willbish

I've got same ICF cavity closer set up as you although in a different colour. I plan to install windows in an 18mm ply box, primarily to set the windows a bit closer to the outside as I've got 200mm outer EPS. If fixed on 4 sides through to concrete core I don't see the windows dropping.

What arrangement did you go with in the end @Conor? Ive got an E/W split and looking at equipment options for a split array.

Has anyone got any experience with SolFit in roof panel system? British firm, partnered with Bisol panels, where the backing mount is factory fitted. Installation looks straight forward. Not quite as competitive as equivalent 300W panel and GSE mounting, but not far off. BisolSolfit270-300Wp.pdf

Reassuring, thanks. Nothing like a distraction to stop progress and ponder possibilities.

A saw a shrew scurrying around on the concrete slab by the party wall. It soon disappeared under the DPM. I can't be sure, but it may have gone down between the party wall and EPS upstand. I'm a bit worried that Mr shrew and all his relatives might be living in my insulated raft ? After a good poke around I can't see any evidence of eaten or burrowed insulation, inside or out. There are plenty of small gaps at the party wall, which suggests the shrew may have just disappeared down a gap. It's also possible the shrew just wandered in through the front or back door opening as it's quite damp and shady on the groundfloor. Should I look at some pest control measures or just get on with building?!

Is that Green Glue between the sheets of pb?

I also purchased a pair of Vanon Makita-clones not so long ago. Only a hunch, but I think they are comparable to the genuine Makita batteries I have which are about 2 years old.

Quick update. Truespeed returned my answerphone message first thing Monday morning, and sent a jnr tech guy for a visit Mon PM. He could see how the cable is impeding my build and said he would raise it to the next management level. Tues PM, site visit from Snr tech guy who confirmed that the cable will be permanently re-routed with the work scheduled for Thurs. Excellent result considering I was expecting to have to grovel or get legal or threaten to chop the bloody thing down!

No more greenfield development until all brown field sites utilised and empty homes brought back into use

Thanks @vivienz I remember your troubles with SSE, let's hope this is easier to fix. I really don't want to have to cancel my concrete pour next week. Perhaps the pump will accidentally knock the cable out...

Thanks @MikeSharp01 None of the poles are on my land. I may have to pursue the safety aspect. The cables are less than two metres from where my (unbuilt) gable end will be. They are also about 1.2m from the nearest scaffold pole. Is that a safety concern? It's not like they are power cables though.

Pictures showing pair of fibre cables deviating from power cables

Yesterday during the pouring rain Truespeed were out and about running their fibre cables overhead. This morning Ive noticed the cable routing is different to what I was expecting. I was led to believe the cables would be following the route of the existing overhead cables. The new cable has skipped out one electricity pole and cut a corner. This has put a cable over where I intended to have the concrete pump positioned for next week's pour. The pump was due to be on the highway, like the last two previous visits, now I've got no idea where it can be positioned without road closure or covering a field in hardcore. The possible saving grace is the new cable is just and just (depending which way the wind is blowing) overflying my boundary wall. Does this give me the right to cut it down and tell them to put it back once they've sorted a wayleave? After the concrete pump I also have crane due shortly after to position ridge steels and perlin into place.

Im also looking at sash windows. Still pondering the Adpol aluclad but with one leaf fixed to reduce the amount of seals. Air Permeability is only class 3 (out of 4) and seems a bit weak for a window labeled as 'passive' 2019_AluClad FLUSH SASH SPRING Ug05.pdf 2019_AluClad_FLUSH_TIMBER_SASH_WINDOWS_DECLARATION OF PERFORMANCE(1).pdf

LoopCad is the software. Free trial for a month. Alternatively the likes of Wunda will design for £50. I made the wrong choice and faffed around with LoopCad for far too long!

I'd imagine you would run the ducting in a service void on the underside of the floor

Yes a national manufacturer that can 'build anything slower'! Timber first floor, only because I dont have the vertical space for concrete

Readymix £86+VAT for my most reason ICF pour. Pump was less than all the above but I'm getting a great deal as the pump has to travel less than a mile to my site.

£135 per week (inc VAT) for 30 props I'd be asking the company to include/hide the hire cost from the invoice so that it can be zero rated. Assuming your build is eligible for 0% VAT

Clay plaster Venetian Plaster Microcement Tadelakt I dont have direct experience with any of these finishes but am also interested in alternatives.

One each side is what i had assumed, but cant see any reason why it shouldn't be 4

Yep still liking this idea after sleeping on it. Using these hangers, may need to add an extra timber on top of the steel for adequate face fixing

Yes the SE has seeming ignored the different pitches. Looking at the reams of calcs he sent me, he has assumed the roof pitch to be 30° on both sides... coincidence that 30° is the average between 16.2° & 45° Total ridge length is just under 12.00m. The 358 is 8.0m then 203 is 4.0m with the SHS supporting on blockwork wall

Not that I can see No such level of detail here. Having an attic space/bat loft I think 2 steels could work, but £££ ? Sure, previously Under construction: Now that seems a good idea. Excuse my crappy hangers, but something like this?

It certainly is an odd configuration. The rear rafters at 45 is to achieve symmetrical gable end which mimics the characteristics of the previous property that stood on this footprint. Modifying the steel is an option. I've considered adding some Rectangular Hollow Section on top of the flange (to the rear half only) so the depth of timber plate used is the same throughout. I could also increase the smaller section of the steel to match rest of the ridge which would simplify the RHS modification. Getting the feeling architect and SE have happily created something that's frustratingly fiddly to build..