Andeh

We are in that inevitable situation of not being able to 'assume in' everything we want due to the budget. Obvious bits like driveways & externals are less of an issue at adding in years to come...but AirCon is one I am looking for ideas on. I am confident we will want it one day, so I am keen to try and ensure the fitment of it at a later date (post build) is as easy as possible...but the challenge is I don't know how to do this? The build is a mono-pitch bungalow, rendered on the outside. Most of the rooms requiring A/C I can imagine logic places where the internal/external unit would go, some needing longer runs, others just outside the wall. I assume install electrics to the point where the internal unit would go? Stick a concrete pad where the external should go. Should/Can I install pipework and cap it off at both ends? Can this be done without huge cost/impacting the envelope of the house too much? Has anyone tried this before? many thanks,

Quartz has to be a good all rounder? Huge variety of colours, heat, knife, scratch resistant. No risk of stains, happy to accept bleach & house hold chemicals etc. Cheaper then granite.

We are carrying out a knock down & rebuild for our project, and own the land outright & have 50% of the funds to knockdown/build...the issue we have is we are £250k short of completing it...basically run out of cash 4 months before the end. Our main option looks to be self build mortgage at 4.5% for the 250k...to cover the 4 month shortfall...but then we pay the higher rates for 2 years. This is opposed to a standard mortgage @ completion which would be at 0.95%. It's a stiff pill to swallow for just 4 months coverage. I am wondering if its worth taking out a self build mortgage, use it for 4 months, then on completion remortgage at 0.95% (ish), pay off the self build mortgage & continue onwards at 0.95%. What pitfalls am I missing with the above? Does anyone know of any firms with a low early repayment fee? Can anyone suggest any other ways around this? Anyone have £250k free for 4 months!? ? ?

OP, could you let us know how you get on once installed & trialed a few times please?

As in a flatter angle helps on cloudy days?

That's a really interesting link! Going from an optimum angle of 39 degrees to 10 degrees drops annual output from 3000 down to 2700. Not as much as I expected? Does that make sense? Edit... Makes sense....as they perform better in the summer, but worse in the winter I imagine. Not ideal as looking at ASHP, we want max generation in the winter vs summer!

Hi All, As per title, we are going for a 10 degree mono pitch roof, where the solar panels will be installed. Are there any aesthetically pleasing/reasonable ways to enhance the angle of solar panels being installed? Ideally like to try and get them up another 25 degrees, but without it looking ridiculous on the roof! We have no other location where they could go unfortunately. Many thanks,

Just keen to hear how you got on? We are being recommend joules ASHP package as well!

Very interested to see what this offers, worried we will miss the existing RHI deadline with our build...hoping the replacement softens the loss of it!!

Thanks all builder starts in 3 weeks for a 8 month build, contract signed & prices fixed. Probably will have back up, but with contract in place delaying ashp for some savings complicates things. Also very young children in the family! I'll have to have a chat with him how he intends to support us with the RHI side of things! Could be close getting it commissioned by March 31st! we will see.

Even more interested in this thread now, as going for ASHP & MVHR as well....!!

Hi All, We are looking to install ASHP, but are aware of the deadline in March 2022 for the current round of RHI payments. We are not looking to complete the build until mid June though. Does anyone know what the threshold is to pass, in order to register for the RHI payments? is it paperwork only, or does the system need to be installed, or does it need to be installed & commissioned etc? Welcome any advice. Thank you,

Just a bump from me, very keen to know more about this as well! Thanks

Thanks all, good to keep seeing perspectives on this! Still settling on 500L and then PV diverter off the 4kw Solar system into the tank.

Good question! it's been really tricky. We got 4 quotes, three of which were within 10% of each other...4th was within 15%...so all remarkably similar. We have narrowed it down to the middle two and are now working with them both on next steps. One say it is cheaper to knock down & start again (NO VAT) other says cheaper to refurb (but pay VAT). All showed our £300k budget was needing to be closer to £500k though....which we are working through now (reductions, cost saves, cut backs, borrowing etc etc). Its been emotional to say the least. ? This all for an existing 140sqm bungalow, looking to extend/rebuild to around 275sqm. Rebuild buider is due back tomorrow (!!) with his proposal on how it could be better to rebuild instead of just refurb, and at that point hopefully big decisions will start to be made on how we progress.

Just to update, speaking 'hypothetically' with British Gas (my FiT provider) & OFGEM...there seems to be a relatively 'common sense' approach to this, though always take this with a pinch of salt. If you are removing the system for building work, just let us know....when you reinstall it let us know..if system isn't being changed no issues at all. If you change any aspect of the system let us know & provide justification for it/invoices for replacement parts. Replacing 95% of the system with new components (as I was wondering above) would 'probably' class as a new installation & loss of Fit...but if you are replacing some panels due to breakage, that should be fine. There is a slight vagueness overall, ie not cut & dry...just a contact us with a good reason & you will probably be OK.

Blimey, that looks much better! Thanks for coming back to update.

Thanks very much guys, that makes sense! I remember seeing the serial numbers on the paperwork now that you mention it. I'll just have to accept a lift & refit, annoying as the new roof orientation will put them slightly off pitch. Edit to add: For others in a similar situation, the below will 'help', but I may need too still reach out to them. Removal & refit for roof change, but maintaining existing equipment I hope to maintains our eligibility. It isn't definitively clear in my mind though? https://www.ofgem.gov.uk/publications/consultation-fit-replacement-generating-equipment

Thanks Temp, parking is fine...Bat's were ruled out when we looked at the extension. My main irrational bug bear is the water meter! Fitting one now...to then remove it later....? Playing the system a little bit, but I am offered a 2 year cooling off period? I will look into CiL - thank you. I presume architects will be able to advise on this as well! They are fully managing this end to end.

...its works if you don't get caught! I might just have to wait to hear back from British Gas, but it depends on what they use to authorise the system surely? Do they limit you on Sheer size of system or maximum power output allowed? Could you elaborate please SteamTea?

Thanks nod. Our water company offer a 2 year cooling off period, I wonder if this could help us get around it? Install one now before we do anything, sort out rebuild & then change back if it proves more expensive? With 4 girls in the household, I prefer non metered!

The challenge we have is the capacity is 3.99kwh limit (I think) but the panels are from 2011. Our plans involve a mono pitch roof, which would have the solar panels angled away from the south facing they currently enjoy. Desire is to replace the panels with new ones, and do so such that we can 'over compensate' with quantity/quality, to cancel out the loss from the negative angle.

Thanks will do, MCS wasn't fussed, but wasn't sure who might be. For £2k a year, we want to be sure. I have emailed British Gas to ask them (our FiT provider), and will report back when I know more

We are exploring the prospect of a full knockdown & rebuild instead of a large extension! Touch & go which way it will swing...but just as we factor everything in, are there any more draconian conditions we should factor in? The extension came with several lighter touch ones, but nothing problematic...I imagine a new build is likely to be come with several more? Ie...must have a water meter? Could we get one fitted & change it back out in the 2 year cooling off period? Any others? Many thanks

Thanks Temp - How much of an issue is this? I imagine for those highpoints there would be a reduction in thermal transfer? I would like to have both our UFH manifolds in the same location (bungalow), but one UFH will feed a series of loops a few ft higher then lowest point of the loop...bit like a U with manifold slightly higher then the loops...but a low point between! Many thanks, Andrew