PeterW

The only good resource is word of mouth, backed up by reference visits. Most of the check-my-dodgy-builder type sites are paid for by the members who have to pay for leads and there is a very strong feeling that negative reviews tend to disappear fairly quickly. Your issue (assuming you’re building local to Middlesex) is that you will be paying London rates and premium costs. The market is good out there, and good trades are booked up months in advance. Your rate of £170psf/£2000m is a pretty good starting point but you will need to work hard for it. But still worth ensuring a fabric first approach as that’s the stuff you can’t change easily.

So what is interesting is if you get the 1 in 10 official numbers you will find that they are less than the current average..! The last 3 years have caused so many problems for the data sets as more events are occurring of increased flooding and more intense rainfall. It needs a different sort of hydraulic design to cope which is what the water companies are now looking at as storm water attenuation becomes key rather than soakaway capacity.

Likewise used a UPVC profile with a slimmer 3G unit (4/12/4/12/4) as was also interested in sound proofing. Only concession to “Euro style” is installing tilt and turn so they open inward. Did consider Aluclad but lead times and matching the multiple RAL finishes puts me off.

Can always go past the last connection with a tee and then run the pipe up the back of the sink with an AAV on it.

No issues - carry on ..!

Why are you wanting heavies ..? They are in fairly short supply at the moment due to the market, why can’t you use 7.3N mediums ..? They come in about 92p exc currently on account but I wouldn’t know if that was reduced further for multiple pallets but not sure how many you need ..?

Same as the rainwater harvesting calculator Plan roof area x 0.05 gives you cubic metres / hour so mine would be 3.85 cuM/H at 77 square metres

nope they come as a box of bits so will be a 40 litre expansion vessel with a control set and two thermostats. Can’t see a bare 400 litre on the website but there is this : https://www.cylinders2go.co.uk/shop/renewable-energy/300-litre-telford-tempest-heat-pump-cylinder-twin-immersion-version/ £786 ex VAT..? They do a pre plumb at £1290 - sure he’s not quoted that ..??

I would look at a two layer approach to insulation here. First layer against the bottom of the spreader plates using 100mm of rockwool based product held in place with 50mm of tightly fitted PIR. This will both have an acoustic and heat insulation benefit and also allow the insulation to mould around the pipework and push it tight to the bottom of the flooring. I wouldn't lay the floor direct onto the joists - your plasterers and other trades will damage it, and no amount of protection will help so I would go with an 18mm Caber deck as a working deck and then bond the engineered wood to the caberdeck.

How about fit it into the face of the flat panel ..?? Extract doesn’t need to be an extractor, and you could put a slot extract above the beam linked to a high power fan mounted in the roof space. That would mean you have a discrete extraction that doesn’t look like an extractor and is done at reasonable cost. This is the sort of thing I’m thinking https://www.troxuk.co.uk/downloads/385b17d652ec5b84/00266311_0.pdf?type=product_info

It’s fine - you need a VAT receipt clearly showing the amount / rate and it in your name. Then you just claim the VAT paid. Same as a lot of people have done with German or other European suppliers of things such as sanitary ware.

Just planed some ipe board for a neighbour and thought the thicknesser was missing it’s blades..!! Was like planing steel ..!

Why not..? You just add it onto your VAT reclaim (assuming you’re buying just the components and not install too..??)

Ok. I would stop now. Have you got a mortgage on the property ..?? You need to let your lender sort this along with your insurers as that is some of the worst building I have seen in years. That says to me the building is unfit and I would basically be spending £500 on a surveyor and solicitor to issue proceedings against the developer as that is not acceptable by any way shape or form.

Bin the bifolds - you will never open them. Go for two pairs of French doors or even a couple of full height panels and a pair of doors in the middle. In the space you have they will intrude into the space, and also make it overheat. If cost is a real driver then consider one of the log systems such as Tuin and then insulate the inside. It will be much cheaper than SIPs and easier too as it will go on pad foundations.

Yep it is but you just add 500 mill and put the lid back on, circulate for 30 seconds and do the same again.

Yep - Aerogel... sit down when you see the price list. Your alternate is use one of the multifoils but they are basically a tinfoil roasting bag, which as long as they are sealed properly will “meet” building regs. Some think they are snake oil, and some say they work but it’s whether BC will accept.

That’s atrocious ..!! Water pipe should be buried to 750mm, and the rest should have been built up and back filled correctly, potentially with a retaining wall to protect the external wall of the extension.

Bite his hand off - that’s incredibly good value !!!

18mm over 300 centres will be ok as a structural floor as long as it is long planks spanning at least 3 joists. Your issue will be that it is not the “correct” floor type and you cannot get the spans so you will need to use a minimum 18mm construction floor such as OSB or Ply before you add the wood floor on top.

I-Joists such as JJI etc with the timber flange are normally standard lengths and can be cut on site. Metal web joists are not as flexible and normally come as a measured item.

Those crates are worth a bit..! Don’t tear the label off either ..!!

100mm duct is ok - if you said it was 63mm it wouldn’t be fun !

I use online cables https://www.online-cables.co.uk/6945x-5x250mm-swa-cable-green-yellow-blue-brown-black-grey-cores-per-mtr-supplied-in-one-length-2008-p.asp So 63A is fine on 16mm, are you planning on running the garage on 3P too..? If you have an 80A head then it will be the reason for 25mm spec. The installation issue will be that it is 2.5kg/m and is 32mm in diameter ... is this supposed to be pulled into a duct ..??!

So who’s done the calcs..? If it is 63A total then it is fine with 16mm 5 core if so as it is well within the drop, and it has a max of 75A. 55m of 16A is £420 inc VAT, 25mm is about £600 for the same.