Thorfun

what does your joiner say you should get? I'd be checking with them first!

not me. our architects were very reasonably priced and we think they did a great job. the Architect designed the house and then, after planning, the Chartered Architectural Technologist did the BR drawings (although his desk was next to the Architect's so I'm sure there was a lot of discussions between them). but, I think some Architect's ARE expensive and they give the rest of you guys a bad rep. 😉

if you're building timber frame then some timber frame companies will do the structural engineering and building reg drawings for you as part of the package, so if you're going that route then might be worth checking. other's on here have used architectural technicians to do the BR drawings with good results too. we used our architects and a structural engineer who worked together well with the timber frame company and civil engineers to get it all planned out ready for construction but our build was quite complicated with a new culverted driveway entrance, basement, timber frame and green roofs!

forgot to mention that there is no laitance as it's a cement based liquid screed (Cemfloor)

it did make a big difference but that's it for progress in the basement now really. once the house is finished and we're moved in the basement will be worked on a bit at a time as funds allow but I wanted to get the basement to the stage it is now so that the plant room would be ready to accept equipment. and, yes, the basement has tall ceilings (approx 3m). we didn't want it to feel like a cellar down there as there's not a lot of natural light and, in the grand scheme of things, digging down an extra 600mm to give the higher ceilings was not a lot extra so we thought it worth it.

+1 to this! an invaluable tool

yep. fair point.

Dpc is cheap. Why would you not just add it under internal walls? Our internal walls have a DPC and they’re above a basement! TF erectors just said they install the DPC as a matter of course.

it was Alwitra VSK https://www.icb.uk.com/products/waterproofing/alwitra-single-ply-membranes/evalon-vsk. I had it installed by a roofing company and that was their product of choice

We had single-ply membrane on our flat roofs which are green roofs. Was recommended it over GRP as we’ve got a timber frame and it survives the movement of the TF better. Had 3 different roofers say the same thing.

cheers. designer has used other control systems and DALI but she's not involved in the control of the lighting just the concept design. we have taken that concept design and will source light fittings and controls/drivers ourselves. pretty sure it'll be DMX. I already have the DMX module for Loxone and the DALI drivers are just more expensive. I also don't think we'll have loads of dimming lights as the design has been done in a way to not need them. and Loxone dimmers are just stupidly expensive. only time will tell if my decisions were right!

then that makes perfect sense. you can fit 68mm guttering and bends behind two 2 x 2 battens. just wouldn't be possible with 1" battens!

does this help? https://issuu.com/structuraltimberassociation/docs/timber_frame_pocket_guide

did the builders do it? or did you do it yourself? if they did it how grumpy were they? 😂

ok. I understand now and, yes, if using OSB for a VCL then I would 100% do as you said! but as @Nickfromwales says I am putting a VCL membrane on top of the internal PIR and fixing the service cavity battens through that into the TF studs. the OSB will simply be for a more 'solid' feeling wall rather than VCL.

why do you specifically state this? I see no issues with putting OSB on top of the service cavity with plasterboard on top of that. I've spoken to a number of builder friends and they all say that they put plasterboard on top of OSB as it gives the wall a rock solid feel. it is something I am very seriously considering. can I ask if you have a specific reason for using 2" x 2" battens for your timber cladding? we used 2" x 2" for ours due to the fact that our external blinds needed the space between the building and the cladding to function but it cost us a LOT of money especially as we, like you, are going for vertical cladding so needed to batten and counter batten. if you don't specifically need that size battens it might be worth using 2" x 1" roofing battens as that should save a ton of money? just a thought.

yeah. I didn't even mention a 3-phase supply. I need a smart meter as I want my SEG. they said they can't give timelines for when they'll have smart meters in again.

just phoned Octopus and was told that they don't have any smart meters and to call bigger suppliers to get one installed and then transfer over to them. sounds bloody cheeky to me! so the other providers pay to have our smart meter installed but Octopus get the custom. anyway, I'll phone around some other suppliers.

yeah, looked at their agile outgoing tariff and looks interesting. I did download their data for average price over a period but I need to go through it and calculate the average price for during the day only. Octopus was my first choice as my Aunt is a customer and has given me a referral code and I'm a good nephew. 🙂

thanks. that's what I figured. I'm also thinking that all that solar PV could be being exported while the house is being built and earning us some money. according to PVGIS we should be averaging 1308kWh in May so even at 5p/kWh that's a nice little £65 a month bonus while we finish building. so a quick install of a single phase meter could be exactly what we need!

so I've been phoning around to try and get a 3-phase meter for our new 3-phase supply and can't find anyone offering them at the moment (some companies aren't even taking on new customers!). our Solar PV is all on a single phase and the house will be run on a single phase with the potential of a 3-phase EV charger at a later date. for now can I simply get a single phase smart meter installed and then upgrade to a 3-phase meter when they become available again and we actually need the 3-phase supply?

we ordered through Permachar but it arrived direct from Lithuania from a company called Degmeda. problem is it's Siberian Larch so that is in short supply at the moment.

phew! I was right and it is the wrong thing to do. must start believing in myself some more. especially when the chippies turn up and say that my battening isn't bad at all and I should see some battens that carpenters have fitted! and when other people in the industry complement me on how well I'm doing and I should see other sites run by 'professionals'. I generally think they're just being nice but maybe I do have a clue after all. 😂

they're both single storey so a small ladder will allow us access to the sedum roof and we can climb over the balcony railings to get to the wildflower roof so no issues with access. RWH company said to keep the green roof and ACOs separate from rainwater and not to divert it to the tank. I'm no expert so I can only go on what I've been told by the companies that 'should' know.

I can't comment on whether it's ok to leave the timbers in, sorry. but this dividing in to 3 smaller sections just sounds like laziness! sounds like they couldn't be bothered to build the formwork for the 12m x 8m area and didn't want to get their wellies dirty tamping down the concrete and levelling it. please note, I am not a builder so this might be very common but it seems a bit wrong to me!