MikeGrahamT21

Can't seem to find any firm info on this... I'm thinking of buying all the bricks I need for my extension now, before Brexit kicks in (not even sure if that will make a difference), and they have 10% off this week for Black Friday (1425 bricks for £876, Ibstock Hardwicke Minster Beckstone Mixture), they would have to sit on the driveway which in itself drains well, but there is no cover. What would you do?

So what if you live in a power cut area, are they going to invalidate your warranty because you had a power cut every day. I found Nuaire difficult to work with, they did a design for me, and even said semi-rigid ducting would invalidate their warranty, and they would only support 125mm metal ducting. Nuaire do have a very expensive NOx Box so I'm surprised they didn't recommend you one of those, but as i said before, there is no guaranteed solution. Also poor design isn't necessarily the issue for me...we can't control what happens around us, and for me I wanted to (and still want to) ascertain how much of a problem the smoke/smell actually is before spending a lot of money on expensive filters, and in my case so far I've not found it bad enough to need to do anything, but its nice to have a plan to act if i need to.

As promised, here are my completed (I hope) drawings for building control, which I've just submitted to the local council. I'll post back on here with what they come back with, any changes required, and also any restrictions imposed. I know some were asking what was required for BC plans, so hopefully this will give a good guide for a masonry cavity wall build. Side Extension Drawing BC.pdf

I've also looked into something similar, much less of a pressure drop with the hydroponics ones and far cheaper.

Its possible, but there will be an associated pressure drop with a sprung flap i would imagine. The plan is to get something like this if needs be: https://www.blauberg.co.uk/en/blauberg-cleanbox-nox-carbon-polution-pollen-indoor-air-quality-filter-box-for-heat-recovery-ventilation-systems Like you say, its unlikely to be 100%, and no one will ever guarantee it will cure a smoke problem, but it should mitigate it somewhat.

Yeah absolutely, Vortice (the manufacturer of my MVHR) even sell a VOC sensor. Trouble is if its windy and smokey, the air could in theory still pass through the ducting, so would be better with some form of filter to fix the problem permanently.

Last night was a good first test for the MVHR in smoke conditions, i could definitely smell it in the house, especially near the supply vents, however when comparing to the outside smell, id say it was roughly around 10-20% of the strength using my smell-o-meter. The test as to whether i get a NOx box is how it performs with the wood burners nearby, and time will tell, so for now i'm not doing anything.

Its a plumbing supplies company. PSW Trade Suppliers

If you want MLCP without the expense of one of those tools, try these: https://pswtradesuppliers.co.uk/ I used it for my manifold system for the radiators, and it worked a treat, same kind of system with 16mm pipe, aluminium core, and eurocones, but this has a compression nut instead of needing the tool for press fit.

I've seen someone use one of these on a video before: https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/124213392454 Longer you need it just get more extension bits

They look a little like these: https://www.simplypaving.com/products/driveway-block-paving/heavy-duty-block-paving/charcon-woburn-original/rustic/ I have absolutely shed loads of them (non rumbled, so quite a sharp edge to them), and more next year when i build an extension on the drive. Not sure where you are in the country.

Lack of cavity tray is the only thing which would cause this I think, but installing one would be a huge job. If water is getting into the cavity though, no matter how much sealing up you do, you'll just be moving the problem somewhere else. If penetration is indeed the issue, you could consider masonry brick/stone waterproofing cream, which should reduce penetration of moisture, and this may be enough to sort it. Does this property have a cavity or is it solid walled? If its solid the cream may well help, but having never used it myself, i can't comment how good it is. See what you find first and take it from there.

got loft boarded out this weekend, and had installed a new longer ladder to reach the new deck. I know the MVHR duct work needs to be changed to rigid at some point!

Have you got a photo showing the whole window from a bit of a distance, just so we can see the wider picture? Also what direction is this window facing? No way should you need a drain in the head of a window, water should never reach there. Are you sure this isn't condensation? A 10mm gap at the head isn't too large.

Air bricks are fully open, the original ones which were built in with the house (one double airbrick either side of the sleeper wall), but they had piles of soil behind them due to previous owners building the level of the patio up, which we reduced in height when we first bought (there was 5 layers of different materials patios under there!!). I've also lined the airbrick channels with Marmox Multiboard to stop anything dropping down from the cavity, and also to stop air going up quite as freely into the cavity. Remaining build up is: Treated Timber with 100mm Phenolic foam AVCL in the form of Protect Barriair Membrane 18mm OSB3 TGV4 Floorboards

The dark colour won't help, but I guess if thats the one you want. Be wary on the door position, stand it upright and see if its an issue, as this will be how it is in use.

I've got matt finish handleless doors from DIY kitchens and haven't noticed fingerprints with clean hands, get the odd one if I've a bit of grease/oil from cooking on, but it easily wipes off. Maybe the sample hasn't got a good coat of paint on it?

Illbruck foam is great. Maybe swap out the FM230 for FM330 though, which has been tested and certified airtight, can see a certification for this on the 230. I use 330 on my frames, and pretty much everything else.

Was the plasterer of a reasonable age, and experienced? If so I wouldn't worry about it, they tend to know whats dangerous and whats not, and an older plasterer would spot asbestos a mile off ?

Was having a poke around the Vortice website and found this: https://www.vortice.ltd.uk/shop/ca-range-accessories/controllers-sensors-ca-range/c-hcs-humidity-controller/ Found some on ebay, someone who had mispurchased 3 of them, bought one for around £42 ? Doesn't particularly say for install inside ducting, but will have a play, and try and take the sensor out and extend the wires so just that case sit inside the ducting with the rest of the unit outside.

Yeah its a horrible thing, and not covered by normal house insurance. The people who had the house clearly knew about it, as there were sections of timber which had been replaced in the bathroom, but of course nothing was said. Its not the end of the world I suppose, at least I can sort it myself, and having done the loft, those timbers are all OK thankfully! I too have fallen through the floor in the existing kitchen, one of the floorboards was so bad. We never paid for a survey, i've lived on the street all my life, so I know the houses well, and my dad was a builder, so we just had standard valuation, i don't think we would have found anything else out having paid for a survey to be honest, all the bad things have been covered up which i'm now uncovering and fixing.

Wasn't going to post this one, as in the grand scheme of things its fairly regular and a bit boring, but there is a few interesting points which may be of use to others... The photos are panoramic, don't worry the floor isn't bent! ? This was a before photo once all the fitted furniture was removed Everything stripped out, and underfloor fully cleaned and hoovered New timber put in which has been post-delivery treated (bloody builders merchants delivered wrong stuff and then couldn't get hold of them to complain!). All plug sockets also rewired. Majority of insulation in, and foamed with flexible FM330 foam. Airtight membrane and floorboards installed. Perimeter plastered to cover where the skirting board pulled old plaster off during removal. Everything decorated, and curtain rail reinstalled. Job complete! And the reason behind stripped all of this out! A couple of days later I found this crawling up the fridge unit in the kitchen!! Pretty sure its an adult woodworm beetle.

Almost there, just the boarding, and a little bit more insulation to go down!

I'm surprised this house hasn't taken itself down yet!

This looks like a piece of clay drain pipe to me