Gone West

The solution isn't generating more energy, it's reducing domestic energy usage which would be helped by a sensible scheme to improve existing housing stock, as @Radian says. Then people can live comfortably without using large amounts of energy.

At our last house we also fitted Schock sinks which were undermount in a black granite worktop. We also had hard water so we had a water softener and didn't have any problems.

As long as their airtightness is achieved in a way that is long lasting, and not bodged to just get through the test, there shouldn't be a problem.

Welcome to the forum. Unless you are in a special area, replacement dwellings are usually given permission. It's just getting the size and type that you want that can be the tricky part. Took us three years for final approval.

I have only used Checkatrade once and the experience was good. I had windows and a sliding door fitted and the sliding door wasn't working correctly. I asked the supplier/fitters to fix it but they were reluctant because it was a couple of hundred miles to my place. After trying everything I noticed they were on Checkatrade so gave them a bad review. Checkatrade got back to me, because the window company wasn't happy, and Checkatrade wanted all the details. They apparently told the window company that the review would stay up and they would be removed from the Checkatrade scheme if they didn't sort out my problem. I heard the next day from the window company and the problem was fixed quickly.

We have just finished building some gabions. I bought ours from Fine Mesh Metals. I have some more to build next year and from the experience I have gained I will build my own baskets by crimping sheets of galvanised mesh. It should be a lot cheaper and the crimping tool and fittings are easy to buy. I faced the baskets with sandstone from the garden and backfilled with concrete blocks from the demolished garage. https://www.gabionbaskets.co.uk/gabion/gabion-design-and-prices

Looking at your link, they certainly seem interesting. The reviews on Trustpilot are quite good. Not suitable for everyone but I can certainly see the advantages and DIYable for a lot of people.

Not sure if that's good or bad as I've never heard of either of them.

Never been that far south since we moved into the county. We stay in the nice bit. Welcome to the forum by the way @Charlie Barns.

Well done. I looked at the Polycrub Opyl as a shed but was put off by the price and the fact the walls weren't vertical. You've done a good job, bet you're pleased with that.

Well I wouldn't, just because if there was a fault with the seal there's more likelyhood of a leak. I always think of things like that though and I don't know how often it would ever happen.

How does the area of the concrete slab compare with the planning drawings.

Yeah, I'd certainly do that.

If it's lasted three years since the last time it was emptied why do you want to go to the expense and hassle of fitting a new treatment plant? At our last place we found the treatment plant needed to be emptied more frequently than the septic tank. The treatment plant does definitely produce cleaner effluent but the capacity for solid waste is less than a septic tank.

I moved eighteen months ago but I'll see what I can find.

When I last posted this picture you indicated that you liked it. Has anything changed?

I used Floplast for all my drainage. I also had an account with Jewsons for the build and they gave me a complete list of everything they sold with the discounted price.

Thanks. I used Hep2O when it first came out in the early nineties and the mark one version was crap. The mark two version was also crap so I moved onto JG and it was a lot better so I've always used it. I'm sure Hep2O has improved a lot since I last used it but I've never had any problems with JG so I keep using it. I think it's better for DIY users like me because there's no doubt if you fit the collets, then the pipe is fitted correctly.

I designed a manifold system and used plastic pipe, never done it before but it worked out ok.

I used PU gel glue on my fittings as I wasn't sure that the plastic was suitable for solvent weld as it was more flexible than ABS type plastic.

My rigid plastic duct was also glued together, and I only used aluminium tape as well on awkward fittings.

No I don't disagree. I think your comments about it being a timber frame and therefore has dried out is more or less correct except possibly the concrete floor which maybe has never dried out fully and the plasterboard which will hold a certain amount of moisture, I don't know. It's the solution, which unfortunately you aren't able to carry out, which is to drive the moisture out, by heating the fabric of the parts of the building affected. Having the doors open all the time when the outside humidity is high will not improve the situation unfortunately. I guess this is just the time of year when the conditions are at the worst for you.

Had to heat my place up to 23C continuously for months to get it to dry out and then the RH dropped from the 70s to the 50s. I think keeping it warm is a little more important than ventilating it.

Is that why the instructions for my Solar iBoost says "Solar iBoost+ has a default cut in threshold of 100W of export before diversion commences." I wondered why.

I find it strange as well. My prices don't include the £400, which is a six month, one off grant, and not connected to the price cap.