Visti

I'll PM some acorss

A few questions to help narrow down what you're after: What are the important factors to you? Look? Cost? Performance? Security? Functionality? etc... How many m2 are you looking to fit? Are they all squares or rectangles? or are you looking for any odd shapes? Outward or inward opening? Any special requirements imposed on you?

Highly recommend Gaulhofer. We went with their In-Line 91mm which is triple glazed, so may be more dear than you're willing to consider.

We're edging ever closer to a foundation, but appear to be assailed by last minute requirements by Graven Hill. Behind schedule by 4 months now... The latest one has broken the camels back and I am looking to push back as I don't believe there's a case for it. I'm hoping you all can assist! For those of you new to Gravel Hill, this is a 'Custom Build' development where you buy a serviced plot, and they undertake the foundations to your design. After that, you're on your own (with the exception of some hefty bureaucracy above and beyond standard regulation). Since we reserved in March 2017 it has always been clear that services to our plot are only supplied up to the plot boundary, and that it is our responsibility to take it from there to our house. All services on-site are being installed by GTC, who have recently stipulated this week (May 2018) that there is now a restriction on where we can place the gas meter. To quote GTC's Gas Technical Guidelines: I've looked up Building Regs and the Pipeline Safety Regs and neither stipulates this requirement. Our Architect is also bamboozled, having never come up against this requirement. Problem is, our planned entry points directly to the utility room are at the opposite end of the house to where this meter will need to be. You can see our design below vs. the allowable locations below in green. Any one else come across this? Is this legitimate?

I think there is certainly a risk of architecture for art/architectures sake where it would look great on the architects portfolio, but doesn't necessarily make it better to live in for the client... not cheap!

We were thinking the same, but what about the interface with the wall? Suppose you could waterproof the walls down to the floor, but then what?

My amateur hopes has been dashed by good sense by you folks and some more thorough research! Thank goodness for this forum. It's clear that what we're proposing is not a good idea. That is also an understatement given the timber frame... We were hoping power-floated would be a significantly better level than by hand, but that too isn't the case. We've gone for a tray in the end due to the cost and because we just couldn't hold up the foundation any longer!

The one thing holding us up on the foundation is the positioning of the drain for the downstairs shower. Suffice to say, we were not prepared to make a call on bathroom kit at this stage and it's caught us unawares! Us amateurs eh? We don't like tiles, want a walk-in shower... Basically a wet room. No, definatly a wet room. Only problem? Our finished floor is power floated concrete on top of the EPS. So sculpting a slope in the bathroom to drain the water will add tonnes of complexity and cost. Tiles are a cheaper option, but we aren't a fan. So my proposal to the architect and to you: can't we just use the flat power floated floor as the floor for the whole wet room? Is a slope really necessary if we position the drain right? (Can always place a glass screen to direct flow to the drain? I assume we can waterproof the concrete floor it after the pour? And that between the MVHR and UFH it'll dry relatively quickly. There ain't the funds for a designer bathroom, so basics it must be.

Yup. Tonnes of torque. I always turn it off before sticking anything inside. Never poke a shovel or stick a hand inside. I may be an amateur, but I don't mess with moving machinery

As an engineer, always go for the solution with the least moving parts. Every time.

As Caravans are highly recommended on the site too. Works for welfare. Combine with a 10ft container for storage and you're good. If you're like me an a caravan is off limits, you can get 20ft and 25ft containers that will serve both as welfare and as storage. A bare-bones a container is about £1.5k, which you can then line with some basic insulation and plywood to make it comfortable. Only issue is then installing anything as you'll have to cut into the skin, which you may or may not have the skills/tools to do (I dont!). Alternative is to buy 2nd hand units off ebay or get one built for you. Unfortunately none of that is cheap! https://www.shippingcontainersuk.com/brands/shipping_containers.php http://www.groundhog.co.uk/index.php As @lizzie mentioned, getting a garage or shed built out quick is a good way to get welfare and storage sorted. Two birds, one stone.

It's contagious!

I'm with you on this one @JSHarris, I wouldn't use it for anything other than a welfare unit.

Fair point! We're building to stay, so the assumption wasn't when we'd leave, but how long it'd take. But you're right, who knows how long we'll be and whether we're investing in the next home owner!

Nope, but it's currently in the online shopping cart of about half a dozen self-builders in Graven Hill I suspect! Mixed review on ScrewFix https://www.screwfix.com/p/yardmaster-sliding-door-apex-shed-10-x-8/2419f

It has taken me a long while to be convinced that PV was economically worthwhile, but now that we have the energy model near complete for our house it's become a no brainer. So I thought I'd share my findings. This assumes a FIT installation with Generated and Exported rates of 3.93 and 5.03 p/kWh for a 9kW system. I've not yet tried the cheaper installation of a non-FIT version which is often quoted as a better alternative. Perhaps I'll have a go at modelling and comparing that too in the near future. I've made my Energy Model available for anyone interested; get it here. The following charts show the quickest return to payoff of the PV system and lowest annual outgoings. Had to use Mains Gas for Heating and DHW, through these can be toggled to electricity in the model.

No, I wasn't aware of that topic. You have a handy link Nick?

This post covers more than just MVHR, but I wasn't quite sure where this post would be best placed. Admins feel free to relocate if need be! As you can probably guess by this post going up late on a Saturday, I've been doing a lot of modelling of our heating and energy systems for our house. It has taken a while to get the model to accurately reflect reality, but I think we've finally nailed it. Whilst not surprising, what it has clearly established is that: PV is a no brainier, provided you have the capital up front! Though that's another topic all together (posted here). The MVHR bypass will be insufficient to counter the solar gain during the peak summer months. It's often said that the biggest problem with passive houses (or near passive as our's is) isn't the heating, but the cooling. They're right! Thankfully we have opening windows and plans to use a canvas above our pergola to shade some of the southern windows. So more our of general curiosity, what else have people done to keep the tempretures stable and comfortable during the summer months?

Aye, we've had the same consideration, hence why you can see that the inner wall of the gutter is higher than the outer edge, going up to to the base of the corrugated sheet, forcing water away from the wall in the case of an overflow. Holes in line with gaps in the cladding ain't a bad alternative if it's not possible to source asymmetrical guttering!

We're doing it nearly the same way @bissoejosh as you'll see below with battens and counter-battens give 100mm clearance between the frame and cladding to make space for our gutters. These will be continuous (no joints) extruded aluminium and likely from Guttercrest, but we've not started quoting yet so it could be an alternative supplier (always open to suggestions!) Key difference between our designs is the location of the corrugated material with yours being quite elevated relative to the frame. Is there a particular reason for doing so?

That's right bissoejosh, we've opted for the Dualchas design too. Our architect sold us on the premise of the two examples below after we made it clear that standing seam metal roofs were out of our price range (even when DIYing the Tata steel) We're currently planning to use steel sheets at 0.7mm (as Crofter) but with a mica coating as that has tested the most durable in our samples. These are supplied by Cladco at £12.75/m with an additional £2.5/m for the anti condensation. We'd not considered non-metal options but some samples of those Marley Eternit boards have just been ordered! Our 3D render is below. You'll notice the timber cladding comes past the roof edge to 'hide' the roof. Not as neat a finish as the Dualchas designs, but cheaper!

Siberian Larch cladding - Grade A / Unsorted @ £28.8/m2 (£3.6/m) from Mill Works. Best quote we could get for this quality. There's Grade B / Sawfalling (more knots) which is cheaper at £23.2/m2 (£2.9m), so that is our backup in case another line item rises in price. We also had very good quotes from iWood and Varsten timber. All very professional and accommodating.

Aye, there are a tonne of regulation around the use and storage of these, but it appears highly dependent on whether it's a commercial operation or not, and the amount you're storing together. I'll have to note about the car stickers and this will likely be carted around a lot! Yup, that is right, but we simply cant justify the £75/m2+ cost on a full 130m2! We're going half and half on the charring and the weathering as you can see. Why not do the same

Demonstrating consideration of what has come before and the current neighbourhood helps demonstrate you're not just there for yourself!

That's exactly the approach we're taking today, so that we don't delay the build any further given how much Graven Hill are breathing down our backs! Not with the implications of a Mezzanine on BRegs, no They know there are Reg B issues around Fire Safety, but apparently a bit of research is needed to identify the exact implications. Time which we dont have at present, so we've officially continued with the assumption there will be no mezzanines and told the engineers to compensate for their eventuality.