Andeh

Thanks both, I assume I'd need to terminate? We ran spares to a lot of locations (cctv and access points) so 50% of then will never be used!

Our plasterboarders were a right laugh, and got on with them well. Only 3 weeks after moving in did I realise they must have been cock eyed.... Some of the bows in the plasterboard panels are unforgivable... Esp down our long corridor.....! Moron electrician, amoung many other things, didn't label any of the Cat6a cables... So now I get the shitty job of trying to figure that one out!

Well done, seems a reasonable outcome! Thanks for updating.

our render finished at DPC, though in some areas where the DPC was much higher (building in a slope and house is half stepped) they rendered further down. Having the render at DPC also reduces dirty splashing into render. Pay in arrears, always. We paid 2.5% on practical completion as one retainer, then a final 2.5% 6 months after practical completion(when we move in) to keep him motivated on snagging and defects. This is normal and the default with JCT contracts, and as our builder suggested we do it. Your builder's cash flow is not your problem, as the second you lose that financial leverage you are exposed. Edit.... If you are rendering, which itself is an expensive packet of work, how close to completion are you?

It'll take decades to recoup the savings made on the PIR. Save the money and look at where else that investment could be put for greater effect. What's the U rating if the wall? (also roof and floor out of curiosity?)

Of all the things to get bent out of shape over. Yikes. Your house is already hugely well Insulated, with running costs of tiny £ a month (mine is £150 a month and very inefficient in design, and only 'above average insulation' - 160mm in floor, 150mm warm roof, 125mm full full wool (which is poor) and we are heavy electricity users anyway). Air tightness of about 2.9. That gap may help, as still air is an insulation, even slightly moving air in that cavity is probably better then cold brick pressed up against PIR. Coldest days are usually windless days anyway. Give yourself a break, know when to stop.... You'll put yourself/your wife into an early grave if this is the level of 0.001% detail you're obsessed over.

The new extensions guttering or foul/waste water?

Sorry I can't, one job I've never tried. YouTube would my next call though.

Hanging lights on very short pendants? Go for black or something contrasting... Match kitchen handles etc? Down lights are over rated.... Also be careful of reflecting light off your plasterboard, any imperfections in the plasterboard, taping or plastering will be shown up!

https://www.comms-express.com/products/lande-16u-19inch-600x450mm-wall-mounting-cabinet/ This is what I got for approx 2 x 48 switches, then extra for Poe for eventual cameras.

YouTube is your friend here. It all feels very complicated and hard work at first glance, but once you figure out what needs to be done.... You're simply repeating that 50x (or however many Cat6a you have). It then looks obscenely complicated due to the sheer volume of cables.

How did the damage happen? Wet vac to suck water out, and I'd be tempted to do as you say. It's a slight niche vs replacement, but as long as done carefully and checked before dealing over.... Its just a drain.

A month! I realise when discuss passive, that's prob an important differential! Direct debit was at £175 but just dropped it to £150, October will be the 12th month for us to see where we end up, but I think £150 should be around the sweet spot, albeit sitting on £160 credit already. What also impacts that is we use dish washer daily, and washing machine daily, tumble dryer couple times a week..... at the very least. We also have octopus cosy for the ASHP.

We built the most inefficient home possible, by the nature of a large bungalow in the shape of an 'H' effectively, with a lot of glazing, very high ceilings everywhere and simply put an extra £6500 ish into upgrading insulation everywhere we could and 'try for good airtightness (2.7)..... Then hoped for the best! (incl MVHR, ASHP, UFH, PV) End result is bills of somewhere between £150 and £175 for our electricity for a warm house. There is a pragmatic middle ground in everything, but don't compromise on a home design for the sack of savings £50 a month on bills....

I have a central network hub, cat6a all over the place. hard wired internally is mostly complete. The next phase I am planning is some external POE cameras. I am looking at Annke as cost v capability. We have 2 x CAT6a poking out the wall sin various areas. Cables are expanding foamed in for Air Tightness, then rendered as well. In terms of the physical install of the cable, what should I expect in terms of manually wall mounting them & plugging in the cable? I generally use keystone CAT6a jacks, for ease f installation but these are quite bulky. How do you hide the cable & jacks behind the camera? Thanks,

Nope, nothing at all! So accept it and move in. If you can't change it, don't think/worry about it....

It's the future! Expect this to become more common in future, smart grids with micostorage and intelligent control of devices buffering erratic renewables. Automotive batteries are also very over engineered from a degradation point of view.

Your 95% to the top there. You're fine 😉

As said above. That would not be a job you'd want to redo, chalk it up as 'encouraging fast drainage, woz' done intentionally'

Depends on how deep they went. If its deep enough, no need to have it to the tippy top with concrete. The fact they used concrete posts and gravel boards is a def positive, and you are not in an exposed location there Reality is.... you'll be fine. I really wouldn't be worrying about that. I'd keep your powder dry for others areas, rubble under your lawn?

Don't do what I did and and add insufficient water (distracted, rushing and wasn't thinking) then dump it, and half way through spreading it realise.... Then over work it... Then try and spray on water..... Then rip it all up. Bastard thing.

Easily done can't see there being an issue for a floating floor. If you tired... Just stick a layer of flexible over the top.

150mm is 'high end' unless substantial renovation and major project work is undertaken. Realistically the difference between 50 and 150mm in an extension is probably a couple hundred ££ a year? We put in 160mm....but forever home and total newbuild biased out decision. But a degree of pragmatism is required if this isn't the case for you. My parents had 75mm UFH put in several years ago in a total refurb old stone 4 bed house, (no cavities, but PIR plasterboard), and their bills are 75% more then ours, even though we put £1000s into upgraded insulation everywhere in our high end new build.

Dripping off the chimney! It's amazing how 'loud' it can sound on a roof. We have it from our stove pipe onto the lounge flat roof (bungalow).

Insulation works both ways, it will keep your very hot loft from heating up the house. Your only realistic option is air con... Our master bedroom has a 4.5m ceiling one side and 3.2m ceiling the other side.... Still gets warm and stuffy... Your only realistic option is air con. Either portable or full install. We went with a full system and it works brilliantly well. Running costs are prop average of 15- 20p an hour?