NickK

@Jason L at what point would you say gable gets too large?

I am not experienced enough to really comment but purely based on personal preference: 1) Fewer but larger windows look better than many small ones and probably gives you more light. (Air tightness may easier to achieve with fewer openings?) 2) Regardless whether it’s forever home or not, I think it’s important to have provision for downstairs decent sized bedroom with at least jack and Jill bathroom. I’d prefer it instead of making provision for lift. 3) This will be controversial, but I don’t understand UK obsession with so many bathrooms. I come from continental Europe where having maximum 2 bathrooms is good going. We are large family and never had issues. 3) I would have main bathroom bigger than en-suite as it would be used more. 4) Agree with double height space at entrance by moving staircase round.

I have to say that seeing other people’s plans is super exciting for me as it gives me lots of food for thought when it comes my own build sometime in the future. I don’t think it’s bad to create your own plans before going to the architect. If your chosen architect or architectural designer are good they can see pass that and still express their view of the brief and push the boat out - I.e. turn the ugly duckling into beautiful swan ?.

To be honest, I don't know if it is a good idea or not, hence the post :-). However, my rationale would be to reduce thermal bridging but also cost. Surely getting standard block and EPS on the outside will work out cheaper whilst achieving same u values??? (This is not accounting for extra time having to put it all on of course).

Just out of interest, has anyone considered or even tried using basic woodcrete type blocks and then only put external wall eps on? Not sure what thickness you’d end up with, though ?

@bradders3109 I’d curious how will Thermohouse stack. Haven’t seen it in person yet but really like their roof system. Did you consider Isotex system as well?

I just had a chance to catch up on the new season and it has been real Yin and Yang for me. First, as @Bitpipe said true everyday guy spending £4.5m on something that his kid won’t spend much time because he’s off to boarding school. Please, Grand Designs stop showing something that’s so out of reach for most. I did feel for him, however, when he was talking about the gate v container saga. Second episode was amazing and agree with all comments above. Barn conversions can be amazing (although I feel there can be wasteful on space) but having to preserve the superstructure that won’t be visible anyway is utter nonsense. I just wanted to cry for them when SE that underpinning will be needed. Silly silly silly. Anyway, one question for you all. I didn’t understand his issue about minimum head clearance. I thought mezzanine is not classed as ‘true’ storey and hence same building regs don’t apply. Am I missing something?

@ProDave would you mind sharing your roof build up with insulation above the rafters? Some sort of visualisation always helps me to understand.

@willbish just out of interest, how much did your windows set you back? If you don’t mind me asking.

@PeterW Just wanted to report and say thank you. Little over 3 days in and condensation is almost gone after installing overflow pipe cut-offs. Top job.

Thank you everyone. I’ll have a go later today.

I do but at both front and back of the house and it isn’t covered insulation rolls...I guess simply not enough to for this time of the year???

@PeterW do you just a tiny overflow pipe for loft water tank for example?

Hi, Has anyone got experience with these?? https://www.amazon.co.uk/Vents-Prevents-Condensation-Attic-Ventilation/dp/B00M97O5YY/ref=mp_s_a_1_1?dchild=1&keywords=felt+lap+vents&qid=1609955428&sprefix=felt+la&sr=8-1 We have quite a bit of condensation in our loft and soffit vents are clearly not enough. Are these any good? Thanks

I love the colour. Really stands out. What are walls going to be?

Sorry I completely missed your post at first but genuinely interested for myself. Really like to idea of ICF and woodcrete types just make you feel somewhat ‘green’ whilst building it.

@eandg My guess would be that smaller windows you are more likely to fit in between 2 rafters and therefore less cutting needed. Only a guess though....or there is personal preference of course.

@Iceverge I am rubbish at this sort of stuff so won't even attempt to work it out myself so here it goes....how much would this be reduced by if you went down the isotex/durisol route? Thanks

@willbish I have to admit that the Green Building Store mock sash windows just look odd but that is based only on pictures. It may be different in the real world. I hope airtightness will spot on for you. @Gav_P You get what you pay for as with anything in life. I agree normal window is lot better but if we are talking Georgian Style, sash is almost non-negotiable.

Hi and all the best in 2021 (although I said the same last year and look how it turned out). Does anyone have any experience with performance of sash windows at all? I was doing some reading about Georgian style house, which tick quite a lot of boxes for me. Easy shapes to build, symmetricity, simple roof, etc. However, I do wonder about sash windows. You can get some with very good U values but if they are not airtight, isn't it a false economy? Any real live experience or solutions? I have seen Mock Sash Windows but not really sold on them. I am not building anything right now, just gathering knowledge :-). Thanks,

Thanks @Nick Laslett for these. Really handy. I am still a long way from having to worry about this but have to start research early. I really like the fact it seems very DIY friendly (not too sure about dormers, though). @Conor Is that because they are not familiar with the system?

Hello, From what I’m researched the reason to keep the lengths short was mainly to maximise summer bypass but then it depends on each projects specifics.

Hi, I’m curious if anyone here used thermohouse roof system and what’s their experience. https://thermohouse.co.uk/thermoroof/ What was your deciding factor over SIP’s or traditional cut roof? I know every project would be different but how does cost compare to other systems? Is it easy enough to build dormers with it? Thanks

I really like the concept of TEV doors but do you know how much they come to...roughly?

@ZacP just curious if you have managed to get cost comparison from AMVIC in the end?