ToughButterCup

Neither did I. The subject is very interesting indeed; piling has a long history too. And locally we don't have far to look for evidence. On especially low tides at Lancaster, in the Lune river, you can see stumps of the piles used by the Romans when they stomped about up here. Wonder if they were vibro(s)?

Here she is Declan. You a Led Zep fan too then? Blow me down it just had to be a German rig didn't it? and if I ask the driver very very nicely he might let me drive a pile or two. But then Declan, size isn't everything as many people have said to me. I can just see @MrsRA wanting a go too now she's a part-time digger driver.

Here you are......

'Forewarned is fore-armed' say some. Others 'do your due diligence'. Bottom line - do some background research. Here's mine. (With as many internet links links in as I can to help you with yours) If you can pick a hole I what I write, or see that I've missed something, I'd be so grateful if you could tell me. Method We already know that we have to pile. Does the SI report give a hint at which type of pile? Have a look at this Phase 2 SI Report: Concrete Design page 12, point 7.4: (SI = Soil Investigation) Phase 2 S.I. Report - Bay Horse, Lancaster - G15002b.pdf '... therefore the most practicable foundation type would be a bored pile solution [...] on this basis, concrete in contact with the ground may be designed to ACEC Class DS-1 AC1s of BRE Special Digest 1 - Concrete in Aggressive Ground...' So now we know: they need to be concrete of a certain spec (Help!... no idea what the spec means) and that the piles should be '... sleeved in the upper portion to allow for ongoing settlement of the fill...' (Point 7.3 page 11). What a difference a bit of research makes........ read on There's no substitute for a good SE: one who engages with the customer's needs rather than merely doing the job (PM for details if you like). One line in their email to me suggesting we use a form of piling that is a good deal cheaper than traditional piling (Surefoot). And, in one sentence the SE had potentially saved his fee. They cost about half or less than traditional steel piles. Initial conversations with the company lead me to go and have a look at an installation. Here's what piles (if you can call them that) of that sort look like. So, after checking that there was no conflict of interest between the supplier and the SE, we sent the detailed information to Surefoot. Disappointment. Our ground (see the SI report above) is too 'made-up' . Hmm, back to square minus-a-few. Lesson learned? Keep looking. And that means hours on 'Tinternet. Hours of time apparently wasted. Hours of time which at the time that 'feel' wasted which could be spent doing a million other things . And then a post from @Calvinmiddle suggested I look at national piling contractors. And that lead me to Town and Country Vibro . Instantly another set of unknowns and another research blizzard. Blizzard? Yes, that's how I feel.... I can see a few millimeters in front of my face, I can just about read my compass, I know where I'm going but there might be a crevasse one step in front. What in heaven's name is a stone column? Can it really be as strong as a pile? Why the Heck does the SE specify a safety factor of 2.5(ish) What is 'ground improvement'? How much? Why all the sales guff full of well-know management waffle? What does it actually mean? I really wish there was a Course in every Management Department in every British University which had a compulsory course called Cut_The_Shite_Out _Of_Sales_Speak. It just gets in the way. So, it's hours of YT videos.... bottom feed (my favourite) top feed (mehhhh) vibro (hmmmm) Gordon Bennett is it that quick? A few phone calls later and I'm standing on a building site somewhere in deepest east Lancs with Dan. For reassurance you understand. And a chat with the rig driver. Which lead to a quote. (Cheaper than Surefoot) Which lead to a site meeting at our place, which was well handled: there was a proper check list - whereas up to now a site meeting went something like this... "Well mate y'll need 5 meter piles and we'll do the calcs for ya, 'kin SE's they're a waste of time and money" A swift, polite Bye Bye. Or (and this takes some believing) "Your plot's the same as all the others round here: you'll need four meter piles , and I reckon the jobs going to cost you £20K" He had neither asked for nor seen any SI information - it was offered but he said "No need to bother son". It was the epithet 'son' which really got me. On arrival on site, he got out of the best kept top-line Mercedes I have seen for a long while. I was almost rude in showing the contractor the door. Almost. Piling design: TCV did that, and sent to our SE (Tanners) and that's where we are now. Stone columns (ground improvement) is the method. We need a piling mat: and that's another story.

Unbelievably useful post in terms of getting my head round what needs doing. For example; '.... but all it required was four lengths of timber to prop it in place, then backfill with a dry mix concrete / fill the plant with water. ...' @Stones, how much of your digester will be proud of the ground? I ask because @PeterW arranged things so that all of his is hidden (somehow, must ask him) @Oz07, what's a shadow gap?

Vigorous aerobic exercise for an hour will sort the irritation out.

That's the size of our house............

Nothing deters them. One tippy-toed through our kitchen the other evening. Bless her. Stunning dress on: orange against black, kept her peace, just looked beautiful. Lesson there somewhere.

Yes, @Ashburyselfbuild, I'll be on that (Barnsley) course sometime soon too, with my builder, architect in tow.

OK lads, thanks. Here's my Method Statement (RAMS) . I'm using Ed's reference: LDCA Technical Specification for Field Drainage, and H1 of the Building Regs (as applicable) The job is to lay a pipe across an open field. The pipe takes the discharge for two properties from the digester (sited more than 10 meters away from a water course and other buildings) . That means the discharge water is classified as clean. I think the worst case scenario will be when the farmer decides he wants to deep-plough the field. The land drains which already exist (2) have been surveyed and checked: both of those run in exact parallel, and the pipe I'm laying runs in parallel with them, so there's no fear my work of cutting them. Both of those drains appear to be buried deeper than 1 meter. There is no track in the field. There are no underground services. Our pipe run will be in a dead straight line. I'll use a corrugated plastic pipe. There is at least 5 meters fall over 100 meters run, so I can '...run with the land...' (above) The farmer has assured me that no stock is due to be put on the field this year. The hedge will be dug out and temporary fencing installed pending reinstatement. Access and egress to the work will be through the hedge. The fall to the field to be made up with the spoil from the digester hole and other locally dug materials. That material to be removed at the end of the job. The trench will be dug by machine. The farmer and land owner will be given an accurate sketch map of the pipe position and depth. Ed, ( @Construction Channel) what's the maximum depth that ''deep ploughing' might reach? Wikipedia has it at 50cm.... Do you agree? I recon the risk of that happening is small, though.

and just like Bernard Cribbins, I'm left wondering how deep it should be? The job? Connect the outfall from the digester to the stream 100 meters away. Across a field that -in season- has cattle on it sometimes. I asked the farmer how deep he wanted it. He had no idea. I've looked at the Regs, and there appears to be no clear guidance. So, I'm asking you for advice, please. I'm thinking about the bloke in the bowler who might come along and scratch his head (0:28)

I intend to build using Durisol ICF blocks. That company has teamed up with crsfuturebuild who in turn appears have teamed up with isolohr I thought I had our floor slab sorted out, but. Anyone know anything about isolohr or crsfuturebuild? Both systems are German: they get everywhere these pesky Germans.

Hmmm, thanks for the nudge. Got a site diary, but it's so full of sludge and 'notes-to-self' - your idea is so much simpler and better. Just decided that (I use Box) it would be best to use the resident BoxNote file format because I can update that from any device - even my very poorly specified phone. In other words, I don't need an editor on the machine I use to make the entry, because the editor is resident in the browser. (Needs to be HTML5 and CSS3 compliant I think) Ian

A success related issue.... excellent! Are you living in your property? Paying Community charge yet? The answer to those questions would figure large in my calculation. HERAS can be bought for about £15:00 a panel; one foot and one link plus panel about £20. I'm sure you can do the maths.

You just want a new one. Nothing wrong with that. Face it. - You worried about facing Faye..... just a little bit... just a teeny weeny little bit? Hmmmm?

Your little scrap with Torridge is the first thing I remember about you, Joe. Victory is all the sweeter for you now I suspect.

If anyone wants to know why I keep coming back here (as opposed to keeping quiet) this thread is a brilliant example.

Yes. With neighbours who follow the rules, I have no issue. We would benefit from good neighbours. Not from the opposite. They are. His aren't: indeed, he has been refused permission. As so often is the case @Temp, you hit the nail on the head. Refused for policy reasons 9:4 at Full Council That was the niggling naggle. And thanks so much. I greatly appreciate your eye for detail. [ Full Application vs Householder Application]

@CC45 beware, here be dragons! How to say it in a few words? There's an in-built conflict of interest in this sector. Many producers employ designers It is almost always unclear what is meant by the term 'guarantee' After extensive research, I have yet to find a company that recognises the conflict of interest and earns all of its income from producing well-researched, competent designs in the same way as (say) Architects or Structural Engineers. I have spent many hours on this subject and my stomach is still full of dread. With an SE, for example I can say to mine (Tanner SE) 'Give me a fee proposal for xyz, please', and a week later they send me one, I accept, and two weeks later the design is in my In box. Their design is backed by qualification, licence and a fine reputation. The only fair thing to say in defence of the MVHR sector is that it's immature, as yet. Careful research is the only way of mitigating the risk. By the sound of it, you've already filtered one out of your net.

28 day rule it is baby.. I've had enough... raw sewage on the ground.... the works....

But @ProDave has suggested your brain should be engaged. I Likeee likkkeee vely much too, but. I'm thinking ...... occupancy sensors? wheel chairs?

.... go formal on this one. The first question is: in the context of a refusal for a domestic (householder) planning application, how long does the applicant have to lodge an appeal? I think the answer is 12 weeks for the following reasons https://www.gov.uk/appeal-householder-planning-decision https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/544036/Procedural_Guide_Planning_appeals_v8_0.pdf , page 10, 2.4.2 But I have a naggling niggle in my head, that there might well be exceptions that I have missed. The original refusal was several months ago. Here's the secondary question, not to say 'twist'. If the applicant despite the planning permission refusal continues to live on site in a caravan while building a stables, (nothing to do with the refused house application) , is it reasonable for the LPA to allow the applicant to continue to live on site while the stables is built? At current rates of progress, Hell will freeze over before the stables is finished.

Looks Jerry-Built to me mate. Ooops, I'll get me coat Ian

I am. I didn't. I'm grateful.

.... and from what I hear, see and what people tell me, that's the most common thing. But, even when you do pay a good deal of attention to H+S as I think I do, there's precious little that you can do against over-focus, tiredness and a dollop of stupidity. Add an angle grinder and trying to save as much money as you can on the build and you get a damaged thumb. . I feel so bloody embarrassed about it now.