Thorfun

as per the title really. we're going to see a house being built so will see first hand their build quality, I was just wondering if anyone on here has used them. Quote is very competitive and they're based in Essex which isn't a million miles from Sussex which is a bonus.

I just got a quote back for our geotechnical survey. the company are offering this for the fieldwork: Dynamic Sampling: One days work on site, to provisionally include 2no boreholes to 3.00m and 2no to 5.00m (the depth and number of holes will depend on drilling conditions, site constraints etc). Dynamic Probing: SHDP type 2 probing in conjunction with the dynamic sampling. Monitoring wells: We have allowed for installing 1no monitoring wells to a provisional depth of 5.00m Geotechnical field tests: in-situ testing to include: CBR testing using a TRL DCP it also includes desktop study, groundwater monitoring and laboratory testing. total cost is £3k inc. vat I thought it was reasonable and as we're having a basement a most definite requirement! They even say that they'll report specifically on the basement we're after as well as many other things. The second quote I got seems a little more comprehensive including a data logger to measure groundwater levels at 15 minutes intervals over a period of 3 weeks. they came in at £3200 inc. vat. I'll be getting a couple of more quotes as well to compare but it seems that it'll cost me around £3k to get this done.

and I presume that's a BIG if!

thanks. I'll have a second pair of hands as the lovely wife is willing to get involved so that's not an issue. I've read a lot of threads on here about the nightmare that people have had installing PIR between the frame studs and so I'm dead against doing that! and now I have even more reason thanks to your experiences.

exactly! ? hence the wall make-up I've chosen. it's figuring out how long it'll take me that's the issue as it's not something I've done before.

no reason in particular for doing as you say. I was just trying to mimic what seems to be the standard wall make-up of a number of TF manufacturers. I also actually like the idea of the membrane adding an extra layer of airtightness even after the PIR has been taped. and then batten on top of that to create the service void. it makes for a thicker wall but it just appeals to my sense of neatness. also means I don't have to cut PIR to size to fit the battens which I'm trying to avoid.

I'm not sure SWMBO will allow that for me! so it's finding a nice compromise between saving money and being in the new place before we're old and grey. ?

Thanks Dave. I have to admit it doesn't look like a hard job and is certainly something that I can do. my only concern is in the loft but as we're hoping to go attic truss rather than Fink truss I will have the space up there to be able to work in reasonable comfort. I'm really struggling to justify the cost that some TF manufacturers charge for the installation of the insulation. I guess you're paying for the reduced time it takes to do it. but with the money I can save it will pay for quite a lot of other stuff.

I'm not 100% convinced of the spray foam as I want the sound insulation and decrement delay qualities of mineral wool (or wood fibre) in between the studs and then the PIR over that to reduce the cold bridging of the timber studs. I'm also trying to reduce our oil based insulation and having 140mm of it in the walls just seems very un-green!

thanks for the response. I'm considering the walls and the roof. we have a vaulted ceiling as well for the entrance hall which is 2.8m wide. 200 man hours, wow. so for me on my own on evenings and weekends I'm looking at about 6 weeks or so just for the walls.

does anyone else have any sort of estimates for this? I'm trying to calculate the time it will take me vs the cost it'll be to get the TF manufacturer to do it.

I know this is a 'piece of string?' type question but I know that a few on here have installed their own insulation (@ProDave is the first name that springs to mind) so I was wondering if anyone could give a rough estimate on how long it'd take one man (with assistance from SWMBO) to install insulation in a timber frame? I'm talking about 140mm mineral wool between the studs and a layer of 50mm or 80mm PIR on top. and then, while I'm at it, how long to then add an air tightness membrane on top of the PIR? obviously it depends on the size of the house but I'm sure an average hr/m2 could be obtained with enough results!

it does look good! did you see that video showing off the new unreal engine on PS5? hang on....I'll dig it out.... watch in on Chrome in 4k (Safari only offers 1080p max). truly stunning! I skipped the PS4 as I preferred the Xbox One X but I think a PS5 might be on my list to Santa this year.

nope. I'm a Unix engineer by trade. don't do Windows unless I really have to. although it is good for gaming!

I have invoice software that only runs on windows. that and makeMKV is what I use it for. hence just having a VM I can spin up when required. otherwise we're an Apple household with a few Google devices thrown in for fun.

I don't want to use wifi. I want hardwired automation as much as possible. besides, it goes without saying that the kids are happy to eat bread and water as long as daddy has his toys to play with.

tbh, I think it's typical of Virtual Box. I used to run a Win 10 VM on virtual box but it was jerky as hell but I lived with it as I just used it to create invoices. and I have an iMac Pro so it's not like I don't have the CPU power to run it in Virtual Box! just never could be bothered to sit down and figure out why as my usage was so low. but it's much better running from the NAS for some reason.

does the software work under Wine? might reduce your stress levels a little bit (just like the real thing!)

yeah, Loxone certainly ticks those boxes and I do love to play but I also need it to just work for SWMBO and the kids and especially for my mum who will be living with us and with me tinkering the chances are that I'll leave something half-done and stuff just won't work properly coz I've been playing again! she's not great with technology and if I have to tell her that she needs to double tap the centre of the switch to turn the lights off or press the top right for blinds etc she'll have no ideas. plus I really like the office looking controllers from C4/Lutron etc. it's one of those things that I'm just going to have to get quotes for both and do loads and loads of research and go visit show homes etc and then make a decision.

was going to mention virtual box but I figured you'd want the VM on all the time so would have to leave your Mac on permanently. whereas a Pi or VM on the NAS could be on 24/7.

thanks @Ferdinand. they certainly do have a lot of tools! I decided to with Ego for my garden tools in the end despite much internal wrangling and debate. the equipment arrived today and I'm just charging the batteries before having a go. build quality looks good so far but the proof will be in the pudding as they say. I am definitely looking to go with Makita for the rest of my tools though. that decision has been made and so I look forward to a lifelong relationship with Makita tools.

and how do you find Loxone? still torn between Loxone and Control-4. i really don't like the Loxone light switches and having to tap a certain number of times to get to the lighting preset you want, whereas Control-4 has switches with many buttons for each preset. but Loxone I can administer myself whereas Control-4 is a closed system. but C-4 is damn sexy and does AV very well whereas Loxone uses iPads for displays and doesn't do AV at all.

the price for home automation I guess!

a VM crash should have no effect on the NAS. rebooting a dead VM on Synology? I don't know! on a Qnap system there's an app called Virtualisation Station. in there you manage and control all of your VMs and can access them through the virtualisation app. how this is done on Synology is beyond me. maybe @joth knows? otherwise, it'll need a google search. I don't have time now but if I get a chance later I'll see if I can find anything on Google about Synology virtualisation.

yeah. we love the bats. I've not got any issues with them being around! keeps the insect population down as well.