Triassic

I found fitting PaiR the worst job, it sounds like you’ve got yours cut to size, which is good. Now don’t forget to use expanding foam to fill and gaps!!

You must have had one hell of a hot curry the night before!

I had a second hand bog, so built a timber framed loo out of old timbet and clad it in OSB and old weatherboard. I positioned it next to a convenient inspection chamber. Total cost nil.....

Pity you couldn’t have the sever pipe route preplanned, their archilogival trench could have followed the same route, save you digging later!

I agree, I also hate those large square push button flushes, such a corporate bog look!

An insulated raft is the way to go. The services don’t have to go under the slab, they could be kept to the edges with th3 right house layout. This learned report from the Museum of London might help https://www.mola.org.uk/sites/default/files/downloads/Mitigation of construction impact A4.pdf

Yes, definatly. But in a rental, does he have permission!?

I’m thinking about using a lead replacement product.

As yet I’ve not got a price for the rendering I’m currently looking at which board to use and the price there of. I’ll be fitting the board myself to save money!

I keep getting emails from an online builders merchants, I’ve never used one and I’m not sure how they got my email address. Has anyone here used an online builders merchant, was it worthwhile, did you save money?

It might be worth reading this blog, it’s written by a guy who lives completely off grid, he has all the kit you’ll need for an off grid life, he describes it all in detail, the sort of detail you’ll need. https://lifeattheendoftheroad.wordpress.com/about/

I have the greatest respect for anyone holding down a full time job and family when doing a self build.

All that loft space, why not add a study, extra bedroom, man zone up there?

Have you looked at the cost implications of keeping the old bungalow? It might be cheaper to demolish it and start again. In starting again, you won't have to compromise on insulation, cold bridging and wall placement etc?

As I'm doing a timber frame, are there particular render products I should be using with BBA approval for said timber frame? I notice that the K-rend I was thinking of using is not BBA approved for timber frame. Should timber battens, used to support external render board, be protected with a strip of dpc material placed between the batten and the board?

I'm planning my render board installation and was wondering if there was such a thing as a standard render board installation guide, giving details such as the batten support around windows, doors, corners etc, the number and type of screws per panel. I also see that there is a range of render board materials and thicknesses, is there anything I need to be looking out for?

Looks good, I have the same company pencilled in for the supply of my panels and kit.

I definatly doing most of it myself, I’ve got help from my newly retired wife and a couple of local semi retired tradesmen. I’ve done all the digging of the foundations, laid the insulation and cast the foundation slab and basement walls. So far I’ve been at it around 12+months. I’m hoping the next 12 months go a bit quicker.

I assume you had to pay the £235planning application amendment fee?

I looked these at a plumbing exibition a few weeks ago. As Jeremy said some of the range ain’t inverter controlled.

No, it’s free to those “in the trade”, nod nod wink wink! All you have to do is produce your training certificates.

Oh, I’ve just been invited to attend a Sunamp installers traning course.....

Does the company still exist, if not, just buy the insurance and get on with the build.

We watched the shop last nigh, my first reaction was what about the cold bridging and my second, how the hell are they going to insulate that! At the start he was enthusing about curves and form in the skate park, he’d have probably been better walking the TV crew around the local multi storey car park! All in all, a nice idea poorly executed. The one good thing to come out of it was praise from my wife for my recent ICF pour, 26m3 into 3m tall basement walls and no leaks.

Can’t wait to see the photos of the installation stage. If I recall correctly, you bought it from a local supplier. ps. Wouldn’t you be better rescheduling the eye surgery until after you’ve moved in?