin with Fred' Apologies are in order, not sure to whom though

A legitimate and sensible concern. The company do a training course. It addresses all those concerns. Briefly, you use one of those mix-on site set ups like (locally) this company. Its our final pour today, I'll see if I can remember to take some detailed photos and post them on this thread.

The answer is that the definition of a start varies by area. I haven't got time to dig into my records, but there are many opinions -some with a pretense of authority- on what it really is. Shum shay (I will not apologise to Clarkson, he's not worth it) it's the first 'sod' of soil turned, others talk about making connections to services. I had to erect a Temporary Amphibian Fence (TAF) a year before we started. Which flies in the face of @Temp's post above (not something anyone does lightly) . But I had spent a huge amount of money getting that TAF in place. I knew I had started long before any 'official start'. The answer is not clear cut Ask your local friendly Enforcement / Planning contact, and then ask around locally for advice.

Make your own from a pair of your other half's tights? Someone here will have beaten this problem before now.....

Welcome. We look forward to you joining in our discussions. Ian

Right. Bloody right...... Do what my next door 'neighbour' does and ignore, lie, obfuscate, delay, lie some more, dawdle, erect a barrier that even a 16 tonner (digger) would not be able to jump, buy some humongous stones from the quarry, dump them in the drive to make the place look like a blast-protection zone. Make sure anyone approaching is warned off by dogs and geese. And continue to live in peace and perfect harmony with himself.

Block work being 'out' . I groaned when I read that. I've just spent several thousand pounds correcting that (and other) errors. What is it with sodding blocks?

Here you are: chapter and verse What can, and what can't be considered. And a report of a visit to a Planning Committee meeting . It's not about the building, it's about money.

Quod artifex facit domum..... mate!

@JimGNot an easy time for you: but you are in very good company; many of us have been through that mill. That said, we aren't going through your mill. House building is an emotional roller coaster; it teaches resilience. The stakes are so high - emotional and financial. So you will find a group of people here who are going through, or have at some time in the past gone through exactly what's happening to you. That's why there is such a high degree of commitment on the part of our members. You'll get lots of support and a little bit of leg pulling. We'll be rooting for you. Keep us posted. Ian

Welcome. Read all of my stuff about Durisol. (Just search for Durisol on this site) If you are coming north on the M6 we are at Junction 33 - just south of Lancaster and the Lake District. You will be most welcome to poke around and ask whatever you like. It hasn't been all easy: I describe the difficulties as well as the good bits. Ask away...... Ian

Durisol is 65% air. How and where? Everywhere

Thanks. "Another Fine Steep Learning Curve you got me into Jeremy." (Apologies to Stan)

Excellente Tenente! Magnifico! I feel a test patch coming on. Photos of the mess to follow. Hmmmm, a bit of me is wondering how I test a test patch? I mean, how do I know the test patch works? Answers on a postcard to Salamander Cottage, near Forton Services on the M6......

Trade names for membrane and tape please. Thanks Ian

OK folks next step... I've been told that I need to make sure that the wall must be as flat as I can get it (where it butts up to the floor boards) so that when they come to fit the flooring, the fit will be really flush. Hmmm. It looks as if the workflow can be; Fit the joists (POSIs) Tape round the edges, Sloppy sand and cement wash over the area Fit the floor boards

Just what an fella needs @Dudda ! Thanks.

I knew the answer would be high tech. AT means...? S+C means sand and cement doesn't it? Both @ProDave and @gravelld have mentioned using a membrane (Intello or Protect Barriair) Why use one when sand and cement might be all we need ? What does a 'long time mean'? Years, weeks, a generation?

That's the thing about building a house; there are too many choices. And I'm at the bottom of yet another really steep learning curve. Hence this post. We need to render the internal space between the ceiling and first floor to make sure this area is airtight before we fit the POSIs. At this stage in our decision making process, I usually turn to the online version of SPONS and look at what's available. Comprehensive though the section on rendering is, there's no mention of rendering to provide simple air-tightness. For this small section, the look of the render and surface finish is irrelevant, and thickness is only important in so far as air-tightness is concerned. Waterproofing isn't relevant. I've come to understand that this process, however humble it may be, is key to keeping our future living cost down. So it's important to get it right. Could you just give me some starters to help me widen my research, please? So far I have Looked through SPONS for trade names and researched those that I found : Tyrolean Finish, Cement and sand, SIKA waterproof render, Sto External render, Armat Classic Basecoat, K-Rend. Done an internet search and come up with this interesting article: maybe we should simply render over an airtight membrane. Visited the GBF and read this article, but it's mainly about air-tightness tapes: it raises important issues though about finding plasterers who are keen on attention to detail. Knotty one that. Found out that there's stuff called undercoat plaster......... This hill is steeper than I thought. Ian