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I think it is a little pointless, but it does give an indication of spec to make things reasonable energy efficient. This is the spec I gave them. Score 85 on the nose! - Walls to be built in ICF with a u value of 0.14 - floor to be insulated raft u value of 0.11 - ceilings/roofs to be u value 0.13 - Windows to be u value of 1.3 - Heating/hot water to be UFH with Viessmann VITODENS 111-W gas boiler - generic MVHR (haven't chosen specific model yet) Just gives an idea of spec just in case anyone else needs it too! @Critical Path I'll give you one guess at what minimum score Ecology need.... it begins with an 8 and ends in a 5..... ?

@Critical Path I went with SAPeasy who were £168 inc vat for their expedited (24hr) service and have turned the report around in about 5 hours. Seem very good and helpful discussing spec levels etc in order to meet our required 85+. Their usual 4-5 day service is currently taking 7 days apparently as they're really busy and is £108. Good luck!

Hello all, Just had our SAP calculations done (I don't have anything windows, so couldn't use the free software) and we've been advised that its better to have a gas boiler fitted then use ASHP (brings us up form a C to a B). I thought ASHP would have been preferred? Anyone give any guidance on why this is? TIA!

Ok so this might be a bad idea resurrecting this, but did anyone ever find a version of FSAP that works on iOS? It'd be good to get it so I can provide SAP calculations to Ecology. Thanks, please don't hate me if this thread brings back memories of old war wounds!

Around 160sqm. Fitting isn't a problem, I've found a good builder who will do it, or my wife and I will be out all hours doing it bit by bit. Cotswold stone quoting around £65/m +vat+del excl fit.

@ProDave Its an upside down house, with kitchen living dining on first floor (along with a bedroom or two) then a further 2 bedrooms, bathrooms and utility on the ground floor. @PeterW I know there are other options, but there is only one option in our house, Aga. It'll be a mains gas one from the bay, which we can have reconditioned in the future when spare cash allows. I didn't know you could diy fit ASHP, that's a definite then! @scottishjohn It'll be mains gas. This is also true, I hadn't considered this. I wonder what the increase in costs would be as opposed to a DIY ASHP as mentioned by PeterW.

Starting to get into the serious nitty grity of a build plan and I'm interested in MVHR. My wife is also adamant about having an Aga. We aren't being eco, but doing our best to keep our bills low. Except the aga of course! Would a MVHR help distribute the heat around the house and therefore mean we wouldn't need other heating in other rooms? Therefore possibly avoiding the UFH etc that others install? I know its a bit contradictory, but you'd be a brave person indeed to take on the aga debate in our house - it's happening! TIA

Bump?

I've been looking at roof covering costs today. These are prices for just the slates/composite equivalent, not labour or felt/batten etc. The pitched roof area is 131sqm, pitched at 40deg. These quotes are what the supplier thinks is required to cover that inc. ridge tiles, wastage etc. Jutland Graphite (1770* 600x300) £1575 (£1890 inc vat) Spanish Slates (1770* 600x300) £4248 (£5097 inc vat) TapcoSlate (2900 pewter grey) £5897 (£7077 inc vat) Anybody heard of or used Jutland graphite? They're a composite style similar to the Tapco, but at a significant cost saving. Also, being fewer tiles for that and the natural slate, they might have a reduced labour cost? I'm struggling to see how the Tapco can justify its significant price difference. Any thoughts welcome! Thanks!

Following this one too. What sort of stone are you looking for? We’re going to be aiming for Cotswold Stone, probably from the stone company called Cotswold stone! Unless anyone can suggest different/cheeper/alternative options?

Thanks! We think it'll be great. Yes obvious cost savings come form a 'squarer' shape. We've just got these plans at the mo - I'll pose the final plans when its all costed and we know what were aiming for! I think I agree with a cavity wall, its just v v tricky to get all of the blocks/bricks/mortar onto site (its an almost vertical drop 3m down from the drive down to the 'top' of the site). We'll see what costings come out for the labour - there is definitely large difference in material cost. We aren't also looking to go passive, just nicely insulated and if the budget allows (and I can convince my wife) MVHR and ASHP. @Russell griffiths Ive been in contact with Steve and are waiting for a quote from Nudura. I agree the proximity of the expert help would be very useful. Our new neighbours-to-be but 1 are 3/4 of the way though a large 2 story extension using Durisol including retaining walls etc. Guess they managed to waterproof it somehow - I'll ask. Thanks for the heads up. Is Nudura waterproofed with a membrane or similar? @redtop We inherited these plans with the site and part of going back though planning would be with our final build system (be it ICF or brick/block etc) and therefore with efficient sizes. I think the architect had one eye on this as the lower ground floor rooms seem to have a finished internal head height of 2400. Will certainly have that in mind though when we tweak the design. Thanks! @Mr PunterThanks! I think the main constraint was sticking to existing footprint and height but also how to manage the build on a 25% slope. Were still learning, which might be a bit late but if you don't give ti a go you'll never know!

4yrs. Still both a bit of a handful in the most delightful way possible!

And a site plan...

Well no pics at the mo but here is a section and some floor plans.... We’ll prob go back thru planning for some alterations and shift the floor plans around to suit our needs better, but the superstructure will stay the same bar a few (many!) window changes!

Hello one and all! After a few weeks of browsing BH and learning as best I can it seems appropriate to jump in at the deep end and say Hi and thanks for your help so far! My wife and I (and 2 daughters [4 and 20months], 2 dogs and 3 chickens) are buying a dated bungalow with full planning to demolish and rebuild a 225sqm 4 bed 2 story house. On the side of a hill. With v. poor access. I know, stupid, but its only a 5min walk to school and we've wanted to build for a long time so hey! At the moment were considering some form of ICF (either top contenders are Durisol vs Nudura) as getting light blocks onto site then pumping from off site seems the best option. Ultimately were on a v tight budget (£1400/sqm) considering the site and whatever is cheapest. No we cant get a crane anywhere near site! I'm sure there will be lots of questions along the way, and lots of oops moments, but hopefully i'll still be here to detail those ups and downs as we go. Thanks for reading my waffling, any advice and words of wisdom or experience welcome and valued at any point! Z