Hecateh

There was a restrictive covenant in place that stated i could not build forward of the current buildng line. It was put in place in 1951, when the bungalow and the one next door were build on land sold by the next but on neighbour to me. I first used an online legal advice site who gave me the information that, because of how it was worded it was not enforceable so I decided not to worry about it. I went for planning permission first, (ignoring the issue) I needed a bridging loan to finance the build and they picked up on it. I was given a quote of just under £400 for indemnity insurance. Then various questions were asked, 'Had these people objected to the build?' They had - this told me that they had no idea about the covenant as their objection was about losing their view WHICH was, i believe, the objective of the covenant in the first place. This however increased the premium to about £500.

Doesn't really help but my set up was similar. My new plumber (half the price, twice the quality of my previous one) Pointed out that that would happen and suggest I reorganise with spark that the light is either moved or split so that there is a light either side rather than a single one above,

The one neighbour that didn't object was the one who was most affected by my build. It blocks part of his long reach view and is about 1500mm from his garden. I don't however overlook him as the only window on that side is ground floor, a bedroom and there is currently a 3 metre beech hedge between us. (That will be reduced but not so that it affect overlooking

Regardless of whether it affects planning permission, it is a good idea to get neighbours on side if possible. I had spoken to all but one neighbour and they all seemed reasonably happy. I never saw this couple to speak to, He always came and left in a car and his wife seemed very shy and barely looked at me when I say hello. They (or I suspect mostly he) objected and got the others on side and during the main build they were phoning the council every few days. A delivery vehicle blocked their passage (for 10 mins. The road had been left muddy (another neighbour had spread grit during the snow, we were expecting freezing weather - hosing the road would have been so dangerous). The council came out a few times but then they stopped bothering as they had no issue with what we were doing and I think, in effect, they told the neighbours to stop crying wolf. Many other instances. 2 of the 3 don't even acknowledge me any more. I don't really care but their behaviour has made an very stressful year even more stressful.

https://planner.diy-kitchens.com/plan/range/ This is the DIY Kitchens Kitchen planner, (It's still in beta and they don't advertise it) so you can play around with units and see how they look. At one point they stopped accepting new registrations - if it doesn't work. I'll give you my log-in details and you can have a play and design your own. My kitchen is now on order from them so I no longer need it.

Sometimes I'm really glad I live alone Re the thermostat up to the top though - I don't do that and was forever trying to persuade people at work that it didn't help

Love it I'm thinking Part X what the (&(*& is that? Not something else I haven't heard of. Next to the M1 just north of Meadowhall there is a plant hire place that has a couple of cranes permanently onsite, Every Christmas for the past 30 years in my memory (maybe even 40) They are wrapped with lights and Christmas trees from the beginning of November. Now that we have lost the cooling towers these cranes are the way we know we are home. ***even in winter

Me too.

Clamp it down - leave in place for a couple of days. Then with everything ready release the clamps and the boards should stay flat long enough to get them fixed in place and then quickly reclamp until the glue has cured

Mmm not sure. I hadn't really noticed it. I'll make sure it is marked on the wall when it is done and check with the electrician. That is where the fridge freezer is going so, if necessary I'll leave the wall marked.

I think I am going to have to go in a bit harder than that. Some of the work the men did was just improvement and different people have different ideas how to do things, I know that. BUT her work didn't even meet building regs in that she had not vented anything or made any provision for doing so. She was here 15 hours in total with a labourer for about 5 of them. The 2 men have also done 15 hours each to complete the job she was supposed to do.

Still working out how to broach it with her. Basically these guys have have done more than twice the work for less than half the money - What do I say to her to persuade her it would be good to give me some money back eerrrr???????? I've also got a really good electrician, by personal recommendation, who is prepared to go the extra mile. Happy to pass on his details if yours don't work out. I've also used 'ratedpeople' - personally have had better results from my builder but I think that's more the luck of the draw than one being better or worse. I have heard from some trades that have tried both that they prefer 'mybuilder' because they only pay if they get shortlisted whereas with others they have to pay to get put forward, without any guarantee that the client is even interested.

Well it took a while but I do finally have stairs woop woop

Some good luck. I have happened upon some amazing plumbers. Father and son team. Dad is gas safe registered and has loads of gas and heating engineering experience. Son has plumbing qualification and experience and they have been working as a team for the past few years. Came today at 11am to complete a couple of pipe runs, found all sorts of issues that my initial very very expensive plumber had missed or done wrong and eventually went home about 9pm. More quals and more experience than the sacked one and less for both of them on day rate than she charged just for her (and a cash in hand labourer with no experience). Amazingly (or maybe not) I found them through 'my builder', which is a scary place but has definitely worked for me. @Tyke2 They are local and brilliant - very much recommended if you need any gas/plumbing work.

Quite a lot done in the last couple of months but nothing worth photographing. (Sometimes it's the little things that make the most impact.) many many traumas along the way - budget - what budget, but I am getting there.... Stud walls all done; UFH piping installed; (including screed in lower ground and battens, insulation, spreader plates and overboarding on entry level; first fix plumbing and electricity; door frames; insulation; insulation; insulation; (luckily my handyman says he is immune to the fibreglass and it doesn't bother him but I insisted, and he agreed, he goggled and masked when crawling in the confined loft space) AND today I got S.T.A.I.R.S woo hoo - starting to look like a house.

Can we turn back time. I want to read this post exactly one year ago!!!

Medically essential - do they require a doctor's certificate? lol

My lower level, which is insulated slab, I had a company come and lay the pipe and screed it, that cost £2000 approx 30sqm, The entry level was supplied by Wunda and they designed it. Handyman has done mine Materials and drawing around £1000 for a further 30sqm. The rest is standard gas safe plumber work. PM me if you would like to visit.

Mine is split level and I have 2 floors of wet and upstairs electric ufh and towel rail in the ensuite and dressing room. I like sleeping in the cold so haven't really planned much for the bedroom. I can easily add some electric if I need to in the future. I am pretty sure it will be kept from getting too chilly from the rising heat

I don't think I slept more than 2 or 3 hours a night when it all kicked off. Still waking early but at least I feel more in control during the day and getting around 6 hours LOL My control board at the moment is a big mirror in my lounge and multi coloured sharpies. it's my 'in the face' TO DO list . People to phone; issues to raise; supplies to buy; questions to ask; all get scrawled on there and every 2 or 3 days I remove the resolved issues and make room for more. One of the big issues of doing it yourself is making sure people understand from the start that YOU buy everything. You have to make the purchase in order to reclaim the VAT. Get yourself accounts set up with Toolstation, Screwfix, Travis Perkins, MKM (if there is one close) and Wickes at the very least. You can then order stuff online for them to pick up if necessary. If there are any close to you definitely register with them - you can pick stuff up rather than the trades doing it on time you have paid for. From my (very limited) experience. Toolstation is cheapest on the things they supply but them and Screwfix are fixed prices. MKM, Travis Perkins etc can negotiate so always get quotes first.

@Tyke2 Don't know about the solar at all. They said they have not done a lot of UFH, but it's an area they are really looking at developing. Lots of experience but only recently set up their own business. I've got wet UFH in entry and lower level and going for electric upper in my split level. I'm just down the road from you, in Hoyland centre, Come and have a look?

Definitely got a great spark. I 'think' I have good plasterers, carpenter and plumbers but will update when work is complete. I'm logging their hours as well as costs and appreciate there has to be give and take. I impressed the plumbers though as I picked something up that had a H U G E spider ensconced, hairy leg span about 4 inches, and though it made me jump they really don't bother me. Father and son team, the dad picked it up and chucked it at his son who had a totally hissy fit. 16+ plus stone man absolutely cacking himself ? Agree a rate for a job - job done - have to pay. I knew she was pricey just not how pricey.

Oh - and share with the people that come to quote that you want someone you can trust and then share the quotes on here before accepting. If you are going for a day rate - ask approx how many days - ok that's not fixed but it gives you an argument if they say x days and are slipping a long way behind

Your situation is sounding more and more like mine. I had to stop payment before my builder would come up with some prices. The prices he then came up with were stupidly excessive. At that stage he was wanting an extra 46k (on a 90k house). I got him to finish the roof whilst we 'negotiated' and then told him 'NO' and since then I have taken it on myself with considerable and essential help from the fabulous people on this forum. I had a similar experience with carpenters - I'm told not their fault which may be correct but it still cost me. I would like to think that professionals time estimates shouldn't be too far out. I have been getting quotes for specific work - which I am getting better at being very specific about. Mostly I have had firm price quotes, being very upfront about any potential issues that I am aware of AND clear that if there is something that couldn't have been foreseen (- not just wasn't; but couldn't have been). EG the spark said he hadn't accounted for the extra cable with a split level house (being fair this was a justification for the time taken rather than a request for more money.) You are a genuine professional - some aren't. AND I have done it (knocking them off the job) but it ain't easy (especially on my own) and there have been sleepless nights and money paid first. spoken as a true bachelor although to be fair my kids would have done it happily when they were younger (as preteens though rather than teenagers) ----- way before I would have dared taking anything like this on. The only person, after the main contractor, that I have outright sacked is my plumber - the partner of a friend, who gave me a fixed price of £1200 - and then did 15 hours work for it - £80 per hour NO NO NO. I've now got 2 experienced plumbers with way more knowledge and experience and the price for both of them per hour is less than her. You CAN project manage this yourself Jude and cut out his percentage, now that you have the great people of this forum behind you. PM me if you want to talk further

... First????