Barney12

Not to mention the fact that all the evidence seems to suggest that the lovely certificate of a Germanic persuasion will mean your house is worth LESS if you ever need to sell. (and before someone comes along and says "I'm never going to sell my self build" could I please borrow your crystal ball please!!)

OH but Nick. Money can't buy you happiness. However a little pussy on the kitchen table can.

+1

Loving this thread! I'm just waiting for the passive house police to come along (and to be frank I've seen a few posts from current and past forum members along these lines). So don't forget some of the important rules: 1. Kill the cat, cat flaps will not be tolerated. 2. Remove or reduce all windows. I know you've bought a plot with a view but seriously saving on your energy bills is way more important than a view. 3. Make sure you go paperless for ALL bills etc. There is no way you are having a postbox. 4. Bury your partner under the patio. Far too risky that they may open a window. 5. Kill the dog. Can't think of a reason why other than enjoying yourself cannot be tolerated. OK, I'm having a bit of fun BUT you are going to drive yourself to the edge of insanity doing this self build lark, nothing is more stressful. SO BUILD YOURSELF A HOME NOT A HAUSE!

Without pictures this thread is meaningless.

Interested by that comment. A sparky friend recently mentioned just installing a radial circuit but protected by a 20amp breaker rather than 32amp. I had assumed it was because of some sort of site limitation and that a ring couldn't be achieved ?

For ME to do this in any D would take forever

OMG! I have this horrible feeling you are NOT joking

Welcome. You can never have too many sparkies

Out of interest what cad package are you using with all those nice fittings?

I reckon he used his teeth (sorry @Shell820810 not helpful )

In the normal commercial/contracting world you would pay him his agreed rate less a reasonable "contra charge". That charge will include the removal cost, replacement material cost and refitting of the area that he completed. It is likely that contra will put his costs into negative territory but there would be little point in pursuing that. Just write to him setting out the basis of your contra charge (it needs to be real). You do need to give him the option of putting right his work at his cost but you can be specific about how long he has got to a)accept that option b)complete the work. The decision on replacing has to be one only you can make and will be a balance of cost, time and your ability to accept the aesthetics of the errors. What I would say is that at this stage these sorts of snags are in sharp focus, as more of the fabric of the room is completed these errors will fade. Also over time you will come to "forget they were there" and will find yourself pointing it out to other people who will say "if you hadn't have pointed it out I would have never noticed". But, I completely understand that is easier to write than live with!! Good luck.

Oh dear that's "less good". Personally I'd be removing him from site right now.

+1 Go on holiday and switch all non essential appliances of at the wall.

He apparently was a Independent Financial Advisor before moving into solar sales, that fact was very much part of his pitch. Just about says it all really! His companies batteries are guaranteed for 10 years by which time the system will have paid the cost back and more! Honestly the script was like something from a fantasy book! Whats scary is plenty of people will believe this tripe!

Yep that's the one. Interesting website.

I was chatting to someone yesterday who has an existing solar array and was interested in battery technology. Along came the sales person from the solar Pv company who wanted £6.5k for a 4kw lithium battery system. The two lines from his sales pitch which made me gasp the most were: 1. It's a better investment than the stock market 2. You need to buy now. Battery prices are rising all the time as the lithium mines are being depleated and raw material costs are rocketing. I guess now FiT tariffs no longer make it a viable costs they are desperate for a new thing to sell!!

As stones said you have to inform them. We sent our form in for the arrays on the sheds but have never heard from them since. I expected them to come and inspect or at least achnowldge it but nothing.

Well to the best of my understanding corners are always finished with a mastic sealant as grout will crack with movement. Grout does do an amazing job of hiding slight imperfections but thats not the mentality to have and what your describing doesn't sound great. I was always taught that you plan your tile layout so you always have a cut tile into the corner. That way you can deal with any differences if the corner is out of true. But if cutting has caused issue that might not help!

Well to the best of my understanding corners are always finished with a mastic sealant as grout will crack with movement.

I'm sure @Nickfromwales will be along shortly but that doesnt look too bad to me from that distance. The corners will need a mastic bead anyway (In a colour to match the grout) which will certainly hide a 2-3mm difference.

Very hard to comment without pictures.

OK thanks.

I think this is a simple question but one I cant seem to find a distinct answer to by Googling: With a non MCS or FiT solar install what is the maximum array size? I thought there wasn't one but the form from our DNO which you send in after commissioning says that the maximum array is 4kw per phase.

On the strength of this thread I contacted Touchwood this morning. I have to say the email I received (same day!) this evening is already giving me a warm glow. Lets see what the quote looks like. By the way I noticed this: http://www.touchwoodhomes.co.uk/index.php/en/homesgallery/11-roundhouse Thats probably my most favourite ever Grand Design. Love it!