joe90

My tip back in Bristol was great, I told them I was doing up a great big house and that was the reason for so much crap. (It was not all my own!!,). Down here in Devon we started clearing father in laws (deceased) sheds on the site we have since built on, I did have a van but was converted by me to a camper, beds, table, curtains, but since it was till taxed as “light private goods” they were not impressed. I found a tyre in the roadside hedge outside ours so loaded that and was told I had to pay and did not believe I had found it on the road side so I told them I would put it back and the council could send a van and two blokes to collect it, they then told me I would be done for fly tipping ffs. Then they opened a Tesco bag that had half a dozen old tiles in it after father in law had left over from tiling the kitchen, No, that was trade waste and had to pay. I have not been back. All my rubbish is now taken by my builder who has an old quarry on his site and is slowly filling it. (He has a trade waste license).

Likewise i project managed our build, our builder was brilliant but like Jeremy found a couple of little issues that would have become bigger if not spotted at the time. My wife (who is bitter because she still works and I am retired!) said she could project manage our build but without building knowledge she would not necessarily see problems developing. I agree with Peter, a good PM with insurance is the way to go if you are not conversant with building yourself.

I don’t think you should feel foolish, had, maybe, by people not doing their job properly.

I agree there are good and bad tradesmen out there but the method of building is not the fault. I do believe the customer should be either capable of project managing or pay a project manager to make sure each stage is correct. Only get tradesmen by reputation and recommendation.

I did not know that, I am tired of politics, jobs for the boys. Frankly if the EU want a hard border let them put one up, why should we do it, let them find a solution ? Back to building!

Thats why I keep my other half out of my Workshop!.

I don’t know how competitive they are now but I went with green energy for our site (yet to work out house usage) mainly because of no standing charge as our usage would be small. Their customer service is excellent and I would recommend them. They recently confirmed that with a charge of £150 to change the meter they would supply E7 or E10.

My brother in law has just bought a huge old Manor House (successfull business man) and he has asked my opinion about the loft insulation and I thought I would run it past you lot!. He is having the sash windows repaired and double glazed but there is no other insulation in the place. It will be a cold loft and he is having a new roof installed. He also mentioned the fact they have a rodent problem (its in the middle of woods). What insulation would people recommend for this?

Very well done, don’t stay in a travel lodge, stay here http://www.thelangleyarms.co.uk/ it’s right in the middle of a housing estate on the outskirts of Bristol, you will think your sat nav has gone mad, it’s a lovely 17th century inn and does a fantastic Sunday lunch (I know).

After two years of putting up with a sh**y neighbour I know what you mean. Some people just need to get a life!. The only reason I did not stand up to our neighbour (apart from legally through the council planning process) was he has already been done for GBH so didn’t fancy my chances ?. He has since gone bankrupt, house sold at auction and gone to upset someone else.

So glad I am not the only one ?

As per my comment above, yes sagging can occur, it did not happen on a barn roof I did years ago but it was 45’ pitch, yes if flat fully supported would be good. If it’s a shed roof the timber will exist ?.

No, I have a TEa20, 1950. Great fun.

I am in the same boat (although I do have a controller) , I think I know what I want, but not sure “regular “ plumbers and sparks “ get it “. I don’t know if it’s my age or sanility but I am having a real problem getting my head round it ?. I think I need to have a house party ? (and invite all those knowledgable people from the forum round).?. think I will go drive my tractor.

It was suggested 15mm pipework would “strangle” hot water flow (although Jeremy says this does not happen). Nick recons 300l hot tank heated by ASHP and backup immersion’s would be sufficient. (I have kept the inline heater and put cables in as a plan B. ). Currently in the rush to move in we are working on immersion only but I must get round to sorting this out (glad it’s a hot summer). I am also considering E7 and E10 and my provider has confirmed they are available and a £150 charge for changing the meter out. We have no PV. Also like to say that despite reading how badly insulated DHW tanks are, ours, a Tempest (kindly supplied through Nick) leaks so little heat my other half has complained the airing cupboard is not warm enough ?.

As above I have used Onduline and it’s very good, however, a word of warning, if not supported properly it can get soft in the sun and sag.

Surely if the immersion’s are on a timer, then at 7 they will come on ONLY if the water is not up to temp?(their internal thermostat will detect this). I bought an in line heater like Jeremy but was advised not to use it!! I have still yet to sort my ASHP heating out ?

Yes, not allowed internally according to my Gas chap as in a fire it can melt, must be copper internally.

I got a quote from a big Gas firm who did not suggest it was not right (the quote was huge and late) and it was commisioned by a local Gas engineer who also did not question it and had the fittings on board his van!

Complete bodge ? (that’s a cowboy)

That’s a lot to pay for something that’s not right.

I also have to build a similar cupboard, but smaller. I plan to use PSE (planned square edge) timber slats about 50mm x 25mm, slightly sand off corners and no paint or varnish (white wood). Cheap as chips as it will really never be seen, just functional. Yes for yours a central pillar, vac one side, shelves the other???

Our guys told me the first set they installed took forever but they had got it down to a fine art, plus, ad they installed them they will come out and re adjust if required.

Looks great, I confess I got the makers of ours to install ours as they said it would take them an hour because they were practised at it).

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