Gone West

Icynene isn't usually injected, and I think it's PU foam that's usually sprayed on the underside of roof tiles.

Yes, if it fully encapsulated, as mine was, with OSB3 racking on one side and plasterboard on the other. When I applied for the warranty and house insurance I was only asked the type of construction, timber frame and timber clad, not what type of insulation I used.

I think it depends on how the house is constructed. I built a timber frame house and didn't use any airtightness tapes or membranes and achieved 0.47ACH. I used the fabric of the building, OSB3 and Icynene foam insulation, as the airtightness layer. I didn't have any penetrations through the walls or roof and fitted triple sealed windows and doors. It was built to PH standards and was heated with electric towel rails in the bathrooms and an EASHP warming the air from the MVHR.

I'm always being pestered by SSE to have a smart meter fitted. Got a card through the post today saying they're rolling out smart meters to all their customers. Doing our area from 7th November.

Respect!!

I used Icynene for the walls and roof in an I-beam timber portal frame house. I've not used Isothane so don't know anything about it. Icynene is very good for airtightness and remains rubbery and flexible after it has set. The OP PMd me and I sent details.

I don't understand why it seems it has to be one or the other. What is wrong with having both. If you have the G98? limit for PV already fitted why not fit ST, rather than increase your PV.

I moved into a bungalow last that had a 3.8kW PV array and a 1.4kW flat panel solar thermal system already fitted. The solar thermal heats our DHW and the PV heats the DHW through a Solar iBoost diverter. The solar thermal is a low maintenance system which I gather hasn't been touched for several years. I plan to replace the existing 140l vented hot tank with a larger UVC to make better use of the two systems.

It depends on the height of the outflow pipe and the make of AAV. This document gives details, under installation section, for Floplast AAVs which I used.Floplast AAV info.pdf

This document explains it. Galvanic Corrosion Table.pdf

That's right, but he was worried that if he wasn't around, maintaining the system would be tricky.

IIRC he was also thinking about connecting to the mains water supply because of the complexity of his borehole system.

I fixed a wall mounted basin in our bathroom to a timber frame using a Fischer mounting set. I just strengthened the timber frame in the mounting area. https://cpc.farnell.com/fischer-fixings/42836/wash-basin-fixing-set/dp/FN04194

Great attitude. Good luck for the future.

The tap in the picture is a three way tap with a dedicated filtered drinking water supply.

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.