Hecateh

Not sure, I suspect you can buy Howden's interiors for other cupboards but I have specced larder units and different bin combinations from DIY. They are very approachable and manufacture on site. Worth a conversation with them as to what you are looking for. I know there were one or two things I saw on my visit that are not on their website

we'll see

I wash all clothes on 30 and have done for the last 10 years at least. Sheets and towels at 60 and occasionally 95 for the sheets. Having said that I rarely do dirty work. I use vinegar instead of conditioner which also helps keep the machine fresh. On the downside everything gets tumbled - though that may change in the new place where I will have an area I can hang things to dry out of the way.

I got the same impression about the whole company when I was there. It had the air of a family firm, the staff all knew their stuff and were happy to answer any questions. And did I mention the free coffee and cakes (made in one of their kitchens)

That view is fantastic and the main reason why I decided to self build rather than just buy somewhere else. I was looking to downsize and had got my head round the lack of space but I've had that view from my lounge for nearly 20 years - to only look out onto other houses was a step too far.

Not normally the perspective we view from BUT don't we nearly always have more regret for the things we didn't do that we could have, rather than the things we did do (however daft)

I'm only about 20 mins from them so will arrange my own delivery

This is a situation that no contingency allows for and, for most of us luckily, isn't common. Such respect fo you for carrying on in these circumstances. My son keeps telling me the ways in which I am making my new house less sellable or lower value. And I keep telling him 'I don't care'. If there were grandkids or even a chance then it may be different but, as that isn't the case, this is about me and my lifestyle. To be fair he now usually beats me to it.

They have a 10% off sale at the moment. Ends 4 April I think. They were competitive without it so am planning on ordering sometime next week. One thing to watch for though. Standard £75 This is a ONE MAN delivery * In certain circumstances we may give a 2 day window for delivery as Standard deliveries sometimes are on larger overnight runs which can cross over multiple days. You will be contacted the day before delivery by email & text message. You will receive a text message from our driver 1 hour before arrival. These units are very heavy and will require 2 physically able people to offload your kitchen into your property. Failure to provide 2 physically able people will result in your kitchen being returned and a re-delivery fee charged. Gold £150 You get a TWO MAN delivery. You will be contacted the Wednesday one week before the scheduled delivery of your kitchen. We will give you a 2 day window for delivery as Gold deliveries are typically on larger overnight runs which can cross over multiple days. You will receive a text message from our drivers 1 hour before arrival. Our drivers will off load the units into your property. (Ground floor ONLY - Max 6 steps & Max 20 metres walking distance) Platinum £250 You get a TWO MAN delivery Platinum delivery service ONLYavailable Monday to Friday. You will receive a text message from our drivers 1 hour before arrival. Specify your own prefered date. Our drivers will off load the units into your property. (Ground floor ONLY - Max 6 steps & Max 20 metres walking distance) Not necessarily a deal breaker but something to be aware of

Mine 100 sqm and standard block and brick

Nearly up to roofline. I think 2 lads are coming back in tomorrow to finish off the corners. A whole week of decent weather and full team on site have seen loads done this week

It's this site that has kept me sane and helping me not get too upset about the fact that I will probably have to allow for some adjustment on the quote because his original quote - that came in as expected was under 1k per sq m. I say as expected because I had used an online cost calculator which said that 1k per sqm was doable and I was still basing my thoughts on my original plans which was a bungalow - it's now one storey at the front and 2 at the back to take account of the slope. Without any more extras the build alone minus fittings is costing at about 1100 sqm. Including everything except land (as the build is in my garden) it will be between £1400 and £1500 unless there are any more big shocks. Top one is allowing for some leeway with the quote. The finished build is important to him as well as me as it is first total new build

Yep the variations are groundwork, drains and foundations

I'm hoping my faith in my builder is justified. He's a great bloke and is always reassuring but I was warned that he was too inexperienced. Working to a fixed quote with only changes to be variations to original plans and agreed in writing. But it doesn't look to me like there is enough money left to finish. I've arranged a meeting for next week to discuss - largely because of the bad weather

Yep - done that - but not made a huge amount of difference as was going fairly budget anyway - I live alone so, although I want them to look good they are not going to get a lot of wear. Couple of fancy units got the boot. I wanted all drawer/pullout (as there are things at the back of current cupboards that come out once a year for a wash) but they are so much pricier than cupboards. I wanted new fridge, freezer, washer, dryer, dishwasher bed and suite but looks like I'll be taking them with me. At least until I sell this.

So similar - My gas was a doddle though - only £360. It was quoted at £1400 and then discounted. not sure why but I'm grateful. If it had been the gas that was the expensive one then I probably wouldn't have bothered but can't manage without electric. Mine was done for a retirement fund as I have very little private pension and have withdrawn most of it to live over the past couple of years. Last 10k to come out April. I thought I would be able to get 80 - 100k more for this house than the one I am building will cost which would have easily covered the next 3 years and then supplemented state it's now down to 30 to 50 depending on what the current house sells for. If this was to take 2 years I would be bankrupt way before it was finished. Started just before Christmas and roof going on just after Easter. - That a whole new story. Roofing people have said they can't get a crane here so somehow the droof structure is going to have to be handballed into position. Not quite sure how that is going to work - even if it is only single storey

Double Whammy!!! The council have said that the work cannot be done during the week because of access, so only on Sunday So they can't do it the day they planned. It will have to happen over at least 2 weeks and there is of course Sunday rate to pay. The new price hasn't been confirmed yet but he gave me a ballpark of 5 to 6k extra. I really am beginning to wish I had done a simple downsize. I am going to end up in a smaller (albeit modern and energy efficient) house hardly any better off. It would have been easier to get another job for a couple of years.

Still got some of the 10 year prefabs built in the 40s/50s local to me.And they are still very popular

I think there are already using it for prosthetics in medicine, though - as yet only in a few cases. Lots of research going on.

I paid £300 per thousand bricks laid - this was in 'variations' due to the unexpected level of foundations specified by the SE, and was only for foundations where accuracy but not neatness was required.

My understanding is that salt, sugar, ground kernels of various fruits and ground shell of nuts are all ok (my face scrub has ground peach kernels) but the only way you can tell what is in each product is by reading the ingredients. If the ingredients are not listed it is likely to be suspect as the companies that are supporting the abolition of the use of plastics are keen to show that they have none. Unfortunately it is also true that some companies put in a proportion of organic grains and advertise that whilst also adding the plastic beads. The proportion of people who are likely to check is small. (In many ways it is the (IMO) the modern equivalent of animal testing - with a much greater long term impact on the sustainability of the planet - but less emotive so more under the radar

I guess regulations for many of these things come into being because people do just this. So regulations are put into place saying these things have to be done professionally or at least signed off by a professional. - some or many of whom submit or sign off the same false or inadequate reports - usually whilst indemnifying themselves against inaccuracies (incompetencies) (despite charging stupid amounts for doing so) knowing that 99 times out of a 100, at least, that problems are unlikely to occur in the future close enough for them to still be close enough to have their accountability enforced. Then something like Grenfall happens and everyone starts covering their backs and demanding paper trails - which often aren't worth the 'cyberspace' they take up because everyone has covered their own backs so the accountability goes round in circles. ... Meaning the poor bugger who paid the premium because of the issue is also left with the responsibility because they can't afford to take on the company who put them in this position (Company in this case being 1. big business who can easily afford to take on the individual 2. someone who has already gone out of business or 3. small company who have no money so will just go bankrupt because they can't pay.

You can bet the 'young lady' is going to spend the weekend griping about people who don't want to pay their way at the very least. At the 'best' end of the spectrum she will be whinging about not being appreciated and getting into bother for 'trying to do her job' and ungrateful bosses

Depends on the time of year - Although it is not my problem as have a main contractor and fixed cost for standard build. We have lost 7 full days out of the last month