ETC

In all seriousness - a good architect will save you money in the long run by designing you a home that is cost effective to build, run and maintain.

“Sack architect, they will spend all your contingency, and more.” Lol.

Attic trusses?

I would have thought a 4” duct through the external cavity wall into the room with the stove would be fine depending on the size of the stove. Just need to work out the ventilation requirement for the stove and ensure the duct gives sufficient air. If a 4” duct isn’t big enough go for a 6” duct. Need to fit a non-adjustable vent to both sides though.

Other way around........DPC (in the external wall) to be 150mm above FGL.....same difference........

It currently doesn’t look like you could ventilate the flat roof anyway so doing a warm roof is the answer. Insulation above the flat roof joists - no need to ventilate the flat roof. As the previous poster said take a couple of rows of the bottom of the existing roof and take the flat roof covering up the slope of the roof minimum 150mm vertically - standard flat roof detail. Don’t forget to install tile vents to the existing roof at low level.

Just make sure the DPM and all DPCs are continuous. Difficult to do if the (internal wall) DPC is at slab level.

Not necessarily. Depends if you are an area where radon protection is required which I’m sure your architect has checked out. You may wish to check out the Accredited Construction Details. Looking at the detail - it looks fine. As other posters have pointed out the DPM can either go above or below the slab (below if there is a risk of the hardcore being contaminated) as long as the DPM is overlapped and continuous with all wall DPCs. Having said that I would normally expect to see a DPM above the slab/below the floor insulation overlapped and continuous with all wall DPCs, perimeter insulation and a VCL above the floor insulation. PS - Have faith in your architect. If in doubt ask him/her and raise your concerns. You are after all the client and paying fees.

Perimeter insulation?

Radon?

What about a VCL?

Renders look great......house.....hmmmmm.....?

Can we now take the engineer and the architect off the rack.....??

I agree wholeheartedly. Quoting the contract every time something goes wrong doesn’t necessarily lead to a good working relationship and you are the only one who can weigh up the pros and cons of accepting or not accepting works that you aren’t happy with. Setting aside the bravado about firing the builder you may wish to sit down with him and voice your concerns about his communication with you. I also agree with many sentiments on here in relation to the delay in getting drawings from the engineer to the builder in good time. In my opinion the time scale was too long and although I understand the contractor’s frustration I cannot in all honesty condone him proceeding with the works without your express consent. As I am sure you are fully aware there are contractual avenues open to him in relation to delays and these routes need not necessarily be contentious and can be dealt with quickly and amicably by both parties. In any case good luck with the build. ETC. I’ve been many things but never a PM.

Lol.....good one Big Jimbo....close but no cigar.....

Let’s face it - there are good builders and not so good builders and there are good architects and not so good architects and it can be pot luck who you get and what level and type of service or build you get. It can be frustrating for all concerned especially a lay client who relies on the advice and guidance from the professionals he/she employs and from the builder who does the work. I have met some very good contractors and I have met some not so good contractors and in most if not all instances differences on site were resolved amicably. It’s always the best way but if this isn’t possible it’s always better to start afresh.

Not great T......should’ve been a couple hour’s work and an emailed PDF....doesn’t excuse the contractor from ignoring the clients request to delay starting the works without a site meeting though....if I was the contractor I’d have claimed for the delay....

No Jimbo - I’m not a PM - I work for a living and have had plenty of experience on sites and dealing with both contractors and design teams..... I’ve also met plenty of armchair “experts” who wouldn’t know one end of a construction project from another....

If a builder can’t follow simple drawings he shouldn’t be doing the job....plus he could always lift the phone and ask the engineer for a detail.....it’s not rocket science....and yes I’d get rid of any builder who can’t take simple instructions or who can’t read a drawing....if he doesn’t have the patience to wait and discuss a detail with a client or an engineer or an architect I’d determine the contract in a flash.....

And in any case of the builder was genuinely delayed why would he give off.....? If a client causes a delay in a contract there are remedies available to a contractor....this includes delays in receiving information.....and a contractor would be within his (contractual) rights to submit a claim for damages....

Nah......trial holes on an existing house.....rather than hen’s teeth......contingency maybe - trail holes rarely......sorry Big J but this is a builder issue.....

Not mad.....I think you’ve been very patient.....a builder who did this on my watch would get his arse kicked and them some....I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again - works that are not in accordance with the contract(ed) works should be removed at no cost to you. I would always use a contract to protect the client and the contractor in instances like this......do you have a written contract?

Me too.....

I’m going to be a bit controversial and go out on a limb and say nope to this T......the builder appears at fault....works not in accordance with the contract should be ripped out and made good at no cost to the client.....and any delay to any timescale project is his responsibility and his alone - and he should know this. Foundations are notorious difficult to determine before works start and should be remeasurable based on rates - whether from a spreadsheet of from agreed rates. Yes - the architect and engineer may ask for additional fees but I’d like to think that any professional worth his salt would be embarrassed to ask for much if he delays in getting the information to the client in a timely manner. There’s no excuse in this day and age for an underpinning detail to take several weeks to deliver....... For what it’s worth - and if you are happy to accept any the mistakes he has made continue. If not move on but be wary of any contractual conditions in relation to contract determination.

The builder will be laughing all the way to the bank with the delay......having said that if the works aren’t in accordance with the contract they should be removed and at no cost to you.....if a builder makes a mistake it’s his issue not yours and any costs associated with the delay should be met by him - not you.....