Mulberry View

The main issue in the detail provided was the DPM... With it as per the drawing, I cannot fix the Compacfoam to anything up to and whilst the door is being fitted. It's also a fair old chunk, only because the SE said it needs to be as wide as it is tall to prevent 'mushrooming'. I guess the additional insulation needs to be protected from any potential damp coming up through the B&B?

Thanks @Russell griffiths. Technically, I could strip the inner face of the ICF and lay a course of concrete bricks/blocks on top of the Beam/Block, directly up against the ICF concrete and top it off with a layer of something like XPS700 to aid thermal performance. But where would the DPM go? Presumably the blocks would be outside the DPM and the insulation would be inside it? Could I use EPDM as the DPC, fully bonded to the threshold, over the top of the added blockwork and then tape the DPM to it later on when I get to that point? In that way, I get to bond the XPS700 to the EPDM, which would hold it in place for the door to be fitted.

Hi @Dave Anderson. Sorry to drag up an old post. Did you screed before the door went in? I need to add a piece of something like Compacfoam in a similar way to you to extend the load bearing width of the threshold to take a very wide profile sliding door. My dilemma is how to fix the Compacfoam in place, with some DPM behind it, whilst the door is fitted, as the PIR and screed won't be there at that time.

That surprises me! Are you sure?

Did find this which might be useful... Also Andrew the VAT man might also be a good one to ask.. Yes, services related to a borehole can be zero-rated for VAT if they are an integral part of the construction of a new qualifying dwelling in the UK. This depends on the following conditions: "In the course of construction": The work must be carried out during the construction of the new dwelling and not after it has been completed. A "qualifying building": The new build must be a self-contained house or flat designed as a dwelling. "Closely connected": The borehole and associated works must be "closely connected" to the construction, making the building functional and usable. This includes essential services like water supply.

Hey Rachel Don't know the answer but I'm interested in the answer as we are doing the same thing!

SWMBO suggested I make a form and pour these. I kinda laughed her out of the room. Is it feasible? I'd happily make a nice plywood form and pour it with a super-strong mix and rebar in it. These aren't carrying a lot in all honesty. Do-able?! I could deal with the cavity wall one having a "soffit cover", but the single skin ones are the challenge. Turns out the nice fair-faced concrete option will cost me £300, £200 of that is "haulage".

I've found a "fair-faced" concrete lintel option, I'm just waiting for a price. Hoping I can use those for the "internal" positions, I actually need 2 of those! For the "external" cavity position, perhaps I'll use a Catnic lintel and soldier course bricks?! I can't buy a fair-faced lintel in the width I'd need to bridge the whole lot.

Ah OK. Well, the Car Port is open-fronted and is linked to the house only with an open walkway (roofed). Thanks for your input.

The Car Port is indirectly attached to the house, but is aesthetically part of it. I'm thinking of using a conventional "Catnic" lintel for the cavity lintel and then seeking or having made a cover-plate for the soffit face of it. I may end up using a "Fair Faced" concrete lintel for the single skin and if I'm not totally happy with the appearance, I could paint it or cover it I guess. I just wanted to check there isn't a more obvious solution that I've missed!

I need 2 lintels for walls that will be facing brick both sides. One is in single skin brickwork, the other has a 265mm cavity. They are open doorways in my Car Port, so they will not be rendered or plastered and won't be lined or have doors. Are fair-faced Concrete lintels the best bet here? I would use a more conventional cavity lintel for the 265mm position, but it'd need to have a nice smooth underside. Any suggestions?

Ah, so they let you pay with Credit Card OK then? I was planning to ask this tomorrow.

I think that both Norrsken and RK Doors are quite reputable, but the gut-wrenching experience with our Zinc Roof has left us a bit scarred!

Yes, we'll always push for that where possible. But what incentive do companies have to provide top service if they've already been paid in full?

We're dealing with Norrsken and RK Doors at the moment. Both want full payment of the contract balance prior to release of the products for delivery and installation. Is this normal? I feel a little uncomfortable with that. ID System (Sunflex) allow us to retain 10% for payment upon completion. What has been your experience?