Frogeye

Anglian water threatened me with this one, but on discussion with the local surveying guy we decided that it wasn't going to be necessary as it was below 100m in length (in reality probably very close to this) and I assured him that I would flush it through thoroughly before linking up with the house plumbing.

They've put me a trickle plug instead of a meter (about 50m up the run), so I have yet to find out what it will be like. It looks to me like the meter is also a 25mm meter so there is another pinch point for me!

Hi, Yes you're right Nick, nowhere on my paper work is there any detail of what they agree to do to connect my 32mm pipe, only the following statement: I, like Jack, have about 90m of run from the mains to my stop tap, so fingers crossed that I have a more than the minimum 9l/min! Photo for your interest:

Hi, I've just had my mains supply connected today and upon peering into the trench this evening after the workers had left have noticed that the actual connection coming off the mains is in 25mm, then after 150mm or so jumps up through a 'reducer' to 32mm, which is then coupled to my 32mm supply pipe. Should I be bothered/concerned that I don't have the 32mm connection that I had ordered, or is this standard practice?

You could do with a diamond grinding drum like this: http://www.dk-holdings.co.uk/stone/vacuum.html I'll have a dig around in the morning and see if I still have one laying around for you to borrow!

I ended up cutting the plenum excess off flush with the plasterboard prior to the skim coat going on (well on the first three done so far at least), I figured this would give me one less tedious job to do down the line. I used a flexible pull saw bought at screwfix (http://www.screwfix.com/p/irwin-pull-saw-14tpi-12-305mm/42618), which made a fairly easy job of it. I noticed that the plasterers had run a lap of scrim around the opening as well (after I had cut it off), which I guess will help, although on the third one (today) I did run a lap of fortax 6400 (sealant) around the edge of the cutout for good measure. A couple of before and after photos (but different rooms!)

I'm not sure if I'm supposed to be joining the end of this pasted topic, but.... When have people trimmed the excess of the plenum off? Some where on the old forum I seem to remember someone suggesting they cut it flush with a dremmel before decorating, yet I've got a recollection of BPC telling me to trim it off after the plasterboard goes on but before the skim coat - which is where I am this evening! Any input would be handy. Thanks.

Well done - what a great project and nicely documented blog - thank you

My electrician has shown me some downlighters that he's hoping I'm going for and they have a switch on the back of them that lets you select which 'warmth' of light you want. Three different settings. I'll try and find out what they're called (about £22 a piece though!)

JSH, could you put this is layman's terms for me if possible. Does this mean you would put an additional refrigerant loop from the ASHP to an additional duct cooler placed in line with MVHR air supply?

Hi, I'm currently insulating between my rafters with celotex, I am also insulating across the rafters with a further 30 or 50mm sheet of celotex to reduce cold bridging. I have a bit of query though as to whether it is okay to have a small void (25mm) between these layers as I have got diagonal bracing on the rafters and have added extra batten to the remaining sections of rafter to give me a flat (even) surface to fix to. The insulation between the rafters is, in places, sitting behind the diagonal bracing and the second layer will be sitting on top of the diagonal brace - this is one of those confusing posts that would really benefit from a photo!! (I'll try and add one in the morning). I'm also considering a vapour membrane if taping the 'inner layer' of celotex boards doesn't look sufficient.

I've got quite a few small pockets of space to try and insulate within a pitched roof. I've got Celotex between the rafters and more to come under them, but I've also got some really awkward corners where different roof angles meet. I've got the option of perhaps shoving a fistful of rockwool in them or filling up with some expanding foam ....which leads to me to wonder what is the general consensus of the U-value of expanding foam?

Just a word of caution with compressors.... I bought a 2.5HP 24 litre SIG compressor to run various air tools from, however because I have this plugged in the end of 100m of extension cables the voltage drop caused when it kicks in tends to trip the thermal cut out on it. It works perfectly at the 50m mark, but the second length of extension cable pushes it over the edge. I had my sparky look at it and the voltage dropped from 240v to 205v when it tried to kick in. I upgraded my extension cable from the screwfix ones to 2.5mm2 ones but with no improvement. Meanwhile I tried a friends 1.5HP compressor and that ran with no problems. I've can just about get around the problem for now by totally draining the tank and starting it from absolutely empty - and as I am only stapling my first floor UFH spreader plates with it I can get about 500 staples in per tank fill. I'm looking forward to having a proper main supply on site!

That's a nice looking bit of topsoil you have there........ Anywhere near Cambridge are you???