Andeh

Thanks for the comments guys, I'll raise it with the architect & builder (both very experienced in doing new builds) but seeing as it's all on site, kicked off & we're moved out etc... we're committed now. That being said, with it all being carried out within a continuous 8 month period, same builder, mountain of paperwork (planning, building control stating new build & demolition etc), staged payments, continuous project plan, non-occupancy throughout, I'd suggest HMRC would struggle to evidence this was anything other then that it is... A total/full knock, excavation & new build as planned/documented. Edit to add, as existing property is a 1960s timber frame & we are going over the top with block & beam, large Mono pitch etc.... There is very little we could reuse even if we wanted to.

Thanks, I figured there would be something like that that.... 6 month occupancy would be tight to cover! Was just a brainwave at 4am for me

With experienced builder & experienced architect firm I'm just following them tbh, builder is on site already. 8 months from now the existing bungalow will have been 100% demolished & replaced with a 100% new one, with all the documentation submitted to boot! Whether we do it right to left, or left to right it's still a full knock down & rebuild? Where would HMRC have an issue?

Thanks all! Our project was originally a full refurb & large extension. We got the planning permission for this. At the last minute builder advised he could do a full knock down & rebuild for the same money. We are now going down to the this route. We have just submitted a new planning application for a full rebuild... And the builder will spend the next few months starting the extension and LEAVING the bungalow until planning is in. The new build will be very similar orientation to the existing bungalow, plant room in an identical area. With the submission for RHI, what stops me installing ASHP into the existing bungalow.... Commissioning it... Getting RHI then decommissioning knock down, rebuild, reconnect... Crack on? ASHP location doesn't change, plant room doesn't change just connecting & disconnecting it from the existing bungalow? Existing bungalow, 1960s timber frame, is EPC B, 85 (epc done last year) is there anything in the RHI application that would block this?

Anyone heard anything about the grant being available for self builds? I'm still struggling to find any thing definitive!

Can anyone link to the T&cs of this please? How does this impact us self builders building a self build having already removed the gas boiler having knocked it all down? What will be the criteria to claim? I will miss RHI for a few months, was hoping this £5k would soften the blow!

Has anyone been following this? It doesn't look to be as generous as the RHI, but it is up front vs over several years! I am struggling to find details on how to claim it, what criteria though? https://www.mirror.co.uk/news/politics/homeowners-set-offered-5000-grants-25231186

Considered calor/equiv gas? With a big tank & careful buying it could be an option.

Thanks, my original hope was a way of installing the pipework & electrics for a split system... Then getting someone to simply connect it up at each end when we can afford to install it.... Is that possible?

Surely a local labourer or two (farm hand or equiv?) for a few days would be cheaper & less stress? I get the principle of the machine, but using one inside a room, I imagine 50% of the time effort will be not reversing it into/through a wall as you try to position it. £200/day for a couple of guys & barrows would be my first direction I think.

We have been spec'ed metal stud plasterboard internal walls. Architect suggests they should be fine & are more substantial then the metal stud & plasterboard walls we used to have in a 2005 Bovis 'new build', but these were so cheap & flimsy it wouldn't be hard to better...cardboard would have!! I am trying to find a more substantial internal wall, without going mad. Obviously block walls would be the best, but it needs to be cost effective! Double up CLS studs & double up plasterboard? Single plasterboard but 15mm instead of 12.5mm etc? Combination of it all? Can anyone comment on what they went with & successes/failures? Thanks,

Yes, likewise! We will suffer from solar gain due to large windows overlooking our south facing garden. Can't not do it....but will need to look at AirCon (active air & UFH passive) to reduce the impact my gut tells me.

Interesting experience Marvin, thanks for commenting!

Yes ASHP into UFH - not sure I know how that could be used to cool? MHRV designed in as well. Bungalow ceilings will all be vaulted to the roofline unfortunately!

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....!!