saveasteading

If you were watching the commonwealth games you'd have seen a real downpour. Also flood damage in recent months to a bridge over the Spey. We are in for continental weather patterns.

Thanks. We also have a good contact in Nairnshire. Seemed a bit amateur at first but doing the prep and pour himself ensured it was thought through. His oppos were entirely for carrying and cleaning up. But this time, I told them what they needed to know but it was either beyond their understanding or they didn't want to know. I'd have held money back but it's a democracy here.

Next summer yes, but winters likely to be as recently. More big storms too. Bring back drizzle.

Yes. Dig out the topsoil. Add a footing if you want but sand would suffice. But you should need to maintain this so seldom that you just lift off the slab roof and a block if necessary. No need for an open side.

And for some reason don't seem much interested in drainage. Perhaps they only want a proposal that they can file. Suggestions. Yes build a swale. it has the benefit of a large surface area of ground and of air, so percolation and evaporation as well as storage. The problem may be the depth available. Feed it by French drain all the way, perhaps with parallel branches to maximise what percolation there may be. The length of run increases the chance of finding a route for the water. An old tree for example. How deep was the test hole? There is often a crust below topsoil. When did the hole dry out? For your own benefit add water butts which you want to be empty before the storms.

sorry about the spelling collapse. If so, then it could be allowed to drain under the garage door. The sump would be a neater and more technical answer but I guess carries more risk, although the smell should be apparent. New cars have plastic fuel tanks. This allows car park fires to result in a series of explosions as beloved of dramatic films. Garage door bottom seals are very approximate so petrol would get through, or you can leave a gap at an edge.

OSB will fall apart with dampness. I'd suggest using brick or block, and it can probably be really rustic, simply stacked and with no footing, then the slab on top. The inside could be stuffed with the kind of rockwool that is water resistant, or use foam ( the non absorbent kind, salvaged from last year's collapsed garden chair.) Rr bubble wrap.

The whole floor could slope away from the door, perhaps with a small lip at the door. I wonder if it is supposed to allow for a whole tank. I've so ig could bd allowed to drain understand garage door. Or to have no draughts, build a sump into the floor.

Can you ask them to show you the "regulation" that requires this, or to explain the reasoning? This "threat" can make a bco accept a sensible compromise. Nobody likes to look stupid. Maybe they personally agree with you but are misinterpreting the rules. Or switch them later. Door 1 to comply with building regs. Door 2 for passive. Or invent your own door which foes both jobs.... somehow. Yes it needs a closer.

oops. Manual. sorry to have wasted your time. I'm thinking one of these so fills buckets but not mouths

If I can't hear it above the breeze in the trees, or the birds singing, then that isn't sound let alone noise. Do we have any sketch or description? It's just a small box with air hoses in and out, and a cable, isn't it? So maybe just a lump of foam between it and an adjacent surface?

Can't hear the Marsh Ensign pump. Well I can't anyway.

I've done that for an office. All toilets flushed with rainwater, but that's all. We couldn't fit an outside tap with it in case someone drank it. I guess we could have fitted a mayal pump for gardening use. The capital cost is high with a separate plumbing system, the tank and the pump. Otoh the saving in water was huge AND sewage charges are based on water supplied, assuming what comes in goes out again. 40 ish persons in the building and it was very good economically as well as sustainably. 10m3 tank never ran dry. The sums will change for domestic use.

It is apparent that not only are the necessary skills in short supply, but so is knowledge. I've been 7 years or so out of the industry. Things are much worse, or maybe it needs a lot more project management and toughness. Our floor issues are because the 'specialist' screeder sent in one guy to lay the insulation and he did NOT like supervision or questions, at which point he couldn't speak English. Fast but rough. Then next day the same guy was laying ufh pipes very quickly and quite well. Then a different gang poured the screed and just moved it around...no level control. Again, no Interest in discussing control of levels: other than to say ' of course, this is what we do'. I never saw the boss unless one of them really was but was feigning just bring a worker. Next time, I would have a very serious discussion beforehand. If it added 2 man days and some screed it would be worth the cost.

It's poor if they haven't designed the pump to be quiet. It is probably cobbled in to the already designed tank as an afterthought, with plastic and screws. I agree with the earth and concrete slab principle if that works.