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we used vision AGI. Not straightforward. But then nothing ever is..... the height didn’t cause us too many issues. Though painting was a challenge, and cleaning the glass might never happen again ?

The follow on trades bit that @Russell griffiths Mentions hasn’t been an issue. Plasterers were v reasonable. We painted it ourselves (a delicate balancing act). The trials and tribulations of the experience are on my blog post......(I think) If I was to build it again I would be a lot more brutal with the architects design. Because this was not cheap. And was a right PITA. Lessons learned. Costs cut elsewhere instead.

photos here. Pain in the arse but we love it now ?

This was why the name had to go. I hated Bagpuss as a child...... (apparently it’s actually to do with the call of the green woodpecker, which we occasionally see in the garden....)

We knocked down our bungalow called “Yaffles” and HWMBO was desperate to have a new name but then proceeded to veto every suggestion for a full 18 months. In the end, during a long car journey, we decided to solve it. The kids and I came up with every name under the sun. Everyone got the right of veto. And we ended up with 2 that no one vetoed. One was Hazel House, the other Hazel Lodge. We went for the latter. All inspired by the witch hazel tree in front of the new house that has just about survived the build (being hit by a skip has caused some damage but it is still alive). (Owls Hoot was his favourite but that got vetoed ?) in light of the fact that we still have the caravan the council has notified the RM that we are Hazel Lodge Caravan so that’s what we are until I notify them otherwise. Makes changes of address difficult sometimes as some websites don’t allow you to overwrite the database option.

+1 for pulley maid in utility with MVHR extract going to give away the tumble drier - won’t fit in the utility room and trying to be a bit more eco friendly. Will probably miss the speedy turnaround but 8 hours on the pulley maid dies the job now.

I have found the sticker, and the A5 booklet. Neither been completed. I'll be chasing him now. Thank you.

I'll PM you.

Our plumber has finished. Everything works. We are happy. But what paperwork do we need for Building Control and more? We have chased him on the Gas Safe register for the boiler and we now have a Building Regulation Compliance Gas Safety Certificate. But we have nothing else from him. I read about registering an unvented cyclinder? Is this still needed? Should he provide evidence of that? Anything else? (Its been a bit of a nightmare as the owner of the business - also did @Bitpipe and @HerbJ plumbing - decided after first fix that he would shut down his business and move back to Ireland. He handed over to one of his guys but it was disjointed and communication was poor from then on. But the work is done, its just the paperwork I am worried about as once we settle the final invoice I won't expect him to ever respond to a message from us again) Thanks

We have electric UFH in our upstairs bathrooms. No other heating upstairs. It keeps those rooms at a very pleasant temp. And the tiles warm underfoot. Suspect we’ll turn it off all summer though. we used Prowarm 150w on our sparky’s advice. With 6mm insulation board under it.

We used Stairbox. Still got bits to finish but stairs in and look great. Put them in right at the end. After plastering, painting and tiled floor. Had scaffold stairs for a while and then knocked up some temporary ones with some left over timber.

We need some more bits to finish off round a steel post at a corner. Quite a lot of bits as it’s 7m tall plus a cill plus two horizontal areas. I was hoping they would be an option but clearly not. Thanks @Visti for sharing. Will try Finish Architectural. Used Wemico for the other aluminium trims - they were great but those bits were easy for me to measure so it was just supplied to my spec. These last bits are more complicated.....

We also want something like this. Somewhere to stand out of the rain whilst unlocking theme front door..... the attachment points are my concern. I also love @vivienz Pinterest one. Will follow this with interest.

settings - passwords & accounts - add account select google from the list sign into the google account and you create it in the mail app. once it is set up you see the account in the list under passwords and accounts. Click the account. Should be a gmail heading with the email address used. This then allows you to name it So you can identify it easily from the other mail accounts. I have 6 mail accounts - separates bits of my life so I can easily organise myself. Sounds crazy but it works. Keeps the house build stuff away from the school communication etc.

We have done a mix of contractor and DIY second fix. Here's the breakdown. Stud walls - extra ones needed additional to those supplied by timber frame company: DIY Sound insulation in stud walls / ceilings: DIY Plasterboarding: Sub contractor Plastering: Sub contractor MVHR fit: DIY Internal doors / door frames: DIY Window boards: DIY Stairs: DIY (got a chippie friend in for some initial advice, thereafter doing it ourselves, including fitting landing glass and finishes - still to do) Second fix plumbing: Sub contractor Second fix electrics: sub contractor Kitchen fit: sub contractor Tiling: sub contractor (glad we did this particularly as a much better job over a huge floor area) Painting: DIY Skirting: DIY Wood flooring / carpet fitting: sub contractor Wallpapering: DIY And its not over yet.......(started in Jan, still not finished inside or out) So a real mix. Saved a lot of money. Worth noting that this has cost us a lot in time but has actually been fun. Learned a lot along the way too. And our finishes in some places would not be good enough for some people probably......

Thanks @JSHarris Good to hear - we’ll see how it goes. The pipes look pretty big so maybe we’ll be ok.

I have got home today to find the plumber has fitted a Harveys dual flow water softener. The only specification in his quote was that it would be a water softener. We requested the mid range Harvey’s model so it would be big enough. He has gone with the trade range (Harvey’s Dualflow) which I have no problem with except he’s picked the base model, the aptly named dualflow, and on their website it states this is suitable for two bathrooms. We have four bathrooms. Any thoughts on whether this is fit for purpose or should be swapped for the larger capacity models. Aqua or big blue?

Like @oranjeboom BPC only supplies one silencer and based on the responses here I reckon we’ll be using it, fitting horizontally ? I guess you can retrofit one?

We have a Vent Axia MVHR and are currently fitting the unit and associated metal ducts. The drawing from BPC specifies the silencer to be mounted vertically. No space for that in current position. Can this silencer be mounted horizontally please?

We have 900mm on the stairs landing. This is governed by the newel posts supplied. It’s overlooking the stairs. but for the galleried landing we are going for 1100mm to be sure. Work in progress.....

Mmm. Interesting. Thank you for noting this. Think we could have an issue with the “landing” definition. Might do 1.1 just to be sure. Supplied newels (Stairbox) are plenty long enough......

Ours is over the entrance hall - quite a fall. Kids are teenagers. But that’s not an argument for making it lower!! No access issues as it’s along a straight section to a bedroom. Will try at 1m and see what it looks like.....

We are installing the newel posts for our landing balustrade. Need to cut them down to level. We see that building regs require the handrail at a minimum 900mm above the floor. But commercial premises require 1100mm. We are interested in knowing if anyone has installed banister / balustrades (on landings, not on stairs) higher than 900mm in a residential setting. Any views on optimum height? Thanks

I haven't installed a thermometer in my larder so can't give any detail (yet). We aren't living in the house (yet). But we are using the larder for some food stuffs, wine and storage for other stuff and it is significantly cooler than the house. It was delightfully cool during the brief heat wave in Aug. Ours is insulated but not heavily. Had a top vent and bottom vent to the outside. Is on a separate slab so no underfloor heating contamination via the slab. Has a passive door between it and the kitchen. It doesn't feel damp in there, but it is cool. And the key is it is north facing and literally never sees any sunshine. It is also under trees. I reckon its going to be brilliant. And exactly what I was aiming for. And a thermometer is on my Christmas list so will report progress.

Thanks @Nickfromwales. Parts ordered. Thanks @epsilonGreedy. Will lag the MDPE pipe anyway and keep fingers crossed for another mild winter. We had no problems in the caravan last winter but this will now supply the house where, hopefully, toilets will be flushing regularly enough to keep the water flowing.....