Gone West

I quite like chatting to people who are curious about the house. Over the years we've had:- Around 20 AECB members visiting a PH Eight middle aged people from Sweden (EU) looking at over 50s rural living in UK Dozen or so lady ramblers stop by twice a year to monitor progress Locals always curious about a house without heating and the dustmen once a fortnight for an update and giving me tips such as when turf laying 'it's green side up'.

I have a low level, around 500mm high, vent two metres from my sewage treatment plant and around seven metres from my house located in the flower bed. I have AAVs in the house and all of this was accepted by the BCO without question.

Perhaps for the best of both worlds a self builder could design the house that they want themselves and then ask an architect to look at it and suggest improvements. We did this and incorporated some of his suggestions.

What about plumbing and wiring. In order to be safe does it have to have a Part P certificate and a G3 certificate if needed?

Ours was granite fines maximum size 4 to 5mm and was not compacted but just raked level. It was held in place by the geotextile.

We have a Self Build Zone warranty and the only problem has been that they are getting twitchy because the build has taken a long time. A two year build wouldn't be a problem.

@Alex Tidy looking build, well done. How about starting a blog.

Our I-beam frame has an I-beam as the sole plate. The web is strengthened with OSB3 both sides where it is bolted to the concrete slab. Holes were drilled in the web between the mounting points and the area underneath was filled with foam.

I'm afraid the word 'character' relating to domestic properties annoys me. I watch a TV programme called Escape to the Country and you can bet nearly everyone looking for a house is looking for one with character. The trouble is they are also only looking for old country cottages. It would seem modern properties can't have 'character'. I'm afraid old beamed houses leave me cold in more ways than one, fine as NT museums, but not to live in. I can see 'character' if that is the word to use, in the positioning and layout etc of lots of modern properties.

Yeah I tried it with the water running but it didn't make any difference. It doesn't matter if the switch is up or down, the water runs, so no failsafe. I don't know how they work but it's probably scaled up as it's before the water softener.

I fitted a Surestop in the bungalow before I let it. It was never used and when I moved back in I found it didn't work. Are they the sort of thing that has to be used regularly or they seize up? I think they're a good idea but only if reliable.

@JSHarris it looks like a good bit of kit. It's interesting when translated it's called a firecracker and not an explosive charge. I wonder if it's legal in this country. It seems to be getting more like the Jasper Carrott sketch.

I laid a couple of traps but didn't have any luck. I got the local mole man in and he laid five traps and caught it in less than a day. So I am £40 and a mole lighter and very pleased.

The tarmac is permeable in my case. Permeable tarmac has been around for quite a while and is used on parts of some racing circuits where water lies.

We had a resin bound bell mouth entrance, which has a drop of 270mm over 4m, to our drive installed a couple of years ago. It was constructed with 200mm compacted type1, then 70mm porous asphalt and 20mm resin bound surface. It is classed as porous because that is what the planners wanted. In reality we discharge all our rainwater directly onto the road.

@Russell griffiths Are your areas total floor areas or footprints. We used the area of two single garages plus the existing bungalow footprint when we applied for our replacement house. They were particularly awkward and didn't want an increase in footprint. In the end we managed to get an increase in footprint of ~ 10% which combined with the first floor gave us a lot more floor area than the bungalow. We used the argument that modern living requires more space than 100 years ago.

We just went to our local Councillor and asked him if he would support our application because the Planning Officer was being an awkward bugger. He did support us as did the Parish Council and as we didn't have any objectors the Planners were overridden unanimously when it went to the Planning Committee.

@TheMitchells ok thanks I'll work out exactly what we need.

Sometimes it has to be copper and I can only solder with Yorkshire fittings but most of the time I use plastic.

I used this stuff bought in boxes of 12. It worked well on my HDF skirting. http://www.axminster.co.uk/titebond-heavy-duty-construction-adhesive-ax22584

As @Nickfromwales has suggested I'll ask the BCO what his take is on it.

Yes they are. Speedfit is not everyones favourite but I think for amateur plumbers like me they are safer as when the connection is made and a collet clip is inserted you know its connected properly.

I had already fitted a PRV and EV for the Genvex Combi before it was delivered, but anything can be changed if necessary. If a pipe was attached to the HW circulation outlet and run vertically up the back of the unit and bent to the side and a PRV attached wouldn't there be enough height for the tundish etc? Not being awkward I'm just trying to understand.

That's strange because I have used that contact page twice and not had a reply on either occasion. That's annoying.

I have spent quite some time trying to find pictures of installations and watching old self build programmes on TV that feature the Combi, but with no luck so far. There are small developments in the UK that have had Combis fitted but it seems they have all been installed by Total Home Environment. I can't see them being helpful as I saved money by not buying from them. It would have been simpler paying the extra £3100, but that is expensive information on how to install in the UK.