joe90

Thanks Terry, that all makes perfect sense ( it's just the boffins maths that I didn't understand!). I am doing exactly the same really although I do have a heat pump (bargain of the week on Ebay) but my ethos was heat the slab overnight when the lecky was cheap knowing it will switch itself off when a set air temp was reached. Hopefully this will last all day, if not we will light the wood burner to sit round in the evening or manually kick the ASHP on to top up the UFH. I didn't apply any maths, perhaps just gut feeling and a hope it would work. In fairness everybody is telling me Devon is mild enough that very cold weather won't last very long at all hence the electric panel radiators upstairs instead of UFH as the outlay would not be worth it. Jeremys situation where microclimate meant more than weather modelling ( cooling being more important than heating) makes me think that I have to " suck it and see" . Whatever the outcome this new house will be sooooo much cheaper to run than the present uninsulated house than I can't wait to get out of.

I usually am not keen on CCTV ( except on public property) but with our new build we are not overlooked by anybody so cameras, even if good dummies, might be a good idea with PIR operated outside lights

I too hate winders ( steps going round corners ) I plan 5 steps, 90' landing 2 steps, 90' landing, 6 steps. Not sure of my goings but when we get to actual measurements I will have the max I can within the stairwell. My hate of winders goes back to falling down my grans stairs when I was small, it was almost like a spiral in places, gawd only knows how she managed in her old age.

Hep 20 is recommended by our resident professional plumber and having received a sample from the company I am sold on it. I was a Luddite and used copper only as it was " bound to be better than plastic" but I am now converted, being able to feed long lengths in and out of joists etc is far better than lots of soldered bends and Joints and although plastic fittings are more expensive you use far fewer of them. Yes copper where it shows or next to boilers.

I came across induction when doing a cookery course and found them great to use and even more controllable than gas BUT er indoors wants gas, period, and that means lugging bottles for our site, hey ho ?,

Sorry it was off topic, yes I have a neighbour/plumber who will sign this off and I understand why , I just wondered how it's enforcable to make sure it's done annually?

Simple question regarding an unvented cylinder, what forms or documentation is required and what enforcement exists regarding this?

Thanks Jeremy, yes Nick mentioned using a phone when he visited, forgot that!, just not sure we get any decent coverage as mobile signals are sketchy at the best of times and seem to vary with the weather. I will ask my builders what provider they use as they seem to have better coverage than I do. I have a spare telegraph pole that I could stick up and put the phone up there if the signal was any better but I think the hotspot only covers 10 mtrs. The other problem I have is the caravan is metal clad and that appears to block some strength of the signal.

I am considering my options regarding my site and broadband etc unfortunately I bought an iPad without a mobile option but was told I would need a mifi devise to create a mobile hotspot. Is there a map available to see what coverage and from who would be best for my site? It may well be that I almost permenantly on site in about 6 weeks so need some sort of connectivity.

I had a similar conversation with my BCO when he asked for a soak away for the garage I said you mean a pond and showed him the solid yellow clay we have just under the topsoil, I simply piped the French drain out to a ditch next to the road. Nothing was ever mentioned again and I got my completion certificate. The house and treatment plant are another matter which I am not looking forward to dealing with!!!

I rest my case m,lud ?

Domestic science in my opinion should be compulsory for boys and girls. I firmly believe the health of so many is bad due to lack of knowledge about nutrition and how to cook.

I am a firm follower of kiss, ( keep it simple stupid) and others have shown that some of these systems with motors and moving parts deep in the s*** is asking for trouble. I am still shopping fir a system and frankly the simpler the better in my eyes. ( mind you I am a ludite ?)

When my builder had concrete delivered for my site they had a conveyor belt to distribute the concrete about, very controllable and much much better than shovelling and harrowing but I have no idea of the cost.

Yep, I took technical drawing and geometrical drawing at o level, then did woodwork. Can't be bothered with auto cad ( I am a Luddite) and still have my drawing board, propelling pencils ( but use a scanner to send anything to my builder by email) . I have a workshop full of tools and can't wait to get on with proper woodwork for the house and it's furnishings) . Then there's the car!!!.

A tea leaf was caught near me a few years ago and the police found a map in his pocket and some houses had a big cross through them, when asked about this he simply said " them ouses have dogs, don't go near them" i would like like to keep geese eventually, even better than a dog I recon.

Taking this thread a bit further, whilst planning my wiring I was wondering what type of alarm to fit, I tend not to like wireless ( too many radio waves about already for my liking) . I spotted one that had a key fob like most cars and tend to think this is better than keying in a number to arm/disarm for convenience. Any thoughts or suggestions.

I am confused on this subject because no one has mentioned water usage, I asked the builder who said he was sure the water supply was good enough !!!!. Am I going to get clobbered after fitting the plumbing by the BI asking for info on what Taos etc I have fitted?

Jobsworth !

This is another reason I am installing my windows in check reveals, also makes the frame a little less bulky.

Mine is local council, just hoping it's not a problem, actually he is a very nice guy with a level head and very accepting of different build types.

Well my plans showed UFH only downstairs and BC have not mentioned it and passed the plans so I don't see it as a problem. I stayed with a neighbour recently and they have an ASHP running oversized radiators but not a well insulated house and I found their house chilly.

Fair enough, but my CU will be nowhere near my bathrooms and her indoors will be sending me downstairs and over to the plant room to put the heating on for her, I prefer it to be just outside the bathrooms so she can do it herself!! . are the programmers not built for a bathroom envoironment ?

Cool, does this not mean that if you want to override the timings you have to go to the CU ? I installed electric UFH fir a customer that had a programmer with everyday settings but an override button that allowed an instant 1hour "on now" facility which is what I fancy. I can't remember the make.

A bit late to this thread but what about low expansion window sealing foam, this is sold as flexible and air tight? And very easy to squirt around awkward shapes.