WWilts

New build in progress. What is the correct VAT rate for kitchen worktop supply & fit? To be templated and fitted by a subcontractor of the kitchen units supplier. If zero is the correct VAT rate, what chapter and verse to quote to the kitchen supplier?

New build in progress Kitchen worktop supply and fit (kitchen supplier subcontracts a specialist supplier and fitter). What is the correct VAT rate for supply and fit of the worktop? Zero? If so, what chapter and verse can be quoted to the kitchen supplier so that they don't do their usual practice of charging 20% VAT for the supply and fit?

Sure? Conflicting opinions here

Phew, that's a relief. PS All the preceding steps done correctly

New build in rear garden. Does the plot need to be split to enjoy CIL exemption? (part 2 CIL form requires title to be submitted)

pic above to help clarify

DPC in pic. 150mm above external ground level. DPM will be lapped/attached to this DPC. Question: Can the internal finished floor level be higher than this DPC?

DPC installed above external ground level. Can the internal finished floor level be raised above such a DPC?

New build in progress. Gap between shower tray and stud wall filled with batten. (pic) Wall panels to be fitted above batten. Qu: How to make the 25mm wide exposed face of batten water tight?

Jeremy Harris wrote: "It's a hand-held, trigger operated shower head, with a tightly concentrated spray, often referred to as a shattaf." (our plumber here calls it an arse washer - AW) Will a double check valve suffice to bring an AW within the water regs? Unvented system. Our plumber says Building Control can impose £15k fine if an AW is fitted in an unvented system. Risk of contamination.

180mm height of newel post base above floor board. Will look for a heavier gauge angle bracket. The deflection of the newel post is mainly side to side (at right angles to the flight of stairs)

Newel post, top still deflects noticeably when pushed (hard-ish). 150mm heavy duty angle brackets not completely eliminating movement. Steel beam below post. Hence no vertical steel rod through post (yet). How to stop movement? Staircase opening at earlier build stage. Stairs now go down to the left. Newel post sits partly atop the steel at right.

New build in progress. Carpet underlay for first floor. Acoustic insulation would be good (airborne sound especially). Comfort too, in bedrooms. Cost is a consideration. Rubber underlay? Crumb rubber/felt combination? Foam is super luxurious underfoot but not sure about cutting out airborne sound.

New build in progress. PVC wall panels for a shower room, with trims at corners. Some stud wall, some masonry external wall, all plasterboarded, skimmed, painted with Leyland Super Leytex. What fixings would you use? (studs difficult to find) Especially, what adhesive? Will usual 12mm countersunk screws hold to plasterboard?

Internal double doors. Open in one direction only. Wooden doors & frames.

New build in progress. Looking for recommendations on what magnets to use, to hold double doors closed. Successful experiences would be very helpful.

PME at kiosk (don't know what that means)

New build in progress. Storage shed about 10m from nearest external electric wiring of house. What cable to use to take 1 phase electric supply to the shed? And should it be in a twinwall duct?

Doing things in the right order is not a strong point for this plumber. Ceiling & walls skimmed & painted already. Probably open a can of worms if we demand everything be reopened & done right. Financial risks. Therefore the compromise of boxing.

Persuasive. Overheating is a problem these days even without exposed hot water pipes. Will probably go for mineral wool insulation inside boxing, unless that has serious disadvantages compared to lagging + boxing

New build in progress. 5m approx between gas boiler & hot water cylinder. 22mm copper pipes connecting them, running along wall-ceiling junction of kitchen/family room (most used room in house). Appearance of copper currently is attractive. Qu: Insulate the pipes or leave them exposed? PS Underfloor heating throughout ground floor

Builder would hire the subcontractors who happen to be known to him & available at the time. Some would be far more competent & trustworthy than the builder. For such gems, interfering with their tried & tested ways would probably reduce the quality of your build. The rest of the subbies would be threats to the quality of build, and perhaps even to your eventual health and safety. Not many builders are capable of serving as clerks of works, those that do are not always keen on the role. Nobody except a competent clerk of works cares about the quality & accuracy of your build as much as you do. Most other professionals have been making mistakes for decades, with increasing confidence.

UFH with Cemfloor screed. Laying SPC click vinyl flooring above. Threshold between rooms has T-bar that click onto U-shaped rail. Q: What adhesive to use for fixing the U-rail to the screed below? PS Holes in the U rail are miniscule, & screws might go into the UFH pipes