IanR

It is, 100mm thick (+ ring beam) mesh reinforced, with UFH, installed over EPS. We've got a couple of small surface cracks, but as we didn't have plans to polish weren't concerned about the risk of minor cracks.

What's the reason your architect wants to split the slab? Mine's 25.5m x 18.5m and was cast without joints.

As long as the VCL is installed as an airtight layer (taped joints and edges) then that should work, otherwise it will still leak air, it just won't be apparent around your window frame as the leak path will got through into your service void.

Do you have an airtight layer beyond the inherent "airtightness" of the SIPs panel? What level of air tightness are you trying to achieve? To me the DPC looks like a potential air leak path, and with the breather membrane there as well, not entirely necessary (other than on windows/doors that start at ground level). The Sections show straps. Direct fixing through the frame would be better for airtightness. Straps are difficult to seal around. Direct fixing would also help hold the DPC in place if you choose to keep it. I'd say shim the window up to create a gap for a Low expanding foam to fill. 20mm is a big gap. I assume that is 10mm top and bottom (and sides), rather than 20mm top and bottom. The LE foam allows the SIPs to settle without pinching the frames.

Today was day 4 of our planned 4 day install. Even with extra installers onsite for days 3 and 4 we're not quite finished. One more window to do tomorrow, a Solarlux bi-fold. The Internorm windows and doors are all in. I reserve the right to adjust my opinion once the dust settles, but at this point I can't praise the ecoHaus installers highly enough, who have gone "above and beyond" to do a top quality job. Fit and finish is near perfect. Mechanisms are adjusted such that all opening sashes have the same precise feel and weight. Nothing rubs or sticks. Gaps are parallel, adjacent units flush. The air tightness detailing has been done better than if I had done it myself. We have some (mostly) minor areas of damage and the magicman will need to be booked in. With regards to the Internorm product itself, we have the Studio HF310, (except in the utility where we have the UPVC version) and I think it's absolutely superb. Making windows by the million obviously allows them to highly develop their product and their manufacturing processes. I personally feel the window and door package as it is now installed was exceptional value. My fingers are crossed for the bi-fold install tomorrow!

I can see where the cost is going on mine. With 16 man days for the install, delivery costs, consumables, hiring lift equipment, contingency to cover corrections and repairs. Yes the cost is a little "premium", but I'm expecting a premium service.

I've got a similar amount of glazing and the install cost is about £8K for a "Passive House" install including extra tapes etc. They may have underestimated the install though, I started with 2 installers on site Monday and now have 6 this morning. I haven't needed a crane though which I'm sure would have added at least another £1K. Are you going for a high level of airtightness? If so, does your builder understand how to deliver it. The detailing of the "extra" airtightness tape on mine is what seems to be taking the time.

Congrats, can only imagine that it's a great feeling! We're just having the windows installed at present, and "moving in" feels a little beyond the current horizon, hopefully it will come in to sight soon.

In looking into the Rockwool Flexislab, I tripped over Rockwool's RWA45 Acoustic Insulation Slab. It's not got the "Flexi" edge, but is less than half the price based on TP's pricing. Might get a couple of packs in to see if it's easy to install. Thanks all.

Something like this? http://www.knaufinsulation.co.uk/products/glass-mineral-wool-rolls/acoustic-rolls/earthwool-acoustic-roll What thickness did you go with? I looked at this, but thought the 10Kg/m3 "felt" a bit lightweight when compared to other thermal insulation products like the RS45. But the proof of the pudding... so if it's worked for you!

What have people used or plan to use for (acoustic) insulation of stud work walls and above ceilings. Building Regs calls for minimum 40 Rw dB Airborne sound reduction. What's the most cost effective product, that's easy to install to achieve this minimum or to preferably exceed the requirement. I've just noticed the Architect that pulled together my Building Regs has specified Warmcel 500, which seems a little OTT and extra work to install. Thanks.

Thanks all, great feedback!

I assume the steels are close to the underside of the floating element. If so, could you not drop the underside a little further and provide space for wrapping insulation underneath? You may lose some of the "floating" aesthetic, but then one option you're considering it taking it down to floor.

Thanks, what brand and product are you using?

There's been a little careless work around one of my thresholds and I've ended up with the EPS upstand getting chewed up where I need to fit a GRP capping piece. To get the top of the EPS back to flat and smooth I need a Filler product of some sort that will fill up to 10mm - 15mm thick and obviously not react with the EPS. Any thoughts on what I could use? I'm assuming solvent based products risk melting the EPS, but am I being over-cautious? I'll obviously trial on an off-cut before putting anything onto my upstand, but was hoping to narrow the options a little.

Do you know what volume your house is? I've got a similar area and 2 DV110's wouldn't shift enough air, although I do have a proportionally large volume for my floor area. I'm going with a single DV1100 unit. It's a small commercial unit, but still PH Certified. I also found that some Airflow distributors have far better "terms" with Airflow than others. It pays to push Airflow on the RRP price of the designed system (Airflow dropped 18% on their original cost when pushed hard) and then shop around with the spec list to so who will do the best price on it (Travis Perkins got it down a further 7.5%).

This has been my experience also, although it took 6 weeks to get the contract correct and approved. Install is 4 weeks later than I had planned. I assume they are suffering from the success of the Autumn Internorm promotions.

I'll remind myself of the exact details of the profile and PM you. It's not specifically made for this purpose, but is cut down from a "U" profile. My 4.2m high window is 5m wide, so I can't cover this in a single blind. The height can be done, and the width can be done, but not at the same time (that I've been able to find). I've got a horizontal split in this window and only actually plan to cover the top half with a blind, down to the split.

While I've not got lift'n'slides, I'm due to have an Internorm package that includes low threshold entrance doors as well as a 4.2m high window group that sits entirely over the EPS upstand and are set down 50mm from FFL into the slab. Ecohaus were happy with the detail we developed that has a 9.5mm thick GRP profile sitting on top of the EPS with its edge set into the slab. I do have a block plinth running around the outside of the EPS upstand, and the other edge of the GRP profile is sitting on this plinth wall. Mine is not a MBC/VH raft, but is an AFT Engineered raft. That's ominous, they're arriving at mine in two weeks. @Alex C can I ask what blinds you are going with. I'm looking at Hunter Douglas.

Is there not a compromise that can be found that both the LPA and you will be happy with? Battling with the LPA and "the system" is time consuming and expensive.

I'm working towards a Loxone install for my build. The initial motivation was to coordinate ASHP, UFH, MVHR, external blinds and roof-light vents (and later for Solar PV dump to DHW) for heating and cooling. Once the decision was made to include a Loxone system, then it's proved far too easy to add lighting, add access control, add security etc. that the budget is now nearly double what I had initially allocated for it. I'm now trying to resist integrating audio streaming, video streaming, TVs, AVRs. Be aware, if you want a monitored alarm, connected to police and fire you'll need a dedicated, certified alarm system. But there's no reason why it can't share sensors with and communicate with the Loxone system.

It does need a fairly generous Bend Radii. I think I was told R600 Minimum when I asked the question, But i dug my trench deep enough for an R1000.

How are you insulating the feed and return pipes? Difficult if you're going to try and pull lagged pipes through a conduit I would have thought. You could use a pre-insulated twin 32mm pipes in a 150mm duct. I've got mine from Go Geothermal ltd. (for an under-slab routing) I believe it is a Rehau product.

I think you can, from your own account. ie. if you uploaded it. Within Video Manager, select the pull-down next to "Edit" on the Video you want to download, and there's a "Download MP4" option. It won't be the original video you uploaded, but the processed version,so may be optimised in one way or another.

Load it to YouTube, keep it "private", email a link.