Alexphd1

Anybody know any structural engineers who have knowledge of insulated raft/icf and can issue a SER certificate?

I know it's not a dry screed but I was planning to fit these after chipboard was layed for 1st floor but in the end I just used radiators. https://underfloorparts.co.uk/product/suspended-floor-clippa-j-shape-aluminium-underfloor-heating-ffb-spreader-plate/?gclid=CjwKCAjw0N3nBRBvEiwAHMwvNvLn-1OM1MxeXkSuupeLe_NQUAaL-eVX7jUF_RdvkUesNNZfiUozzhoCufYQAvD_BwE

Been working with rockwoll a few days ago above head in jeans and a tshirt. It was a bit cooler and as soon as I started to sweat I stopped for a rest. I didnt itch once..... I was in a panic to get a small bit done today it was warm and I didnt have time to have a rest..... just about killed myself itching.

Can you not do this yourself??? Good old calculator, paper, pencil and Google???? At least you are not tied to them and easier to negotiate a deal?

Another guy/gal on here build a TF then sprayed the whole house with open cell foam. He used nothing else apart from extra window/door details and achieved a good air tightness results. I am a big fan of ICF and tbh prob will use again on next build.

Don't need to..... I live in Scotland ???

Agree with Jeremy. It would be interesting if you could a ask them to put down in black and white/email exactly what a £100 solar pv service includes.

Tell them to p$@s off. Nothing to service in a pv system. Your 25 year warranty will be with the PV panel manufacturer not the installer.

Is the system broken?

Funny you where asking this question as we where discussing the same question what we would do different on build 2 at tea break today ! I have only used tape at windows (inc velux) and doors. I have sprayed insulation covering full width of icf block to the ridge. Hoping this provides a respectable/good air tightness.

I got a small scare at the ducting cost, it adds up! I have went down a similar route to dave. i bought a job lot 5x xpleiar mvhr units off fleebay for £900, with the plan of 2 in my parents and 2 installed in my build with 1 spare for parts later down the line. I started buying from BPC but changed to blauberg (trade account) as they where a good bit cheaper (50m roll of 75 mvhr ducting with anti static/coating £82 plus vat compared to £116 plus vat from bpc). The down side i will need to do my own ventilation calculations. 480m2 build ducting (decent spec ie stainless external vent plus silencers etc) came to approx £2000 inc vat.

Pretty impressive ?

Jeremy, Just curiosity what size was the wall?

i think i would be shopping around! You can get roof vents, wall and underside soffit vents. they are not ugly but i would try and not have them next to your front door. here a buildhub thread with more detail

Very hard to comment on price without more detail. Is it one with a build in heat pump as jsharris has or a basic one, is supply install and commission or supply only?

basic mvhr have two external vents, one for air intake and one for air exhaust.

I fail to see what a QS surveyor would have brought to my project, why not sit down and do your own sums. At least if you are out you will have somebody to blame!!

1985 still young for a oil boiler probably still 80%efficient, only thing changed for the new condensing oil boilers was adding a second stainless heat exchanger on the exhaust flue which tbh was a pretty crude add on. Prices took a big jump when went condensing. If I had a oil boiler sitting on a pallet I would be using that, worst case you ditch that in 5 years time for ashp IF oil cost shot up or DIY a oil/ashp set up. The cost of the grant vortexair combined heat pump/oil boiler is scary (£6k?) and has the negatives of both system... finding a oil engineer or refrigeration engineer or both! I myself fell into a over complicated system a lot to be said for KISS.

Our slab was designed with rest of house (icf) so I don't know exact breakdown but think in par with what Jeremy's quoting. DIY insulated with making your own L shape, I struggle to see anything coming in much cheaper.

peter, yes but point I was trying to make (in a round about way) was look at complete cost for some reason liquid screed is very popular around here and i didnt need this. K78 are you diy or getting a builder in? do you want UFH? DIY insulated slab is pretty cost effective!

when i was doing my calculations, the cost of the self leveling liquid screed for the UFH swung it towards the insulated raft as the finished concrete is your floor level with UFH pipes already in.

I think there is pros and cons for both options. A lot easier to find a repair guy for a oil boiler plus parts are pretty cheap (complete new riello burner £300). Regarding a comment above regarding oil boiler/gas boiler life span, i believe a oil boiler has a lot longer life span than gas. A lot of oil boilers come with a 5 years warranty, I am pretty sure I can get a worcester bosch engineer out within a few days, how long to get a engineer from Mitsubishi? We often had customers who had oil stolen from tanks. Oil service can be messy esp if inside house. I have decided to fit a ashp but I picked up a ashp pretty cheap if paying a few £k i would reconsider options. Nothing stopping you divert excess pv with a oil boiler set up. I think the big issue is design a house with ultra low heat requirements so you can fit/change any heat source at a later date. Remember dave, we didnt always have fancy flue gas analyzers.... it's part of cover your ass society I can leave the customer a nice bit of paper stating this is what your boiler is doing when I left it (for the record we where 1st in area with analyzer).

When I was on the tools I preferred set price job as you could make more money, go in and blitz the job quick plus mark up on materials.... win win. Being a greedy bugger I have employed the few trades we have had on hour day rate and worked very well but I have always been on site and worked along with them. Example I fitted all electrical metal back boxes before sparkie arrived. I also made it clear to him i am not paying him to clean up behind him!! Be warned any saving made is quickly lost if trade is on site with the wrong material you need to be ahead of the game. Example of quick DIY savings is UFH probably save 60-70% easy from employing a plumber for the pipe/manifold side. I know a good guy with his own plant equipment in your neck of the woods who works on a day rate for the foundations.

Asking a question for somebody else. What's more secure sectional or roller. Garage is away from home with direct access to road. Will be installing CCTV etc. Any recommendations for installation in stoke also welcome.

How long do you think he would take to do the job, A day? Two days? Has he a good reputation for a decent job? I would be taking all this into consideration.