Bonner

Likewise, just dot and dabbed on the block openings. Leaves 30-35mm of frame for me, excluding the opening window frame. The head is a bit deeper which suits us for blinds mounted in the reveals.

https://www.gov.uk/guidance/vat-refunds-for-new-builds-if-youre-a-diy-housebuilder All the rules are here. Some contractors may ask for a copy your planning consent as proof. If they are still not convinced, tell them to talk to their accountant

The devil is in the detail, you pay 0% VAT on demolition and landscaping works which is approved in the planning permission. If your permission is limited to only part of the site, you cannot claim for costs associated with another part. Note, the works must be zero rated by the contractor.

We moved in 18 months before BC completion. Went through a broker to our ensure situation was fully understood and documented. Cost a bit more than standard house insurance.

Thanks and also glad I asked. Reviews are very mixed, I guess many people will be happy to see a simple picture showing cold spots. Having used commercial cameras at work, that wouldn’t be good enough for me.

How did you on with the Flir? I am looking at getting one, still on at the same price, is it worth the money?

I have also worked as a PM in industrial projects, I was shocked by standards of professional behaviour I encountered in house building. Presumably it’s different with large sites and major contractors but for one off jobs like self builds, many providers just don’t care, maybe assuming they won’t get more work from us. My appointed SE also disappeared after initial quotes, one site meeting and a preliminary schedule of works. He was also contracted to provide a PC certificate but failed to perform the first inspection. After many more attempts to contact him, I was forced to find another SE to take over.

I did … simply fitted restrictors similar to the link posted by @ETC which BC accepted.

Can’t you plug some of the holes so it drains to one point or at least one row of holes?

It drains from an outlet in the centre of the unit, seems to have a tray in the base which collect the condensate and drains to the outlet (Grant Aerona)

Mine drops into a small soak away, 4” pipe filled with gravel. Still overflows occasionally so would make it bigger.

Actually, I found last night’s quite depressing. The man’s motivation to prove himself against his father, at his age, putting his partner’s health at risk and spending £1M on something that Kevin said looked like a road side diner (or something like that). And in the end he didn’t even feel he lived up to his own measure.

Well done @thefoxesmaltings, great project congratulations

I used 75/80mm concrete screws to fix battens straight to block wall. Can’t comment how it works through insulation, suggest you test on a sample area.

Very easy DIY, as I did. Otherwise a joiner may charge for a days work, £250?

They are all made bespoke anyway. An extended stringer should be relatively low cost and neat solution if you don’t want the newel post down to the floor. Still need the SE to confirm and then specify exactly what you want to the manufacturer (others are available if they won’t do it).

The difference between DIY and professional towers is like chalk and cheese. Don’t get me wrong, I was going to get a DIY one but the trades wouldn’t have worked off it. I think someone on here said they sold their’s for the same as they paid second hand, so I bought a professional tower. Trouble is, I don’t want to sell it …

Sorry thought you were talking about the MiTower, that is about 5x the weight (and the price!). I agree, would hesitate to use something that light.

Where did you get that figure from? It’s light for what it is but probably nearer 200kg

I bought a second hand MiTower (5m, 2 person) on FB, very solid and stable. Not cheap but should get back what I paid for it.

I use genuine yellow (Dewalt) batteries with an adapter. Seems to work perfectly. Everything else is DW, just didn’t like their strimmers.

Even I bought a Makita strimmer and I’ve got yellow batteries! (+cheap adapter off eBay).

Have you considered flipping the bedroom layout so your bathrooms are over the utility? Reduces pipe lengths, hot water losses and unwanted noise in living areas.

I have all plant in the utility, makes it a little cramped for washing etc. but yours looks double the size.