Thorfun

Well they didn’t ask for small invoices but they weren’t all large large! Seemed to be around £500 and up. but I’ve no idea on the criteria they use to choose.

That wasn’t on the list of criteria you posted. 😂

No

These are them https://www.nationallighting.co.uk/nitropro-tri-wattage-360-recessed-fire-rated-4cct-8w-led-downlight-dimmable-ip44-matt-white?_gl=1*1u0yagk*_up*MQ..*_ga*MTY0MDY2ODc2NC4xNzQyNDEyNTEz*_ga_14DHPLMGCX*MTc0MjQxMjUxMi4xLjEuMTc0MjQxMjU0Ny4wLjAuMTk0NTU4Mzky

The ones we used are good. Wish I could remember what they were! SWMBO bought them so I’ll ask and get back to you.

i filled in my own demolition notice and don't remember anything to onerous. what's the part you're struggling on?

@Happyhouse if a protected staircase doesn't fit in with your aesthetics and design then you can investigate a fire suppression system. i honestly think for us it would've been cheaper to fit that than to go through all the hoops and costs to fit escape windows and exits etc.

Brinkley’s self build bible was my go-to book

G99 for us as we’ve got a 10kWp array

found it.

I did in depth calculations for the insulation for our basement taking in to consideration the depth of the basement and the insulating effect of the earth. but it was so long ago I can’t remember it! But I did have a thread on here about it which a search might yield. I’ll try and take a look if I have some time.

9/2/25: Claim submitted 11/2/25: Asked for 11 invoices (out of 610) 25/2/25: letter received stating payment will be made minus 4 invoices (which we will contest) 28/2/25: Funds in our bank account that's pretty darn efficient!

we have a basement......planned rooms are music room (which i'm currently boarding out), gym/golf studio, cinema and games room. plus our comms room and plant room and a loo which probably won't ever get plumbed in if i'm being honest. total area is approx 120m2 for us it cost us £200k to build the basement but i reckon foundations without a basement would've cost us about £50k - £60k as we would've had to dig down 2m to get to bedrock so the basement, using really good man-maths, only cost us about £150k. 😉 i can't wait to kit out the cinema but it'll be a while due to other priorities. as @Mr Punter says, we have 3m high ceilings in the basement. gives a really good sense of space. also gives leeway to reduce ceiling height to cover utilities or to add extra sound insulation.

We bought those XL Palermo doors through Jewson as they gave us a great price. architraves and skirtings were bought by my wife online. Don’t know where from though! I never bothered with a Howdens account.

Not sure how they could’ve checked for it. Even if they drilled through the floor it’s not sheets of asbestos underneath so chances are they wouldn’t have hit any. That’s life I guess. Never simple. Especially when you choose to self-build!