Roundtuit

Just dragging this back to the original post, does anyone have any experience with an alternative solution please? (Off-the-shelf; ain't never gonna make one...). I've also noticed that although their website looks 'live' the company I was talking to about pv appears to have ceased trading (Assured Solar); not sure how big they were, but they had a reasonable presence at some of the 'Bulid it live' shows.

Just had a Biopure delivered this morning (by a very helpful driver, with a well practiced techique for unloading safely without the use of a forklift or digger). Having seen the housing for the air pump under the unit lid, I'm not sure there is any advantage in housing the pump externally; it sits in it's own self-contained box outside of the nasty stuff. As for shape, he suggested that a conical shape reduces the risk of the tank being lifted out of the ground if the water table rises.

I've just ordered a Biopure 2. After talking through the occupancy question with them (2 teenage kids that are not going to be around full-time in a few years..) it sounds as though a timer fitted to the air pump is good practice, so performance can be tweaked. I'm siting the air pump external to the tank, just 'cos I don't fancy servicing anything that lives in the bog of eternal stench.

Thanks. I'm going to leave rainwater harvesting for a later date - I was thinking more about how and where to tap-off the incoming mains supply. Perhaps a tee off the main with a DCV, located in an inspection chamber for access?

We're just about to start trenching for the water main to the house; what's best practice for running a supply to the garden? It's a fairly big plot, and I think something more than an outside tap on the house is in order. thanks Andy

If they're only shallow, a baton across the back under each shelf might be the neatest solution if you can get a fix. If you put anything across the front, your Glenmorangie won't fit. ?

Thanks for this. I'm in the market for 4 roof windows so will be interested in how you get on with the Eco+. Did you manage to find any without vents?

Sorry, can't understand how mvhr can be a benefit in a fire no matter how you configure it. Assuming a standard set up extracts only from kitchens and wet rooms, there would be a risk of spreading smoke through the house with your proposal if a fire started in a bedroom. If your focus is preserving life, go with Nick's detector advice and practice your fire/escape drills. If you want to preserve property, fit sprinklers.

Just tried to check prices on myroofwindow.co.uk following good reviews, to find that trading to the UK is suspended due to the Brexit situation. A one-off? ..or the tip of the iceberg perhaps...

I must admit to a few days of squeaky-bum time prior to piling last month, but as it turned out it was painless (apart the kick in the budget). Don't know anything about screw piles (we had end-driven case piles), but here's what I learnt: - quotes varied by as much as 50% - big piling rig equals big mobilisation cost and big vibrations, but a quicker job. - quoted pile depth is a best guess based on soil survey and local knowledge. Make sure you compare like for like regarding depth, and on-costs per extra metre to achieve a set. - don't forget the Party Wall Act if you're close to neighbours (piling within 6 metres) - if you have close neighbours, you probably need to give your piling method some thought with respect to Jct 21.2.1 insurance, but that's a whole new headache... - piling was cheap compared to the ring beam; get a cost breakdown for each element We had 24 x 10m piles put in by a local (regional) contractor with a small rig (£200 mobilisation fee), in just over a week without pi$$ing the neighbours off. He was the only quote that offered a refund if a set was achieved at less than quoted depth, and we got nearly £500 back (plus £25 beer money from weighing in the cut-off steel casing he left behind!?).

Thanks all. I'll try and get a look at some and work out the ergonomics.

Hi. Any thoughts on the current front runners in the roof window market? A look over the old forum suggests Velux and Fakro; any others I should be considering? Also, most of them appear to be vented; can they be ordered un-vented for use with mvhr? thanks Andy

We had an overgrown hedge.. that we took out with a JCB... and that struggled with some of the bigger stumps. I reckon the best plan is to go big, early!

Our last place was a listed Georgian townhouse, semi-derelict when we bought it. We had a mortgage and structural survey which largely pointed out the bleeding obvious (i.e. It's semi-derelict), so I reckon the most valuable insight I got into the condition and potential pitfalls was f.o.c through a walk-round with a respected builder. Saved us 20% on the purchase price... Fortune favours the bold! Good luck!

Thought you'd never ask... Piling case section being welded on for fourth pile... Concrete pump ariving on site to fill piles.... Trenches dug and being prepped for ring beam...

Congrats on the new site, and pleased to see so many familiar names! In the last couple of weeks we've become the proud owners of 24 x 10m deep piles, and the ringbeam should be poured shortly. I look forward to picking the 'collective brain'! Andy