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Hi Peter aircrete internal and with 75mm kingspan gives us 0.2 with hard plaster finish. Might move to insulated board if needed but not decided yet. Happier to put my money into high quality triple glazing right now.

Good point Peter. There was an outside chance there of my lintel schedule cost dropping a bit!

Hi Declan52. I never thought of that. Has anyone done any cost comparisions between cavity lintels and the option of using an external galv lintel and a concrete internal one?

Hi Guys, well into my blockwork now - see my 'sunset over blockwork' piccy below. I went for a 325mm solid wall Oz07 because it was just easier than setting out a cavity wall and then just filling it in. Hardly any price difference really as my cavity has to be 125mm (70mm insulation + the usual 50mm) which is ideal for a 102mm block. Also its pretty much a self regulating size - 102mm block upright + 2 x 215mm blocks on flat as Prodave said +10mm joint - automatic 325mm wall. Next course then just alternate the positions of the two skins for an automatic cross bond. Still didn't get to the bottom of the services under block and beam issue Nick but I suspect your right. I've just left some openings for now till I can confirm it but have to find a way of not putting the meter boxes on the front elevations like the gas and elect installers want.

I've had to go back to work as well chaps.. got 90m of 325mm solid foundations walls to build. Also got a services question for everyone: Anyone run incoming utilities in ducts underneath a block and beam floor before? I cant see why it wouldn't be ok but cant check with utilities until tomorrow.

Ha .I wish!

What do you mean NIck... the Gino De camp set was really expensive and hard to find...!

Man after my own heart... but car shampoo is way to brave for me.. We (well me really) also have a christmas ritual in our house... I always buy my wife one 'domestic' christmas present every year for her to open first... last year she had a special 'desiger' gift .. a Gino D Campo soucepan set! ... didn't seem to appreciate it though.

Wow.. respect for that!.. my wife was pretty neuclear because just looking at some ally windows... she thought I was barking drooling over the specs .... 60 micron powder coating etc.

Hi everyone. Back from a week off on holiday, though my wife isn't happy as coincidentally we stopped over very close to a couple of my potential aluminium windows suppliers so had to visit didn't we. Finally decided to go with beam and block so below DPC blockwork can now go ahead. Container on the way as well Nick so 'site foreman's office' and kettle will soon be in place.

Hi Ferdinand, As you could imagine I had to make decision on this quite hurriedly during my planning application and felt this whole thing to be a minefield Picking up your build cost issue first: · Most advocates of new things will cite 1-2% of build cost as being reasonable. However, costs are rarely that low. BRE suggest an installation cost range of £900 - £2715 – anyone having a recent quote for a wet radiator-based central heating lately will know that this is just too low especially when you have to put sprinklers in cupboards over 2m2 or where any dimension in a cupboard is over 1m - the entrance door on its own will likely be 900mm! · BRE also quoted a range of other costs which I felt were unrealistic - pump set installed for £300-£700. My electrician is on £250/day! · All of the seemly ‘reasonable’ 1-2% additions quickly add up. – o sprinklers (3-4% is nearer the truth) o Increased Part L standards (twice), 1-2% each time o SUDS – 1-2% · BRE neglected to cost up any builder’s work required o Roof structure reinforcement / groundwork to bury tank & plant space for pumps etc Then there was risk: · Water supply companies won’t guarantee pressure, flow rates or supply continuity. Given the legal risk for designers in the event of fire where there was no water – tank systems every time so more expense. · Your right there is no legal requirement to maintain the system but as with most other things insurance companies will look to avoid claims where owners can’t demonstrate adequate maintenance. So, maintenance would end up being a necessity · No-one has even mentioned legionellae which to avoid stagnant water the whole house would then move to a tanked cold supply.

Hi Everyone, Thanks for the replies - I needed a coffee even after just recounting my planning experience. You're right Dave, it was a slight risk but, based on the complaints I had already made and that I had submitted the reserved matters application, I felt that I had complied with at least the spirit of what was intended. Aside from that, I have now learnt that there is quite a lot of case law around the unenforceability of pre-start conditions especially those that are not material to the consent or cause undue costs for applicants - roof tile choice for example. You're right about the sprinkler system JS Harris is was a cost issue. The well-intentioned Welsh Government has imposed them on all new build residential projects from 2016 without I suspect appreciating the implications. As the Water Authority would not guarantee supply pressure or continuity the costs for me were going to be: · full mains pressure plumbing throughout the house which being 300m2 and needing to be installed by a 'certified specialist' was about £5k. · underground storage tank with sufficient capacity - £2k + builders work / carting away several cubes etc. · pumping set and space for it inside the house including back up power supply £2k · Annual maintenance contract to confirm safe operation. Insurance companies are also a bit nervous - a sprinkler false alarm can cause huge damage especially in timber frame / boarded structures so not for me I'm afraid.

J just a nightmare Dave - Plot bought in 2015 with Outline Planning which simply showed a 'box' on a block plan - indication of entrances / access paths etc. Reserved matters application submitted in Dec15 along with a Building Notice to avoid new sprinkler regs being introduced in Wales - So long as I start in a year I'm exempt - plenty of time (so I thought!) Nightmare begins: · Planners rejected my Reserved Application in March 16 - they didn’t think that the application fully reflected the outline 'box' and recommend a 'new' full application. So, plans abandoned and new full design commissioned - (might as well at this point to take best advantage of the plot and submitted in June 16. · Planners then take forever to consider. Endless design adjustments asked for and to cap it all they asked for two 8-week time extensions over and above the statutory planning period to consider the application. · Mortgage people also unhappy as design has changed so new mortgage application needed - oh yes and a new site valuation ever though nothing had changes from a year earlier. · After many threats of official complaint/ calls to local MP/ calls to Head of Planning - Approval on 14th December 2016. Whoopee - Good news!! - but wait a minute - pre-start conditions??? - " No development to commence before external material agreed or full drainage design approved" - wait a minute, I submitted a full materials schedule, a full SUDS drainage design and an approval letter from the Water Authority for surface drainage discharge. · Planners confirmed that the 'materials condition' had been added as I had used the words 'or similar' in the specification of the roof tiles - what??? no foundations because of this? · Having bitten my tongue again material samples delivered to Planning on the 20th December only to be told that the reserved application matters application period was - you guessed it - another 8 weeks! · That’s it, plot lost... No way am I paying for sprinklers/underground tank and pumping station because of this. So, after a mad panic Groundworkers start pulling foundations 1 week before Christmas - Building inspector confirms works 'officially started' on 23rd December - whew!! · Surprise surprise - Planners fail to decide on the materials in the statutory 8 weeks again - another extension required. · More calls and complaints established that the Planning Officer had files the Water Authority consultation note in the wrong file!! - I give up · Final approval received in March 2017... In total it took over 70 documents to get to this point.

Its a 5 bed 300m2 job Peter - all traditional construction bit like the attached which was an early 3D. Took a year to get planning on this as the trees in the background are in the green belt. It's a big plot though at 30m x 50m so i'm looking to buy a 3 tone excavator now as there's going to be a lot of moving / carrying / digging etc! all 3d.pdf

Morning everyone, Just found the forum after Ebuild closed - great to see a successor now up and running. I've just started a second self build in swansea and looking to build smarter than the first time around. Some great advice on here guys so well done and I look forward to contributing. Nig