ToughButterCup

This appears to me to be the key issue. Could you share the exact wording of their Decision Notice in relation to the word 'habitable' please.

None, none at all. Their stuff is pricy - flush plates for example are stupid - rude almost. But in the scheme of things .... you've just got so much other stuff to sort out, by the time we were fitting the stuff, I just winced and moved on to the next issue. Price-inelastic I think is the term. I have a feeling that house-churn is so much higher here than over there (Germany) that those two companies feel justified in charging through the nose - or wherever.

Yes, possibly. Research research research. Pays off almost every time. My other half is the researcher in our family. I have re-named her the Glow-Worm. All I ever see of her is the reflected light of a small screen in her face. A gentle glow.

The issue is price point. We decided on Geberit and Hansgrohe - it was far more expensive than we had planned for - because of the quality ; in Geberit's case their support documentation and videos are superb. We had to save up for six months or so, and bought at sales and when offers were available. I still wince at the cost, the plumbers commented favourably and also sucked their teeth when we told them the cost.

Toilet papaer? Don't use it. We have two Geberit AquaClean loos, principally because of my injured back. You can vary the water pressure and the durationof the cleaning 'cycle' from a few to 50 seconds. When they come round my mates use the loos even if they don't need to go: and one of them has been known to wash his botticelli twice in succession just for the fun of it. On first use, the female of the species has been known to squeal. My only regret is not buying the version of the AquaClean that has a BlueTooth remote control. Just think of the fun you could have with that. There's one with a blow-dry facility. Oh God, @pocster is going to read this and ......

Here. Your plan is exactly what we've done. By chance retirement and getting full PP occured on the same day. I could not have done the build without BH. Beware optimism bias. You cannot read enough of BH to help you plan. Think of it as planning time. Have a read of any of the blogs: they're probably the best place to start. Good luck Ian

Evidence. Put up or shut up.

Heeeyyyy! Excellent. Now, watch out for the carpet police. In-out-in-out-in-out with impunity up to now. Not any more. BOOTS OFF ! ? A big milestone and a Friday too. Pub tonight?

No Dave you're not bluddee sorry. ? Typical sparky SOH. Revenge on its way. I recon for ab initio builders - no experience of building at all - building your own house is the building equivalent of doing PhD (doctorate) Oh, BTW, them Work Safety slippas is reeely cool

Calling all door trimmers! Calling all door trimmers! Carpets fitted yesterday! Whoooppppeee . (Now I need to remove my boots going upstairs or else it's ☠️ by the most painful method available to her) Today's challenge is to trim two doors to size. Here's the spec for one of them The lipping thickness for the bottom rail is 10mm . Because of the new carpets, I need to trim off a good deal more than that - roughly 20mm. The construction is wood or particle board. Can I trim the 20mm off and leave the bottom as particle board OR should I trim (say) 30mm off and make up a 10mm batten and glue and screw it to the bottom of the door? Thanks in anticipation .... (PS anyone know of some safety boots suitable for indoors (easy-on : easy-off) - already dropped the door on my stocking feet ?)

FFS Dave. I don't know how you can be so even-tempered about it. Ducking and Diving is a much practised art in this sector. There's nothing to be lost for Baumit coming out and spending some time with you. Except for f.....ing COVID Arggggghhhh. From the sound of it, the company is German. (Bau = build , mit = with) If that is the case and you don't get any joy with the UK crew, and you need to go German, I'll gladly help.

Head down, arse up go ! ..... All the very best of luck mate, watched your progress with interest for a couple of years now.......

Poor bloke. Didn't know he had such a severe hernia. Clive, I can reassure you that the operation is quite quick - good success rates. Budgies will soon be back in the trunks ....?

I haven't , but I (most of us on BH) know someone who - much to my surprise at least - concluded that he should buy off the shelf stuff. Jeremy Harris. No less. And there's a guy who wouldn't (didn't) blink at rolling his own bore hole, underwater camera, and many other things.

First off, welcome. And good luck with the application. Your plan is exactly the same as ours. I love your design: we nearly chose one very similar. We built in Durisol (DIY Max) And what fun we had ?? As many downs as ups. Nestled inside now, wind whistling round our withers, nice and warm, no heating on at all. Not finished yet - its relentless, and I'm getting a bit fed up - mostly tiredness - after 5 years non-stop work except for the odd weekend in Glasgow. I realise thats a very selfish thing to say - many would donate their eye teeth to have the chance I have been given. Use the search box on this site for DURISOL, that should give you a good insight to the ups and downs of the material and processes. There are other excellent ICFs each with their own characteristics. I would use Durisol again - but mainly because I know what to look for and what the pitfalls are. Good luck with the application, Ian

From memory @Jeremy Harris has written about this issue in some detail (link to follow if I can find it) In summary: don't worry about the issue: the average outage is less than four hours, so go and eat out, dig out the camping stove if you like, and put another dog on the bed if you are cold. The vast majority of us will not suffer greatly, so there isn't a good business case for the necessary investment in infrastructure. I sympathise greatly with those who have suffered recently, my heart goes out to them. This (below) isn't the post I was thinking of , but its close enough

You are right. It is the most useful stimulus to creative thinking. Almost as useful a stimulus to thought as not having enough. As in ... I overheard a very canny mum saying to her 7 (?) year old at the till (Aldi) "Ok, you can have that , but I haven't got enough money for those sweets as well, so you choose what to put back on the shelf. Then we can afford your sweets." Wish I could remember what the nipper put back on the shelf.

Respect. Very clever. Sniper, not a machine gunner. To those you visited, the agenda was not merely planning: it was about your 'fit' with their values. Once you'd passed the values test, it will have been all downwind sailing. Bet you dressed carefully for the event, turned up bang on time.... . Wish I'd had the guts to the same. Still, look at it this way, I had the joy of peesing them all off and getting permission.

We had a similarly bad perc test. How flat is your site? If there is a bit of slope and some space maybe you can use some of the suggestions on the SUDS site as @Jilly suggests? We have made a water garden which overflows to a small filter bed, an attentuation pond and a proper pond which simply overflows down the slope. BCO didn't bat an eyelid.

8 words that say it all.

Thats the one. Currently we are covering our costs on monthly income and selling stuff ( for example digger, scaffolding, other bits and bobs) . It makes things like carpet fitting a real pain in the Botticelli - move this there - move it back - cover this over, cover that again and again, oops made a mistake there, get the scaffolding out, mend that... Cant take joke ? ... etc

Harsh, but uncomfortably fair. I started out by itemising - and publishing every penny cost on here. Until the unkind remarks came: masked as teasing from the usual suspect. So, I shut up. Yours is a understandable standard: '... For myself, every single spend I have that would not have arisen if I wasn't self building is a 'build cost' " It ain't just as you say '... simple ...' its too simple, too open, too honest, too understandable. Not even a fig leaf behind which anyone can hide. Many people cant stand too much reality. In kindness, I think it may be because there so much optimism bias on this board.

.... " Well ah'd like ter raise 't same concerns - 'ees jus' mekkin munne, plus 'ees gunna mek an 'ell uvver mess on it. " ... tr from the vernacular above to; Hail citizen of West Lancashire! I, as a citizen of the aforementioned zone, make plea that our esteemed colleagues of Salamander Cottage are speculators of the worst kind. They merely plan to; design, build, flog and run. And since the esteemed applicant has no idea how to build anything, he's going to screw up big time.

Infamy, infamy at long last ! Google Translate's got it in for me.

Council Meeting Committe Room: 30 people present Chair of the Council Meeting: "Now, we turn to comments from members of the public for comment on the proposal for Salamander Cottage" Next Door neighbour : "Aye, ahh've gorra comment - (stands, turns to look at me and SWMBO) tha's innit ter mek munney lad, thats top an' borrom of it SWMBO : digs stiletto heel into my shoe *king painfully. I bite my tongue for the first time ever. Ever. (Outside professional requirements) Next Door neighbour but one addresses the Chair : 'Eeees init ter mek munne, 'ees jus' laaak them uthers roun' 'ere mekkin mune: ee's jus gonna build, sell up an' go Chair of the Council Meeting: "What has that got to do with Material Matters in relation to Planning? " Next Door neighbour: Pointedly looks at me , sneers. Sits down heavily, sighs. Next Door Neighbour but two (father of the aforementioned neighbours) " Well ah'd like ter raise 't same concerns - 'ees jus' mekkin munne, plus 'ees gunna mek an 'ell uvver mess on it. " (Oh - on refelction how right he was) Councillor Mrs 'Bussell' : (not on the Planning Committe) Stands, smirks, almost breaks wind, rictus grin, nods to the Chair : " Well I simply hev to say that the proposed hice would ruin my Sunday morning walk. The proposed hice will be part of a chocolate-box row of hizzes, such a jewel in our area. Ennnnnd of corse, faaaaar too many people are getting permission - faaar too many. " Sits down, breaks wind; there's an audible local gasp. And a cough or two. Thinks I : Speak again Thou Sweet Lips that never told a lie ......... Talks out of her ar@e as it is anyway. Chair decides to throw convention to the wind and joins the fray: "Well, I do rather think that the proposed house could at least be built of stone. Raaather. The stiletto goes deeper into my foot which, by now is crying like a big girl. Think of it as a rite of passge @Omnibuswoman. Want me to come round and fettle them for ya?