Tom

I haven't watched Grand Designs in years, but I do like watching "This Old House" which is a US build/renovation show - they use a lot of these Zip products, self-sealing membranes etc. and it's really interesting seeing how they do things over there. It's quite good for a laugh at the American-ness of it all, but the skill level of one of the guys on the show is amazing and the way he explains what he is doing makes it all very accessible. Worth having a look if you can find it.

If the condensate drains anything like my unit (Vent Axia) then it will be under negative pressure, i.e it will be wanting to suck air up the pipe. This is why it must be connected to a dry trap - to stop it sucking air up, and thereby allowing the water drain down the pipe from the unit.

Thanks, I'll have a look

Ok, ok enough already! So the idea's shit, i get it! I agree, building the level up and paving makes more sense... What was I thinking?!😵‍💫

Hi all - now that we're acually in the house, much of the drive to actually complete the landscaping has evaporated, but I really need to knuckle down and get this sorted. We have some wraparound glazing at one corner and want to put some decking here to give as close to level threshold as I can. I'm not keen on composite, wood would be OK, but I've been toying with the idea of using beam and block which I think would fit in with the overall design of the place, see pics. Is there any glaring reason why this wouldn't be possible? As it's not really a loadbearing thing, could I just sketch it out and order the bits, or should it be designed properly by a structural engineer? Thanks all

Ummmmm.... well this was all kind of put in place by the project manager I employed for six months - before he left under a cloud - so I don't actually know.... Do you get the impression that my build has gone well? 😃

Good point Probably... Well, we don't really have a signed contract - but I guess have been working under it's terms by default, whatever they are

Roger that. What about the 12 month defect warranty? I'm worried they'd just ignore me if we hit a problem with the work in a few months - should I still withhold say 1.5k for this to be paid at the end of the warranty period (a year)? Or is that pushing it a bit...

OK, an update: I stuck my heels in and called their bluff, surprise surprise they haven't initiated a small claim and after more ridiculous attempts to justify their position they have agreed to write off the cost of replacing the cracked tiles and have suggested we split the tower scaffold hire 50/50. So, progress, but I would still be paying £750 for the hire of something that I wasn't told about and didn't need, so I'm going to push back. Also, their threat not to do the electrical safety certificate and not honour their 12 month defect warranty still sticks in the throat a little. They want me to settle whatever is owed and then only will they return to do the certificate. Our relationship has understandably deteriorated a little, so I would still like to hold the cost for this back until it's done, which seems reasonable to me. How are things normally settled at the end of a contract like this - normally would ALL work including certificates be done then a final invoice, or is asking for payment first then completing certification the norm?

Ah, this was my "before" photo of the thing before I adjusted it, in case I needed to put it back. Now fully anticlockwise

Thanks @JohnMo, I was diverting a full 3kW after lunch and it still cout out. I'm not sure how to switch on the immersion manually tbh, I guess through the ecodan FTC?

I've finally had a working eddi diverter fitted and I'm trying to max out my usage, it seemed to cut out at just below 50 degrees, so I turned up the immersion thermostat but the tank still only reaches 55 degrees before the eddi stops. Attached is a picture of the thermostat. Presumably it must go higher, especially if it's going to do a legionella cycle, any idea how I can turn it up to eleven?

It's all on one itemised invoice The 2k that they have already agreed I can withhold is to cover remaining electrical work and remedial work due to damage to walls caused by one of their workers. The cost of the EIC certification isn't taken in to account with this. With this in mind, I'm inclined to withhold the 2k AND additional money to cover certification - I've had a quote from a good sparks who said he can issue an EICR (which BC will accept) and it would be 3-4 days work perhaps, so approx £1200. In addition, now that they have thrown this 12 month warranty thing at me in another attempt to put pressure on, I'd like to throw that back at them and say I'm going to withhold more money to cover a 12 month warranty. Does that sound like a reasonable thing to do? If this ever ended up in front of the beak I want to look reasonable. Thanks @saveasteading, the cracked tiles have already been replaced by the contractor - this was 6 months ago, I pointed them out at the time, they bought replacement tiles and had them fitted. Only now are they saying that I am liable for this cost and they have tacked it on to the end of the final invoice.

Thanks both. There is about 8k outstanding that they say I owe them, split roughly as follows: 3k for part of the original tiling cost - this I am now satisfied that I do actually owe them 1.5k charge for replacing a few broken tiles 1.5k for the tower hire 2k suggested by them to be retained until electrical remedial work was complete (though does not cover certification - this they said would only be done once ALL the money had been paid) Their latest correspondence threatens that they would not do the electrical certification and I would lose the 12 month defect guarantee. I was originally going to pay the 3k for the original tiling cost that I agree is owed, but now I'm thinking I need to retain some/all of that if I'm to cover the cost of certification and the cost of a 12 month guarantee. Is that reasonable? I'm trying to look at it from the view of a judge, so want to make it clear at every step that I'm trying to be fair and reasonable.

Brilliant, thanks both. So, if I'm going to withhold some money for the electrical certification, should I also withold some for the loss of the 12 month "defect period", as they put it?

The item on the invoice says for" scaffold and hire of tower scaffold for eight weeks". This has been paid. No mention of the tower scaffold was made for the next six months as it collected dust.

The cracks were brought to their attention at the time and they arranged for the tiles to be replaced. No mention was made of a cost to me. In contrast, in a separate incident the tilers cut out completely the wrong shape for the shower valve, the contractor vigorously denied responsibility and I ended up replacing the tiles myself.

Looking at the small claims info on gov.uk looks like mediation happens as part of the process, so guess I will wait for that. The tiles were damaged during the work, presumably as or very shortly after they were laid. One on the floor had cracked where it had been notched, and the one behind the wall hung toilet had cracked where it had been cut out to take the waste etc. I paid for 8 weeks tower hire as we had agreed initially, it was then taken down and put in a corner of the build. Their argument now is that they left it on site "as a favour" in case I needed it - without telling me or course!

OK, so the contractor has failed to answer my questions re the disputed items on the invoice (broken tiles, tower scaffold hire) or provide any evidence as to why I should be liable for these costs - they have essentially completely ignored my last email to them. Instead they have emailed what they call a "Letter before Legal action is taken" - saying this: "This letter serves as a notification that legal action will be taken in 7 days if the full payment for Invoice (deleted) which were due for payment on 28th January 2025 remains outstanding. We have sent reminders and a final demand and yet the payment remains outstanding. Failure to settle the outstanding amount will result in (deleted) taking the following actions to resolve the overdue payment: 1. Application to the Small Claims Court to recoup the money owed plus legal expenses. 2. Termination of the contract which will void the 12 month defect period." In the email they also say "failure to pay the full amount in 7 days will lead to us terminating your contract, which include all subcontractors and will void the 12 month defect period. Under the termination, any trades that have to complete work will be under no obligation to return or to provide any certificates" I am currently withholding costs for broken tiles and tower scaffold hire but I have agreed to pay an amount to cover the original tiling costs that I had previously withheld, pending their evidence for this cost (which they have now sent me and is satisfactory). Now that it looks like they are threatening not to return to issue the electrical completion certificate, would it be reasonable for me to pay for the tiling costs, as above, but subtract a reasonable amount for getting a third party to test and issue the electrical completion certificate, if this were needed?

I guess so. Not sure what paint tbh, I'd normally say something oil based that needs highly toxic chemicals to clean the brush after, good old fashioned stuff. However, seems most paints these days are water based and less toxic, disappointingly. Why not just scrape off the powder coating though and bask in the majesty of the galvanising?

If it's silver with a bit of white powder on it (which it looks like it is) then it's highly likely to be galvanised. Unprotected mild steel would be covered in rust. Looks like the powder coat was just a cosmetic thing rather than to protect the metal, which, as above, rarely lasts long anyway. Galvanised you'll be good for years!

That looks galvanised no? Might need an etch primer on the zinc IIRC.

Also, the wording of their letter stating the penalty interest is this: "The outstanding balance is now incurring interest at 8% over the UK base rate for the (sic) each day it is not settled." To my eyes, this clearly indicates it's a daily penalty of base+8% - which is ridiculous, as many have said above. Does this make their notice invalid?

Hi again. So, it's been 2 days just about and no response from the cantractor to my queries. Their self imposed deadline of early next week is approaching at which point they have threatened to pursue legal action. Is there something legal sounding that I can send them that basically states that in the abscence of any response from them it is impossible for me to meet their deadline? I just want to make sure that, if this ever does go to law, I can show that I have been absolutely reasonable and transparrent in this whole saga. I guess that, given their silence, they can clearly not answer why I should pay for broken tiles broken by their contractor, or the tower scaffold that they left on site for months on end without being used.

Hi both. The hire was definitely included. The invoice specifically said "for scaffold and tower hire" or something like that. I paid this off long ago. The electricians, and everyone who used the tower, were employed by the main contractor.