jen and mark

The trouble is we are not building off plans. Our designer became ill at the very early stages, with only vague wall build ups etc. It was enough to get us through the initial design EPC/Sap. Our building inspector is inspecting us through a building notice and this has been great and hit no problems so far - we have just replaced the roof and due to put windows in and become water tight in a couple of weeks. As we are still early on I was thinking of completing the ACD and sending it to our assessor. Is this something I should do as we go along? Do I send specs. as I go along? Do I keep it all in a file and send it to our SAP assessor at the end? Our assessor is online up north and we are in the midlands. He is very busy and although he answers key questions he is not very forth coming in contact other than sporadic emails. I'd hoped he would be a key source of information however, maybe my online (reasonable) fee does not include this 🤣 Sorry for the questions. It is a stick built steel barn conversion and we are feeling our way through this and very much reliant on knowledge from other self builders. It appears it is the fine details we do that makes our houses better than stock housing - time spent on thermal bridges, airtightness, extra insulation etc. I'm just not sure who to report it to for recognition 🤣

Brilliant - thank you @joe90

Thanks @ProDave. What a shame! I will check yours out - thanks again

🤣

Hi Jeremy, I cant find your blog, could you paste a link?

Has anyone any experience on using ACDs when self building? The guidance says: If the specification checklist is followed, the site manager then signs the sheet, and on completion the SAP assessor may use a better performing psi value for that junction. As we do not have a site manager can we sign off ourselves? I realise that ACDs have now been archived, is there anything in its place? What have others done to help increase SAP assessments where attention to thermal bridging is above the SAP default?

These are big jump in price https://www.screwfix.com/p/c-k-double-cup-suction-lifter/3488x Thought they would be more this kind of price. Dont mind paying more if worth it!

Was it these? https://www.screwfix.com/p/double-cup-suction-lifter/6299p Are they good enough - great price though!

Yes - good shout!

I take it this is the design SAP? Yes - design stage but just updated for lender.

Cheers @ProDave. I think they are using the default as it has never been mentioned. Funnily enough, I have just requested info on setting up a DIY air test on another thread. We will have an air test as we have spent so much time getting it airtight but I am right in thinking that it is not a requirement? We are a barn conversion (Class Q) in Worcestershire, England

Can anyone recommend any good suction lifters to buy? We have a fair amount of windows and 3 sets of bi-folds to install and think it may be worth buying instead of hiring. Thinking we could also use them for laying tiles after! Cheers

Hello. Any tips on improving the above? We are currently 85 (B) on Energy Efficiency Rating and 86 (B) on Environmental Impact (CO2 ) Rating. We need a score of 88 for our lender. Any tips on how we could achieve this? We already have PV - 5kw, EC charger, ASHP, UFH, MVHR. Thanks

Great idea - any tips on rigging your own air test?

Cheers @PeterW we are using Ultratape and it is sticking really well!

Thanks for all the replies. We did consider a VCL so we purchased Gerband SD control airtight membrane for the ceilings in the en-suites (but was too expensive to buy for all round). We will go for green plastic (cheapest option) over the PIR any recommendations for gauge? On another note, we used Visqueen ecomembrane for our DPM. We used the 'official' visqueen tape to tape all joints and carried the DPM up our block work. The visqueen tape is rubbish and has stated to peel away! Any suggestions for a good DPM tape?

I know this may have been asked a thousand times but could someone suggest the best way forward for us? We are completing a steel barn conversion and are unsure whether we need a VCL on the warm side of our build. Our construction is from outside in: Mix of larch and steel cladding Cross batten Tyvek Housewrap Some block (4ft high) from ground Timber studs above filled with insulation Continuous layer of PIR all joints filled with spray and taped with foil tape. Service void plasterboard and scrim. All steels have been sprayed and boxed in with XPS insulation to mitigate thermal bridging as best we can (The main steels are in the ground so know thermal bridging will always be an issue) My question is, do we need a VCL (plastic sheeting or intelligent) before we install the timber service void (50mm) or will the taped, foiled backed PIR suffice? (Careful 'self build' detail to the tapping!) Many thanks in advance

What did you choose on the end? Any photos?

Have you looked at this site - it has a site mitigation section that may give you some inspiration - it also has an outside box! https://www.acerecology.co.uk/swallow-nest-site-mitigation/

Swallows are normally looking to fly into some sort of building, then they locate a suitable platform (normally timber beam) to build its nest on which is out of the way of predators – so often high up in the roof area – and also relatively dark and cool in temperature. Their nest is open so a box would be no good and as far as I am aware, they do not like an 'outside' nest. House Martins normally nest under eaves and generally at a gable end of a building. Swifts traditionally nest in the eaves or gables of buildings. Modern houses and renovated buildings exclude swifts, therefore, putting up a Swift nest box is an easy way to replicate these nesting places. Is it a condition of your planning to rehouse the swallows?

Has any one any experience of Gerband SD Control Airtight Membranes? Are they any good and is £97 per role a good price? https://passivehousesystems.co.uk/product/gerband-sd-control-airtight-membrane/

Yes - thats what I thought. TBH the whole prospectus left me a little bewildered. We are hoping to build for much less than it would cost to buy. Why have they linked it to the value of the finished home not amount borrowed? Surely we will lose out! Have @nod and myself missed any crucial small print?

Hi guys, Just came across this new guidance for Government backed equity loan for self build https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/help-to-build-making-building-your-own-home-more-affordable/help-to-build-equity-loan-prospectus-accessible-version What do our money savvy forumites think? Is this a good thing or are there pitfalls? We are converting a double steel barn (under class Q). Would we be eligible?

Thanks for you replies. Have not got round to boxing in the internal steels yet so great shout @PeterW. Will also use as additional insulation on MVHR incoming and external ducts as @Dudda suggests. The boards have a good rating - Thermal Conductivity 0.022 W/mK (at 10°C, time averaged value over 25 years) Please refer to Kooltherm Duct Insulation DoP for full values. Euroclass B-s2,d0 – exposed foil face NPD – non exposed tissue face Facings Faced on one side (external face) with an aluminium vapour barrier foil and faced on the other side (internal face) with a glass tissue based facing Core Premium performance rigid thermoset phenolic insulation core manufactured with a blowing agent that has zero Ozone Depletion Potential (ODP) and low Global Warming Potential (GWP) Board Size 1.2 x 0.6 metres