Bonner

DIY installed and self certified a MVHR for less than £1500 four years ago, so more like £2k now. No need to spend £10k on a simple system, like everything we get carried away with specifying equipment. The only thing I would do differently is fit noise attenuation, there is some ‘cross talk’ between rooms although only noticeable when it is dead quiet in the middle of the night. Rather than looking at the most sophisticated system, start from trickle vents and think what would be better than that? DM me if you want details of equipment.

Doesn’t matter really, at least in England. We declared occupation over a year before completion. We also claimed for expenditure after completion (allowable decoration and landscaping etc.) Again doesn’t matter as long as it is an individual dwelling, it’s the planning permission which meets the criteria not the number of rooms.

Likewise, it is not a priority for me until it gets too warm and the boss reminds me that I told her ‘a heat pump can do cooling as well you know’. I want to try it with the UFH so don’t need to do any plumbing. Just need the confidence to play around with the settings, guess I am unlikely to break it or change anything which isn’t reversible …

@Ommm, before I dive in to switching my HP to cooling, did you manage to get this running properly? Any further lessons learned?

That’s me fiddling with the inverter settings during World Cup matches. Only installed a few weeks ago, I am sure the novelty will wear off.

I don’t recognise the top hat seal so pretty sure it was two separate seals

Yes, not an issue. Mine was like that, the waste seals on the top but plumbers put loads of silicone on the underside as well.

it’s the parrots!! https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c232dnkkd3po

I used stainless brads for larch cladding. Got a Dewalt second fix, as @Super_Paulie said it’s quite big but works well.

We get through one bulk bag a month, bought four bags last summer @ £90 each. I used to get most firewood free from work and neighbouring woodland but only getting a few scraps now.

Plucking pheasants here! Seriously, pecking the bottoms of our glazed doors at four in the morning

Same here, they did ask if there was any major structural work. We declared decorating, landscaping etc. and made sure it was confirmed in writing. (We didn’t have or ask for any BC documentation)

Difficult to visualise without a drawing but you are better off DIY as it’s too small a job for many companies. SE not required nor BC approval.

Building control visits are normally focused on checking as-built versus approved plans so they can look at any details, ie. level thresholds, smoke detectors, escape windows etc, etc. They wouldn’t have time to look through documents but for final submission, I would add; SE calcs/drawing, roof truss calcs, any MCS certs, Gas Safe certs, planning approvals, window and door specs …

I used a local branch of national chain, handy to get additional supplies as the installation progresses and take back what you don’t use. I mail ordered a lot of other stuff but electrical components need to be available to avoid holding up electrician, or losing him to another job. Do check prices are reasonably competitive but availability is sometimes more important.