MikeGrahamT21

Ask the local planning department for pre-planning advice. I'd say if this is a residential area, and it matches in with the other properties on the street, i can't see why it wouldn't get passed, the plot looks big enough to take it

I'm planning on using a Tapo system at some point in the future. I have their video doorbell at the moment which works really well, comes with a hub which takes an SD card to hold recordings, there is a subscription option but it just gives cloud storage (not needed if you have a large SD card) and rich notifications. Their external cameras double up as floodlights and 2 way audio/sirens which i think is pretty neat.

Looks like F&B isn't actually owned by Crown, its owned by Hempel, and both Crown and F&B are their subsidiaries. Knowing what businesses are like, i would hazard a guess that both of these businesses will be completely separate entities, and won't have any dealings with each other, nor be allowed.

Thats very interesting, I bought some Crown Trade paint recently (from DCO) mixed to an F&B colour, and was told that their mixing system doesn't allow an exact match due to the detection technology they use, whereas Johnstones which i also bought in an F&B colour does allow an exact match, so probably worth noting that Crown may not exactly match

95 is relatively young in terms of UK building stock! Should put you on the front foot for upgrading it at least! Look forward to your results and story along the way. Good luck!

I agree with @joe90 keeping a bedroom all one colour is a good idea, makes the space more relaxing as nothing wants attention it just all blends together. My furniture, curtains and bedding and even carpet are all a similar shade. 25% off paint mixing at B&Q at the moment if you fancy a farrow and ball colour on’t cheap!

Doesn't look like a crack caused by the purlin, otherwise it would eminate from the point of the corner of the timber, though its hard to see with the cobweb. Looks like a poorly cut block unless anyone knows better. I shouldn't think anything would come back from the SE to cause any worry on either party, and if it does, looks like you've got another load bearing wall available, which you could build up to also support the purlin very easily.

Absolutely love how you've labelled your seating positions on the 3 seater 😄 Definitely recommend a dishwasher, you'll never look back and will save loads on water bills. I think your beam question would be for an SE, maybe someone on here has done something similar, but thats a fair span unsupported, unlikely to be impossible but could be financially unviable. What load would it be holding? You are at an advantage that there is no living space above, so there would only be dead loads to calculate.

Lovely looking plot, and very nice design. Love 'The Hide' 🙂 Good luck with it all!

😳 at least they landed the supports over a joist, could have been worse

Are your neighbours against removal of the flagstones and the soil? could help to solve the issue, and the placement is bang on

well I suppose your looking at 30 years of wear. If the room it’s in isn’t humid then it’ll probably last forever, just seals and a little grease every now and then, but that would be same for a new one

What condition is the timber in? Everything else is, including the timber to be fair, is serviceable. Externally is aluminium so that should last pretty much forever, same for the flashings, all alu. You could just be looking at a seal and pane replacement

Its done its due thats for sure over 30 years. Newer models have better frame insulation and seals, but they are also very pricey. Just worth weighing it all up. You should be able to get new seals for very little money as spare parts.

Whats the reason behind wanting to replace it? Larger size? If you are just going same size, probably be cheaper to refurb the one you've got if it needs it, and a new pane of glass if the unit is blown, which would provide a small upgrade as glass has moved on

Why not get what you can from the government schemes with regard loft insulation, whilst your parent(s) are living there? They may even qualify for free solar panels if there is enough allowance left.

Been in a similar situation years ago, my late wife came up with the idea of using sticky back vinyl which is super cheap, and did the job perfectly, it lasted a good 10 years

I wonder how feasible running a combi boiler on LPG would be cost wise?

https://www.daikin.co.uk/en_gb/residential/products-and-advice/heat-pump-calculator/residential-solution-navigator-air-to-water-heat-pumps.html?lead=4c1379d4-4f4e-11ef-8c16-85d62a454bf0 Hopefully should be easy enough to get something usable out of it. I also found the proper MCS spreadsheet, thats anything but simple!!

210 is a lot of hot water, especially with an electric shower, any bath? Have you had a quote from Octopus Energy, E.On? Any of the big players just to compare? I'd guess someone else installing UFH would add a fair chunk to the bill.

Some photos will help. what age are the joists roughly? Older wood is far stronger and cracking doesn’t necessarily mean they’re bad. notching for plumbing is never great as it weakens them but it’s just how it used to be done, and in some cases still is.

Definitely don’t remove insulation as others have said. I think external shading is going to be your best option, all depends on what the bungalow looks like as to what would work best. if you’ve plenty of room above windows, you could look at brise soleil to shade the windows in the summer months. Limited space you could look at an external window film. It’s all about limiting the heat in the window panes, which if you have double could reach a good 70C on a hot day for south facing. do you have any roof windows which can open? My trick on my bungalow on a morning is to open bifold door at one end of bungalow and roof windows at other end, creates a lovely wind tunnel. what is the construction build up on the walls and roof in terms of all materials outside to inside?

made sure I measured the water as per packet instructions, and it self levelled, seemed a good consistency. we do set these things on don’t we? 😂 whilst googling about this, seen so many stories of professionals using wrong products too, and that’s only from the customers who noticed, I bet it happens more often than you’d like to think

Definitely not tiling, that’s one of my most hated jobs of all time! Not a tile to be found in this place now 😂 I’ve gotten past the ‘DIYers blind panic’ stage, what’s done is done, though I’ll remain annoyed at myself for a few days I’m sure 😂 was going to do that small area of plastering tomorrow, but after the stress of today I think I’ll have a day off!

No it doesn’t specify, just says unsuitable for underfloor heating or floors which have minimal movement/vibration. I’ll hazard a guess it’s to do with flexibility, this is a C16 strength F4, whereas the flexible stuff was C24 F8. Just wish I’d had known there were different types as I could have bought some latex at the same time to go in it, or a different product which they had but said it was for interior and exterior use, was in a rush and just kept it simple, and now wish I hadn’t 😂 I’m not too bothered about cracking and it’s got no where to go, the LVT which I’ve got going over it has a thin layer of neoprene padding on the back which won’t be bonded in any way to the subfloor. Guess I’ll just have to leave it a few days to dry out, turn the UFH on and see what happens, and if it seems OK run with it, at least the LVT can be taken up at a later date if I need to redo it all as worst case scenario