WWilts

Anyone used Drainstore packaged sewage pumping station? (packaged pumping chamber) Any good or bad experiences? Any recommendations for or against any make of pumping station?

Openreach superfast broadband cable passes our plot access (in pavement). Will apply to BT for phone line after laying duct/cable to new dwelling in backland. (unless someone here advises against for some reason) Question: What telecom cable to put in duct? What specs of cable to be shopped for/ordered? Is there a cost-effective way to future-proof the cable ? (in the expectation that hyperultrasuper fast will come some day) Found this so far, fibre optic cable. Don't understand the jargon. Excel Internal/External Grade Tight Buffered 24 Core 62.5/125 OM1. P/No:200-142

Paving slabs? Reinforced/not? Shutter and pour?

Does the black MDPE need to be protected at shallow depth in pedestrian areas? If so, what might be cost-effective options? And what would be a good way to protect it as it crosses under a driveway? (mainly cars/vans)

Amazing technology. Great work. Building Merchants: Travis Perkins, Jewsons, Bradfords, Buildbase, a couple of independent Building Merchants, a couple of online merchants, a couple of specialists (roofing goods, drainage goods, flooring, tiles, sanitary ware, UFH, other specialist heating/ventilation) Goods: Bricks, standard blocks, rebar, pea gravel, MOT type 1, roofing supplies, aircrete blocks, cement (ready mixed / bagged), cast stone, lintels, windows, tiles

Discharge pipe (MDPE) from pumping chamber will need to come near to surface. (so that the inspection chamber it feeds will have a good drop to the private manhole that already discharges to mains sewer). Problem: The discharge pipe will run alongside a driveway (although not in it). Reinforced concrete slabs (extending 300 mm sideways along the whole trench) would satisfy approved doc H (BR). Would also cost an arm and a leg. "Alternative designs using different pipe strengths and/or bedding types may offer more appropriate or economic options using the procedures set out in BS EN 1295" Does anyone have access to BS EN 1295? Or have any suggestions to get round the problem?

Thanks, Conor. Very useful tips

SBR = Styrene Butadiene Rubber. Enhances adhesiveness when added to mortar or concrete (had to look this up)

We were asked by planners to show that the water table was at sufficient depth for surface water infiltration (not identical situation to yours). However, we then ordered a site report from British Geological Surveys. Included the water table but also a lot of other useful information (clays, bedrock permeability, soil stability, soluble rock content & collapsibility, etc). All for about £20 a couple of years ago. Perhaps a good initial investment, might save you a few quid down the line.

Do you have any internal rodding points in that layout?

The first floor west bedroom ensuite is foxing me. (area encircled orange) Is the sanitary ware positioned helpfully? Where would you place the soil stack(s)? Rodding points? Inspection chambers? This west side en suite foxes me the most out of all the bathrooms. Especially the shower position and how it would get to a stack. Aim is to ensure access for rodding, minimal blockage risk, and if possible to keep the west elevation looking good.

Good point. The insurer said we should cancel and they would refund. Of course the insurer might decide that they can continue buildings/contents insurance despite demolition of the attached garage, once they understand things correctly. Also have a broker looking into new buildings/contents insurance that can include the garage demolition, porch construction within 12 months

Rear plot already has its own address: Land rear of xx, AB1 2CD Will ask a broker and see what they advise

Demolition of attached garage to create access alongside current home. New build in rear plot. Construction of small lean-to porch/single storey extension where (larger) garage once was. Builder has all relevant insurances with us covered, except if there is some damage without negligence. So the normal self-build insurance is covered. Problem: Current buildings/contents insurer says they will stop cover (& refund for remaining duration). We need to find buildings/contents insurance for our current home. What would you do?

WBP = water and boil proof plywood (had to look it up)

No circuit breaker labelled Garage. One of the 2 circuit breaker switches labelled "ring main" isolates all of garage. Lights and sockets in garage all get isolated by this switch. But this same switch also isolates sockets in the adjoining first floor bedrooms. There is a small box high on the garage wall. From here, cables run in at least 3 directions to various parts of the garage. Suspect the wiring runs under the first floor bedroom floorboards and through the wall into the high box high on the (internal) garage wall. Apart from keeping the garage completely isolated during demolition, what is likely to be required in terms of dealing with the existing live cables/live box on the internal wall? (This wall will survive but will again become an external wall. Electrics compliant with BR will be required in the small glazed porch that will replace the demolished garage. The porch is generally exempt from BR according to LA BC)

Demolition of a lean-to attached garage that has electric lights and a switch. Cables enter near top of lean to. What precautions needed for demolition, electricity-wise? Builder probably knows, but I would like to understand too.

Tks. But why the lower cavity tray? Necessary?

Are two cavity trays necessary in this situation? How important is the lower tray?

Lumber & raw materials prices have started coming down. Hope the correction continues. As long as people don't panic-buy prices might come back to affordable levels. https://tradingeconomics.com/commodity/lumber

Hedgehogs working fine here despite overhanging trees. Held in place by cable ties, similar to these: https://www.toolstation.com/cable-tie-black/p28946

Does it make much difference to thermal bridging and overall energy efficiency whether the drainage exits via 1) ground floor slab 2) a wall

No. Builder let down by original gang

Any recommendations for bricklayer/gang who can work in Wiltshire, towards Bath? Brick work starting second week of August Foundation blockwork about 110 sqm Facing bricks about 9600 Cavity blockwork (aircrete 7N jumbo blocks) about 215 sqm Internal walls blockwork (aircrete) about 65 sqm Stone work: Reconstituted Ashlar about 38 sqm + 55 quoins No insulation (beads to be injected later)

Good suggestion, and we had taken it on board earlier. Contract includes reliance on Estimators Online quantities, rates and prices. Else SPONS.