Dave Jones

that standing pool needs fixing. It's an NHBC inspection fail for starters. It will caused your roof to prematurely fail, crap will build up in it and clog that outlet (which is too small). Get them back, insist on a minimum 100mm outlet so it self cleans, the bottom of which is below the height of the deck by at least 25mm so when they add the waterproof layer its still below the level to negate pooling. This would be a show stopper for me, builder don't get paid etc until its fixed.

Looking at our soil pipe layout and it occurs to me this is a large 110mm sized cold radiator running all over the building sucking nice cold air through it from the roof. While I cant find any requirements in SAP to mitigate it, need to do something. Easiest fix is the council house option of putting the stack outside. Obviously a no go. I think I will lag using something like this rather than rely on rockwool. Then there is the issue of venting, standard is to run it to a tile vent in the roof to breath nice freezing cold air. Dergo air admittance at the top of the pipes at ceiling level. BUT we have a combined foul and grey water so the gutters are going into the same run, wonder if the regs would allow the downpipes to act as a vent as they will be the highest point on the run anyway ?

could do with the fall spacing over a couple more slabs but all depends on how bad the BCO is. No bifolds round the back with level threshold ? They can do for disabled access.

no reason really, exchanged a few emails with the maker of recoup and was impressed with the fast response.

looks good but easier to just put a cavity tray in during the build lifting the whole DPC 225 higher, then the whole house can be level threshold with no ramps anywhere.

down to the BCO and how flexible he is. Cant think of a reason not to make level approach to the front door from the boundary though where possible ?

more importantly get rid of that standing water, the outlet is too high. Lead coping would look much better than stones and be maintenance free long after we all gone.

It's grey area as the house may not adjoin a public highway. As long as your planning is M1 (default) then the regs only require a level/ramped/stepped approach. LEVEL APPROACH Provide a level approach to the principal entrance door no steeper than 1:20 and at least 900mm wide, with cross falls no greater than 1:40. Approach surface material to be firm, non-slip and capable of supporting the weight of a wheelchair and its user (loose material such as gravel and shingle would not be suitable).

more info, is this above DPC work only ? Do you have construction drawings showing all the detailing BCO require ? Have you had it QS'd yet ?

yes it doesnt matter how many really within reason, the cold water from a running shower goes through the heat exchanger in the column and you can either send it back to the shower (if only 1 shower) or send it back to the tank which is what we are doing. For a single shower they do a unit that goes under the bath that may be easier to plumb.

reverse the ASHP to cool the UFH slab, fancoil units dotted about to help as well.

fixing straps are much better than muntering the frame!

its a bit like saying cant afford a roof. its a decision. To me a well insulated, airtight house without MVHR should not be issued with a completion cert as its not fit for use.

solid wall with paint on it. No cavity, no insulation. Does the wall even have DPC ? garages dont need one for regs. any temperature difference between inside/outside will immediately get that wall damp with condensation, a lot of which will be inside the wall. Strip of the plaster, stud and insulate then board and plaster again.

think we talking cross purposes. I'm talking about the external door, the marmox goes on the external skin under the door frame hence they are exposed to outside are buried underground and can get wet. Thermalite blocks are a SAP fail for any cold bridge elimination function as they aid cold bridging not prevent it. Think about it, otherwise no one would ever use the the expensive marmox would they if you could just throw on a cheap thermo block and call it job done. Thats how internal skins have been built for decades and its crap for cold bridging.

no, its there to stop the ground pulling heat out through it as well as the conc below. thermos are nowhere near that good especially when they get soaked which will be nearly all the time when underground. Like already said a SAP fail so not an option. Not worth skimping/bodging really, other areas can easily save the cost of marmox.

Correct if they were windows! The reveals do not need anything more than the normal insulated closers to pass regs as the doors are a decent U value already. We will be dabbing 25mm insulated plasterboard on every reveal anyway because why not.

Really need to put a tray in when its being built all the way round then you can ignore the 150mm rule everywhere. gives much more flexibility.

when making up a largish depth (400mm+) with hardcore its best practice to do it in lifts of around 100mm and wacker it. Probably be ok on a pedestrian path but if you have a Wacker its the best way to do it.

yes will be fine, they will be compacted before laying the pavers. insist on a full bed not spot laying.

something about building brings out the hate in people. Just ignore them, BCO certianly will. They have seen it all before nimby neighbours moaning about every little thing, noise, deliveries, etc etc you have to develop a thick skin and just be polite and firm to the moaners. get a body cam if it gets really bad so you can capture evidence.

dont forget the door threshold as well. ACCESSIBLE LEVEL DOOR THRESHOLDS INTO THE BUILDING Entrance door to have an accessible level threshold provided with a weather bar (maximum height 15mm) with suitable drainage channel. Landings to have a fall of 1:40-1:60 away from the door. Principal entrance door to have a minimum 775mm clear opening between the door leaf and doorstops.

path looks ok, the regs in England: LEVEL APPROACH Provide a level approach to the principal entrance door no steeper than 1:20 and at least 900mm wide, with cross falls no greater than 1:40. Approach surface material to be firm, non-slip and capable of supporting the weight of a wheelchair and its user (loose material such as gravel and shingle would not be suitable).

not necessarily, NHBC allow a +/- 100mm tolerance for guarding. They have a bulletin for it https://www.nhbc.co.uk/binaries/content/assets/nhbc/tech-zone/nhbc-standards/tech-guidance/6.7/tg-6.7-20-guardingconsiderations.pdf

ahh ok. wouldn't though you'd have much need for those in scotland!!