Coops

Yes, that's another option, but to be honest I'd struggle to fit anything bigger than 2500 x 1200 anyway.

Yeah I could for sure, it's just I'll be using random stone to suit the period of the existing property, so really difficult to maintain a decent, consistent cavity. The common building solution (around here at least) seems to be block - cavity/insulation - block and then an outer decorative facing stone. Maybe I'm overthinking it and I should just try and keep the cavity as clean as I can.

I have considered slips and EWI Temp, I just don't know how id get my local quarry to machine them. There is a system called Surecav https://www.surecav.co.uk/ designed for exactly this application, it basically maintains a consistent cavity which negates the requirement for a backing block.. where the hell I'd find anyone willing to sell me 6m2 though I'm not too sure..

I'll separate the two spaces with an exterior door. No BC approvals required but ideally would like to insulate.

Evening folks I'd like to add a porch to the front of the house on account of the dog trying to leg it every chance he gets. Anyway - don't want or need to go any bigger than PD size but I do want to maximise space internally. Heres the thing...I'm planning to build in double skin block, 75mm insulated cavity and a decorative rainscreen from local stone to match existing, problem is this leaves me with a nigh on 400mm thick wall possibly more by the time I've stuck some plasterboard on internally...is this overkill for what is essentially enclosed external space? Got to be a simpler way?

Actually it's a great job..almost too good, traps the water in there good and proper..soft porous stone should never have cement mortar anywhere near it.

I'm only repointing, I don't actually have any rendering to do..some donut has pointed using sand cement, water has trapped behind it, frozen and destroyed the face of the stone, needs taking out and repointing.

One for you period house restorers and barn converters..looming large on my 'to do' list is a fair amount of stone and brick repointing. Yes there is plenty of info on mix ratios and techniques online but I just thought I'd put it out there and see what real people may have learned during the process. The majority of existing to be pointed is coursed rubble sandstone with Victorian brick on some rear elevations.

Totally agree, with new installations it's fairly clear. My point is more about pre-existing tanks and systems. Assuming that a replacement boiler is notifiable works, what element of those wider works are notifiable and who interprets what needs replacing. Surely the whole heating system can't be replaced every time an owner decides to change or upgrade a boiler?

Wow, that's pretty wild - could he not just go with another supplier or is there only one available?

Hi Temp and all..got a local plumbing/heating guy coming out this afternoon to discuss this setup...one thing though, does anyone know what the OFTEC rules/guidelines are in in relation to pre existing equipment not being up to current regulations? The reason I say this is because I have an old single walled steel oil tank, about 2700L in volume that seems in goodish nick to me, ok it may not be brand new, but why replace if no justifiable need to? Really just keen to get my ducks in a row in case he starts demanding the whole system is ripped out and replaced. Obviously he has the absolute right to accept or refuse the job on his own terms, but I'd like to know what other people's views are on this. I found this info online which seems to be in my favour...https://www.theheatinghub.co.uk/oil-tank-replacement-regulations-guide

Thanks for the candid reply, sounds like the whole thing is best avoided, I really hope you manage to resolve things with your installer though. I do wonder if in the race to provide RHI compliant green alternatives that some of these systems are being mis sold and installed in the wrong settings.

Absolutely Temp, what you suggest is ideal we've had LPG for cooking before so I know the drill. Thanks

Yeah thanks Peter, if moving away from oil is just not viable, this is what I'd go with, although I don't want header tanks so may go with a megaflo for HW and boiler for CH, noise no issue as all wil be in a small external plant room, any idea roughly what budget I'd be looking at for a supply and fix?

I suspect the Marshal would be quite bad at all three of it's core tasks. Still very much open to the idea of heat pumps, I'm just struggling to reconcile cost/value. GSHP are still astronomically expensive plus added cost of groundworks, ASHP less expensive but still 4x the cost of a combi or 2-3x the cost of boiler/megaflo combination. Perhaps I'm just not getting it..must be a new build thing

Was also considering a product from a company called Marshall, it's a company in Derby that make Aga type cookers that run heating and HW but crucially the oven can be turned on and off instead of it being on 24/7 like an Aga or Rayburn.

Haha yeah, that might explain the price difference

Maybe they were trying to pull my pants down..! Whereabouts are you? Might give them a call.

It hurts like hell, but thankfully it's not that often, I haven't needed to commute for quite a few years now, so it's really just a run around, couldn't and wouldn't want to use it to do 20k miles a year.

The boiler is like Triggers broom now, more new parts than original, and there is still a persistent leak...it's caput basically.

Yes, you're right there, had a regular oil system in my old place, very efficient and instant plentiful water...and decent showers. I inherited this combi, it's a terrible boiler

Supply and demand, oil just another commodity...you have a point with keeping old infrastructure going with fossil fuels, my old xc90 drinks fuel, but, in its favour, it's already been built and it runs perfectly so pointless replacing it, even at a ridiculous 20mpg.

I'm getting the same impression, just interested to hear of any positives of biomass, if there are any! More broadly though, if UK Gov serious about carbon neutrality it's gonna have to get a lot more creative with incentives for older rural properties. I recently had a quote for ASHP - £12k excluding electrical mods, and excluding mods to existing plumbing. RHI didn't anything like cover it. I can buy a new oil Worcester combi and have it fitted for £3k..something's seriously out of balance.

It's a double edge sword in some ways, low oil prices driven by reduced demand from floundering western economies (+ US fracking). So we get to enjoy cheap oil whilst simultaneously watching our place in the world slide away..

Yeah, this is what I'm hearing too, hard to see past oil when its so damn cheap!