Thorfun

@Jammy5 i know it's not what you asked but have you considered a fire suppression system? our architect designed our house without one with large opening windows from every room upstairs and things to protect stairwells to multiple exit routes from the basement etc. in the end it probably cost us more than a fire suppression system would have! in hindsight, if our architect had said we can save £X and hassle by installing fire suppression i'd have probably jumped at it. just wondering that if you installed one of those you wouldn't have to worry so much about the fire rating of some things maybe?

Here’s ours

Just install it! Your SAP won’t go in to such detail. In my opinion you’re very much over thinking it. we installed just as you’re proposing and love it btw.

i've already bought the materials so it's only on the labour. i like my plasterer so i'm reluctant to go hunting for a new one now. i'll just take the hit on the VAT then.

diy plastering? no chance! i'm completely s**t at it. 🤣

do you know if that's official? as i know builders who get a cert as soon as possible to get BCO off their backs and then continue working and finishing off. also means that any landscaping done that was part of the planning probably wouldn't be zero rated which seems unfair as most self-builders will have moved in before doing landscaping etc

Sorry. Not vat reclaim. That’s been done. I’m talking about trades coming in to do work.

We’ve moved in and had BCO sign off but the basement isn’t finished. I’ve boarded a room and need it plastered. Does it still count for zero Vat rating? It’s part of the original planning application and hasn’t been done previously so I would assume it’s still part of the initial build and so is zero rated. But does anyone have official evidence of this? also, at what point is a self-build no longer for zero rating of VAT?

I’ve got a few hours this morning before the in-laws come for lunch to do some building. The best way to start 2026! Happy New Year.

We did bacon Monday and beer Friday. Nothing in writing but our subbies appreciated it and in the grand scheme of things it was peanuts.

Finally a normal person (🤞) from Bristol! Unlike our @Pocster

Even @Pocster used one of those! I will definitely be purchasing one, don’t worry.

I showed the photos to swmbo and told her the bar has been set for my upcoming tiling in the utility room. she wasn’t laughing. 😆

No Bad tiling “I’m not paying for that” and then go and find a new tiler to do it properly

thanks. this room has been interesting as I have a change of ceiling heights where the soil pipe runs is lower. my first time doing something a little more complicated than just a wall or flat ceiling!