Tom

All dowsing techniques seem to follow what I describe - an item (be it hazel twig, coat hangar etc) held in balance or under tension, this inherently unstable setup allows the item to move, apparently involuntarily, by the ideomotor effect. I did, decades ago, and you can certainly convince yourself it works - but then you apply some rational thought, and much as it would be nice to think of mystical powers, ley lines, joss sticks etc, all logical reasoning and evidence points to the mundane.

Come on then Ian, I'll split the $1m with you

I think the issue is what we are taking as the meaning of "work". If you mean it can occasionally find a pipe etc - OK then maybe it can. But this is because the bent wire is under tension, the bent rods are finely balanced etc - and hence respond to imperceptible changes in hand position, and it is the user who is subconsciously responding to environmental clues. This is possibly why dowsing has repeatedly been shown to fail under more rigorous testing - these environmental/topographical etc clues aren't there. If you mean "work" as some channel for some hidden energy or powers of the paranormal - then no, that's just bollocks!

The late, great James Randi, erstwhile debunker of the paranormal offered a $1 million dollar prize to anyone who could prove ANY psychic/telekinesis/dowsing etc works - unsurprisingly it remained unclaimed.

I know, but my horoscope says I've got a good week coming Definitely does, especially if they charged you for it!

Because dowsing is an absolute load of bollocks! Under properly controlled testing, dowsing has NEVER been shown to work. Especially in a forum that seems to strive to apply logic and rational thought to the building process, we really shouldn't be giving this hokum any airtime.

and perhaps a tarot card reader to advise on the construction method?

View of the inside of one of ours. This one has a blind that operates with a remote control.

Can I impose my own statute of limitations with regards small claims? Sue me now or forever hold your peace?

Thanks both. This is what I have already sent: please advise if/when you are planning to return to complete this work, if I don't hear from you by the end of this week I will assume you do not plan to return and I will make alternative arrangements. with their response: Until you pay the outstanding balance in my previous email we will not be returning to complete the work. We have been clear about this and won’t change our minds. - So that kind of covers what you said @saveasteading. Can I send anything else just to finish this off and to confirm that the matter has closed?

So, an update to this sorry saga, I stuck my heels in and said no way am I paying until all work has been completed - then radio silence for the last six weeks. I just sent an email asking what is going on, are they coming back to complete the work, and they reply that they won't until I pay the invoice in full. I note there are no more pathetic attempts to apply pressure with legal sounding "Letter before Legal Action" attachments. So, looks like we've reached an impasse, but fine by me, as I don't want them to return anyway. So, do I leave it there or should I reply with something along the lines of: "we can't reach agreement, therefore I consider the assumed contract between us terminated" - just to draw a line under everything? I guess I just want to be absolutely sure I won't be getting a small claims letter through the post in two months time, so I would rather draw that out of them now than leave it open ended.

We've got a black sinusoidal roof, bought the panels from here: https://www.panelsandprofiles.co.uk/ they might be able to advise on build up too, also some info on the Cladco website (though they seemed the most expensive IIRC). You'll also need to get flashings (eg for the ridge) and foam fillers

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.