Gone West

We have a timber I-beam portal frame. It was designed by the SE, TF company and myself. We didn't have any insurmountable problems.

We've got one of those. I didn't know it was called a vestibule door frame either. I just asked for an entrance door with a sidelight. Everyone seemed to know what it was.

We had an architect do our full plans building control drawings which were based on our detailed planning drawings. He didn't know anything about low energy houses so we held his hand through the process.

If we fit a system, I'm still thinking about whether it's worth it, it will be using Enphase IQ7 micro-inverters.

I don't think you would want an inverter inside the house. It produces most electricity and therefore heat in the summer when the weather is hot. Adding more heat to the inside of the house in the summer isn't a good idea.

Fortunately my panels would be on a single storey roof. I intend to install them from my scaffold tower. If you use their system, IIRC the Enphase software will tell you about faults.

It's not something that I would want inside my house nor mounted on the outside of the house.

Although it looks like some micro-inverters have warranties twice that of standard inverters.

The Morris 1300 was FWD and initially ran on crossplys. Radials started in the 1950s. IIRC the last MM were 1100cc. Sorry cross posted.

We also have an AEG induction hob which is a good push fit in our granite worktop.

Well that's just jealousy speaking. That is an amazing looking property, well done and good luck with the rest of the landscaping.

+1 Ours was a few of years between the frame going up and boarding and skimming. No cracking. The same with fitting the windows. They said I should leave a gap at the top of the window to allow for settlement but I explained that the frame had been up for some time and they were happy.

We have a PIR operated front door light which annoyingly occasionally comes on when a tractor drives past with high level front lights switched on. No other road traffic does the same and I can't understand the reason why. So could it be reflections of the tractor light in the window switching the PIR which is above the front door and out of line of sight of the tractor.

Just to add to the pictures.

Harveys make the TwinTec as well as the MiniMax and Crown.

They are Steico I-beams and IIRC they are treated. I would have to check the specification.

The only I-beam frame constructions I know of have been built on insulated rafts. I would have thought a beam and block foundation could easily be made to look like a raft.

More insulated slab laying.

Why is that? Our soleplate is a timber I-beam.

I've owned a few different block salt softeners over the years and always installed them myself. I've never had problems with regeneration, as the supplier has set the hardness value, so I'd be interested to know what the setting up tricks are.

Does not having to use the brakes as often cause any problems with the discs rusting or are they made from composite materials.

I fitted the doors, took them off, removed all door furniture and painted them flat.

Large heavy duty bubble wrap.

Thanks for that. I'm going to be using Enphase IQ7 microinverters so I'll look into how the inverters deal with that limit.

We have a 180l cylinder heated to 45C which has been fine for the two of us over the last eighteen months. It's heated by an EASHP which runs when needed.