Critical Path

Just finished a 100 meters of Kota Black Indian Limestone with sets, paid around same price, try Stone and Porcelain in St Helens I had good service from them. The Limestone was only a third of the total hard landscaping cost, slot drains, kerbs and edges, recessed covers, lighting, stone, sand cement, brush in grout at £45 a tub( x 10) machine hire and labour. We did some Porcelain too this was much more labour intensive and slower to put down in herringbone pattern than the limestone. All looks great but its only really black when its wet or you apply the sealer. Well worth spending the money on what you want though.

Thanks for that - Robinsons supplied my roof trusses last month so will give them a try. Cheers . CP

That seems like a good price - where is that from? my quotes are around £15 plus VAT .

We used to use white tile grout, used to work a treat cleaning up the the white sanitary ware,

The part 2 form that the contractor (or you on there behalf) asked for evidence of certification, training and insurances, along with escape plans and gas monitoring etc. About to start my own part 2 application next month, I am expecting a reply from my designated engineer (details given when my part 1 and fee was approved) to say we are good to go once he approves the part 2 forms, We then tell him 5 days prior of our intention to start and each day have to call in to United Utilities to say we are working on their sewer network. Like Mr Punter says once forms are approved they don't take a lot of notice so long as your connection is to approved standard and you keep them informed through the process.

Wagas - Had same quandary myself, ended up with Plasmore Stranlte 7 Newton. light enough and barley affected u value, currently paying 73 p. each. in Manchester.

We are using pre mixed mortar here, its expensive V mixing on site but as Peter W says quality is good, on site we have Mondays delivered on Friday so its fit to use and not like soup. If recall its about 10p a brick.

Nod - £575 a thousand is the rate here in South Manchester plus a whole host of other bits such as: Blockwork £18 m2, Insulation £3, Lintels £15 stone head and cills £11 meter, feature bands £11 lin. mt. raking cuts, pad stones, steels, Vents and sleeves, Therma bates still they include Mortar in the costs and they are my Bricklayers of choice.

My roofing supplier gave me a shock today when he quoted a delivery time of August for 9000 Marley Eternit Plan Concrete tiles, he has assured me it will probably be less, need them in June so he had better be right! just thought id share the tale as all the material lead times have gone out generally.

The slot drains have a sump unit that transitions the slot into your drain connection the lids are recessed to accept paving. We use Gatic slot drains in commercial settings.

I used Wenge solid T&G floorboards in our old house, cost me over £100m 2 as unfinished planks, looked amazing when laid, blunted every tool and was very dense. Not sure how sustainable it is though?

Zac - thank you - looks like I may be adjusting a few items to hit 85 then!!

ZakP - thanks for that I will have a look at SAPeasy now.

Nod - yes I agree but need the SAP prediction for the Ecology Mortgage, not sure what score Ecology are expecting though, Anybody know? Air tests - Developers tape / sheet everything up - test it, un tape and let the leaks continue - another sham. we have to play the game though !! I need their money...

ZacP looking to get our SAP calcs this week too, had a Quote for £165 (design PEA) then £135 for SAP / EPC on completion, how does that sound to you? Sorry cant help with your question though!!

We are currently doing exactly the same and had to change solicitors as our usual guy was proving hard work. we have had to apply to register the plot in my name only as opposed to the joint names on the current larger plot, all with the blessing of HSBC whom we still have a mortgage with whilst we build. The new solicitor didn't seem to think it would take longer than a month.... its only been a week so far!!

The pattern is egg and Dart which represents life and death... everyday is a school day as they say!

We are looking at Hanley Economic Building Society for our self build mortgage they do offer for renovations too, I would love to hear from anybody with experience of using them?

What sort of cost are you looking at for an Air Test on a single house? Am I correct to think you need below 10m3/hr/m2 for a building regulation pass?

I would have a discussion with your ground works contractor to make sure he is happy with your proposal as he may choose to add in a risk element to his priced offer if you spring it upon him at the last minute.

Thanks Jack and yes I am although never residential schemes.

Hi Everyone, Just introducing myself to the forum as I have been lurking for a week or so now. We have a Garden plot adjacent our current house, the design is moving through planning presently. The design is for a 4 bed detached, 2 story, of 210 m2. We have experience of refurbishments and extensions we have done over the years but the information on here is a real help. The plan is to use labour only trades for much of the work and I will pick up the Plumbing, Bathrooms, Kitchen fit, 1st fix wiring. We will live in our current house whilst we build the new one which we intend to move into upon completion. looking forward to joining in the chats with any help I can offer and more likely receive! Cheers CP.