Andeh

Due to a cock up on my part, our windows are 1.6u NOT the 1.3u the window company has been telling me for several weeks. They were quoting glazing-only figure, and I took it as whole window figure. I've only found this out 2 days prior to delivery so nothing I can do now sadly - to say I am gutted is an understatement. To make matters worse, this drops us from an A SAP down to 'only' 91 SAP - a B. We have 3.99kW of Solar going in (already on site), roof, walls, floor are already built. We already have Solar diverter going in for hot water, have got good MVHR & ASHP (actuals used in SAP).... and i'm out of ideas on anything else we could get in to find that extra 1 SAP point - reasonably priced or so. We are 'as design of 5' air tightness, which I have been fastidious at trying to reduce, so i'm hoping that might help....but hoping for any other ideas people might have?

Good question.... No, we declared it as demolished for reasons I can't remember if I'm honest! I'll have a think without my gin & tonic and come back to you!!

Yep!

Just to correct my above point; the U value I quoted above was for the glass alone...due to the Ali frame it is more likely to be 1.5; Frame AND glass. Im pretty pissed off over this, as I didn't bother upgrading/seeking alternatives as asking the U Value of the windows & being told 1.3 meant I chalked it up as an easy win and never gave it a second though, had I known 1.5 I'd have sought better performance in one form or another, I do feel the Window supplier was misleading in quoting a half-truth!!!

Just to come back to this, the U value I quoted above was for the glass alone...due to the Ali frame it is more likely to be 1.5; Frame AND glass. Im pretty pissed off over this, as I didn't bother upgrading/seeking alternatives as asking the U Value of the windows & being told 1.3 meant I chalked it up as an easy win and never gave it a second though, had I known 1.5 I'd have sought better performance in one form or another, I do feel the Window supplier was misleading in quoting a half-truth!!!

Not really....just compared thermal transmittance of Kingspan at something like 0.024w v Recticels 0.022w, and the fact that one got U of 16 and one a U of 14 via SAP.

Also worth saying, mature trees are pretty rare in domestic gardens, they are a real feature / add value! I'd avoid removal.

We had foundations about 2m deep 13m ish from a mature willow. Had to install heave protection as well. Found no real rootage to speak of in the trench.

160mm recticel achieves 0.11...might be a fair compromise? It's 10% higher performing then Kingspan equivalent.

We found recticel slightly cheaper, but 10% better performing then Kingspan.

Question for everyone, most ASHP enable a decent degree of modulation esp with digital inverters (if marketing is to be believed) ... Surely this help protects to a degree of over sizing?

Surely no matter the size of the pipe into the house, flow restrictions exist which bring it down... Boiler, heating tank, valves, taps etc?

Sorry Gill we didn't, we stipulated 1.3 u aluminium when we started the process last year, and ended up with smart after Builder struggled with 7 suppliers to actually quote and progress within a reasonable time frame. It's a fixed price build, so not aware of the actual price itself. We have a sample which looks, feels and comes across as very robust... But I'm a layman end of the day... If you can hang on a few weeks I'll hopefully have some installed and can provide pics if you wish!

We are waiting on delivery of smart alithern early November (I hope). U value of 1.2 to 1.3 depending on who I ask. Wanted the slimmest frames I could get... Within reason. Also probably a bit of snob factor after several years in new builds with cheap crappy UPVC. I do love aluminium.

Sorry to hear that, we demolished our existing 1970s Bungalow before we had planning received (though we had planning to refurbish it), as we felt there was a strong chance bat survey could be required (we were very sure we ddn't have any, but Grade 2 listed properties near our & their trees did have them...as you could see them at night) We got a bit of a 'stern' response when they looked at our application and suggested bats & tree survey required, only to inform them we demolished already - as we didn't need permission to demolish. A risk, but a low one we felt, spent a few weeks expecting a fine to come through...but it never materialised Cant help suggest how to proceed with you, but if you don't need permission to do certain aspects of work...why wait for it? (my LAYMANS / IANAL view)

Has anyone ever installed them, ideally a switch next to the lightswiotch that enables one press up & down control, seemless & blended in with the light switch it is next to. i see lots that are rechargeable that have a handheld remote, but I like (and designed for...) mains powered versions! Thanks

We are using sika trocal as an alternative, it was significantly cheaper then the metal equivalent.

The plastic pipes should feel luke warm, are they? Get an IR thermometer for £15 and see the actual temp of the pipes.

Our aluminium is 1.3 which I'm OK with, would prefer better but it is what it is now.

Afraid it is poor form, though we had two that worked fine for several years.. Not sure I'd risk it. At least have a mini access hatch over to inspect them...

I'd love the see the difference in running costs between A90 and A110.... maybe £20 a month? It's the ecofriendly top trumps... Who cares if you can't drive 220mph, it beats your 185mph....

150mm is fine, 100mm risks the bend radius being a real headache!

Thanks Peter, Is there a general preferred product on Buildhub? We have ASHP, and a 300L cylinder with 3.99kw of solar panels... I'm still leaning to installing one even though a second coil is apparently needed in the cylinder for the solar diverge? (1st coil being for the immersion I presume?)

Oh yeah, but £150 on a new epc calculator will resolve that. Likely to take a couple of weeks, they're all busy with the new regs changes....

Listen to this guy, he gets it. Life is too short to worry about this....!!! Overboard, and within a couple of weeks all is forgotten.