ToughButterCup

Hmmm. The architect. Yep, I know......

@joe90, just in the process of getting our windows priced - once all the errors in the Windows and Doors Schedule are corrected - (trickle vents in a passivhaus, I kid you not). So this thread is perfectly timed. 47.66 square meters worth - so thanks @Mr Punter @Stones, @jamiehamy, and @dimpsy for the guide prices. Ian

Ed, there's nowt to be done. Let it go. Don't let him see that his behaviour gets under your skin. Rise above it. People like that are an excellent exercise in self-control. Ian

Knowing me, I'll remember just that little bit too late.... But thanks for the nudge.

I have heard it argued that site clearance does not constitute a 'start'. I'm in a hurry so I can't quite put my finger on it, but there are some threads on here about what a start really is. I think, some LPAs regard a start as digging the water connection or something similar. I have a strong feeling that clearing off the site is gardening , not development. So, you can get the site cleared at least. Good luck! Ian

Is this a pre-condition? Because if it isn't, you don't have to wait.

Yes, right first shot, Dave I'm now planning to find the nearest upstream stop tap (so I can turn it off pronto) dig out round the pipe (vibration doesn't travel so well in air) and cover the pipe with a road plate. The whole piling exercise is going to take no more than 5 hours They're no worse than some of the mega companies we all use. Got to laugh about it though!

Hello, is that the water board? Yes, I need to talk to someone about our piling: the form I need to fill in asks us to tell you about it in advance by ringing this number. Piling? Never Heard of it Well on Form number (xyz), it says to ring your number and ask for someone to come and do a survey Do you want a new connection? Yes, but that's not what I'm asking about, I need to know if someone will come and survey the water pipe, as is the proper procedure according to your form (xyz) Well if you need a new connection Sir, I'll put you through now (CLICK) Hello? New Connections here, hello Sir Hi! I need to talk to someone about our piling: the form I need to fill in asks us to tell you about it in advance by ringing this number. No, Sir, I'm the new connections person, you need Developer Services (CLICK) Hi! I need to talk to someone about our piling: the form I need to fill in asks us to tell you about it in advance by ringing this number. Oh hello mate, we were only just talking to one another - how are ya? Water Boarding: sounds like a good idea to me. signed FURIOUS OF LANCASTER Tomorrow: let's try again eh?

@Simplysimon, Sid, our long-haired feline killing machine, is also laid back and long haired, (Tune In Turn On Drop Out, man). And when he molts well, the local birds nests are full of his fur: we know, we've found it lining their nests. He'll be out on his ear if he fouls up the MVHR......

Hugh, (@Bitpipe) thanks for all that. Fouls, hadn't thought of it because I'm still in the individual sub-systems loop: Your nudge is especially welcome because it's long past time for me to start stitching the whole thing together in my head Condensation: sorted (direct to foul) Balancing: I'll DIY or get an expert @VIPMan ( he doesn't know it yet) Just on with the sparky's spreadsheet and diagram, so especially welcome to be reminded - lots of threads elsewhere making that point. @NSS, I'll double check, thanks! @reddal Ducting: Yes, it is; a good deal of thought has gone into that aspect The Unit is in our Piggery so no fear of noise, from that. But ducts are ducts, in fact ducts will be ducts; and they are annoying things, so we'll be watching the internal smoothness and also how to clean the damn things. I'd clean forgotten about that. What do you use? A massive loofa ? Baggywrinkle? The cat? Keep newts in there and get them to munch any dirt?

Thanks very much @IanR. It's little gems like the foam needing to be 60mm thick that we need, and indeed which product you used. There are so many out there. Ian

The process of designing an MVHR system for our build has been very long one. All the way from 'MVHR whassat'? to buying a design. What was involved? Knowing that a passiv haus needs an MVHR system, and why Finding an architect who is sympathetic to passiv standard builds Reading about and visiting many passiv standard houses and one passiv haus conversion ( @VIPMan of this parish) Spending hours on the Internet reading posts, blogs, and taking advice Talking to several producers Working through PHPP and out the other end of it and buying a design We haven't bought the system yet. So before we do (or don't), I ask for your critical appraisal. Here are the facts. PHPP shows us needing 18.06 kWh per meter square per annum and a total requirement for 2090. kWh per annum This post , takes us into more detail than PHPP, and bits of it were helpfully explained by @Alphonsox. The bottom line is that I know how much heat (and power) I'll need, and where I'm going to lose it. I also know how much 'spare' heat capacity I have. I asked one company to design us the pipework, and specify the 'box'; Here's the plan: Supply is red, exhaust is blue That makes more sense if you look at it in isometric projection; Because of planning we had to squeeze the POSIs down to 202s. We have (effectively) no roof space. So supply and extract has to be effected through the under-floor space. To do that, we needed to double the pipe work (100s instead of 160s). That means that we are more likely to have a better 'mix' because we now have twice as many inlets and outlets than the original design which used the bigger diameter pipes. We have decided to have electricity as our underfloor heating system. Downstairs and the upstairs in the shower room only. The balance of the heat required is to be supplied by MVHR and insolation. Cooling (and pre-heat) is to be supplied by the MVHR. And that means a GENVEX Premium system with a micro heat pump (for pre and post heating and cooling). PHPP reports that we have a 10% likelihood of overheating. For all of that plus the installation and insulation of all the piping and commissioning £11K There's a big bit of me which thinks that the installation of the pipes is DIY (MVHR piping has first call on the between the floors space). So reduce that price by £2500. No hot water to be piped anywhere in the house. No hot water tank. Each sink (and bath) has a local water heater (SunAmp for the bath) No standing losses. Easy DIY. Thoughts? Ian

The reason behind the question was my thoughtless following of our architects notes to the BREGs drawings. There's no substitute for a sharp mind. You've knocked a few scales off my eyes. (More scales to go, I fear) Cheque's in the post.

@warby, thank you very much indeed. Lots to go on here. Ian

@MrsRA loves gardening. And that's why we chose a design which incorporated a Winter Garden inside the house. It is an unheated area on south west corner. The Winter Garden extends from floor level to the roof and so it needs steels to hold it in place. Those steels need to be insulated. A quick look at how we could get that insulation done threw up many types of insulation, and many methods of incorporating the insulation on the steel I bet someone here has done this before, and can offer advice. Please! Ian

Hi, you are both very welcome. You will feel at home here... there are many ebuilders whose usernames you will recognise Ian

Exactly. It was the change in the understanding of the term 'sustainable' that caused my neighbour's application to be refused. The Planning Office drew attention to the change of understanding, and cited Appeals decision evidence. Interestingly he didn't cite which Appeals cases. Sustainable. Annoying word - that means too many things. Depends who's saying it, what the context is, and who's listening

The trouble with holidays is that they give @MrsRA time to think. And dream. She's set her heart on an internal folding glass door (2.8m by about 3m). I notice that there are any number of suppliers out there. And that makes me wonder how to filter them - other than by price? What to avoid? Any recommendations? Ian

Is that what dads of the 60s did, then? Mine made bricks and paving slabs - he embedded ammonites in them for fun. Must go back and have a look to see if they are still there... @Onoff (above). I distinctly remember being taught how to mix concrete and mortar when I was about 7. Mind you, it was all green fields round us then.....

Skip.

If you hadn't posted this, I would... but later this afternoon. Thanks! Ian

@Steptoe, is the insurance sector really going to ignore such a large market? I ask because I insure my Land Rover for off road driving - a tiny market.

Same thing happens when your parachute harness is loose. Or is loosened deliberately during the flight because harnesses are uncomfortable. An hour in turbulence in a C130 with almost everyone being airsick isn't fun. First time I heard a scream in the air I wondered what it was: the next scream was mine. My eyes watered for a good while. When I told the unexpurgated story to a group of Mental Health nurses that I worked with, one replied; " Ohhhh, ah knaws a groop 'o mates up in Lundun who'd pay good muney fer that. At that, my eyes watered all over again - at both the memory and the remark.

"What? More tools? How many more do you want?" "But I neeeeeeeed one"

Yeah? Well I tell ya @MrsRA would have me storing this that and the other in there - and then "Do a few sprouts for Christmas while you have a bit of a play with your tool" (s)