Tom

Finished pouring our foundations today, only took 3 weeks and 88 cubic metres of concrete! Felt the need to share... my 6yo and 8yo don't share my enthusiasm for foundations....

This is exactly what we did Glenn, Part Q then full planning. Seems to depend on your area though, South Devon seemed fine with it ?

Thanks all. nod would you expect the builder to fill in the time sheet themselves - or just keep a close eye yourself?

So, our build has only just started and we're basically paying our builders on an hourly rate. We sorta know the chap - his daughter is friends with mine etc, so I want to tread carefully, but how are things normally done to keep track of hours worked? Is it done on trust? I'm thinking it might be an idea to put a year planner up with a pen, and ask him to put a figue on it at the end of each day. Does that seem weird? It's not so much a trust thing (well, perhaps a bit...) - I just want to know where we are rather than get a nasty surprise at the end of each month. Yes, I know this should have been sorted before we started - it's not like I haven't been planning this for about 3 years...

?roger that

Apologies for jumping in on this, can I ask about steels with exterior ICF walls? Our build has essentially a portal frame encased by ICF. The steels are 305mm wide so they will need to be rebated into the inner sides of the ICF blocks and so won't be entirely encased with concrete. Galvanised?

They won't be a toddler for ever. They'll be a surley teenager by the time you're on to the second fix and can give you a hand...

Just to round this off and to help anyone else in same situation, I tried a TMV and it was a bit of a pain, adjusting for temp etc and then got clogged when some debris came through the system. Anyway, found that MIRA do a shower mixer (Minilte EV) that has 110mm centres - there was enough wriggle room with ythe pipework to get this fitted. After the usual amount of swearing and skinned knuckles of course ?

Hi all, I'm going to pull the trigger on Internorm supply and fit for our build. In the final negotiation with the supplier, what should I make sure is included in the "fit" - eg compriband tape? Our build is ICF. Also, what is the usual arrangement re payment eg hold back 10% until it's all in and made good? Thanks all

possibly investigate worktop fabricators?: https://www.stainlesssteelworktopsuk.co.uk/made-to-measure-copper-worktops-sinks-and-drainers/ stick it on it's end, add a few hinges, job done!

I was planning on doing similar birch ply lining for our reveals but not with a shadow gap, instead an extra strip of ply around the edge that protrudes to make a double thickness that would cover the plasterboard edge, if you follow me.

Thanks Craig, we're not looking at alu clad as too chunky. Will look at solarlux though, as per Thorfun above too. Fyi, looks like seiger are rebadged Cortizo.

*thin frame Are you not down with glazing salesman speak?!

Thanks both. Internorm is an option I believe Eric (we're going for their windows) but the composite frames are quite chunky compared to the aluminium profiles of the others. Thanks for the heads up re ODC Thorfun. Reynaers don't seem to be replying to my emails so I might check them out. Poole isn't a million miles from here either.

Hi all - does anyone have any recommendations for triple glazed sliders? We need narrow sightlines, so are looking for an aluminium system, and we need a 4m run and 6m run meeting at a moving corner. So far I have come across Sieger and Reynaers that will do 3G, and Ultraline and Schuco that are 2G. Any suggestions would be very welcome!

In 110mm?

Thanks Dave, how big/high should the vent pipe be?

So, I'm in the process of making an outside toilet for the builders to use, this I want to plumb in to the waste already connected to the caravan (the new toilet will go right next to the caravan toilet, except outside). At the moment the caravan toilet comes down in to a P-trap and then shoots off to the treatment plant. There is no soil stack and other than some occasional gurgling, it seems to work OK like this. I want to replace this P-trap with a T, to allow me to add the new outside loo. I'm worried that flushing that will cause problems - eg suck the water out of the trap in the caravan toilet. Should I be worried? If so, do I need to install an AAV? Thanks all

I just added a sentence to our planning permission along the lines of: we also seek permission to site a static caravan next to the build to live in during construction. No one batted an eyelid so if you are at that stage worth doing.

I don't, I plan to cross that bridge when it comes to it! Just sticks in the craw having to pay £1,800 alone for some guy to come and "inspect" when building control are doing that anyway.

True, but most mainstream lenders will accept an Architect's Certificate (or similar).

Hmmm, seems contrary to what they told me - and I asked the question twice to be absolutely sure. They require insurance for the build as it progresses but were adamant (in writing!) that I wouldn't need a warranty. I just don't want to shell out 3.5k for something that I will likely never be able to claim on anyway.

Ecology told me two days ago they don't require a warranty

Sounds like a shitty (sic) job, but I say take out and replace, won't cost much other than your time. Invest in a good respirator though

I think looking at "heat" or the temperature of the air is oversimplifying how we find our environment comfortable. I'm reminded of that recent GD episode where the chap tried to build a completely passive house, insulating the earth around it to act as a thermal store, he said that even though the temperature of the air was lower, the warmer walls radiated heat and the actual comfort of the space was equivalent. The same could be extrapolated to the effect of windows on the heated space - a warmer triple glazed one radiating heat (or at least more than a double glazed one). Likewise the draughts/convection currents that would happen against a colder surface.