saveasteading

I googled it. @Amateur bobcan too.

A matter for another day perhaps. Industry contracts, esp JCT, are designed to be fair and equitable. From the quote above it looks as if the builder did not have authority for all of this, so isn't due all the money. You have a contract, so Lawyers can work with that.

Sounds like the answer. @Amateur bob can at least work on this assumption while the others catch up.

That's common. I mean having an accurate gut feel of how it's going is a rare skill. They can analyse of course, and should, but they will be getting surprises too. Costs did increase last year but not that much. If it's any consolation, I would always allow at least 10% contingency on a refurb/ conversion and expect to have to spend it and overcome as much again with skill and ideas. So I'd advise an amateur to allow more. Have there been any surprises in the project that had to be overcome? Regardless of all that, what does the contract say? Is it an industry standard contract or the builders own?

Can the output of both tanks be piped to a single P treatment installation? I'm wondering if the planners have heard of the klargester phosphate removal equipment and assumed this was a digester too. But no, from klargester or Marsh and perhaps the others , it is an extra thing.

The joists are stabilising the wall that holds up the roof. Not high science, just the way traditional buildings work. I wouldn't dream of removing them.

No longer as it now has plywood overlapping the joints.

That's good policy though. Lochs are very low on nutrient so that would really mess things up. If the P tank is £3k then are you going to pump the septic contents to the new, PTP and a single P tank? The next size of PTP isn't usually much more.

OK from a very quick study. Phosphorous (P) is a problem in rivers and ponds. Package treatment plants reduce P whereas septic tanks don't. The concentration is less important than the amount and timescale. So big plants eg on a housing estate, may need additional treatment. If going to soakaway it is less of an issue. Local authorities in sensitive areas may require additional treatment to reduce P esp on big developments It's an extra tank with chrmical treatment, at a few £k whoever supplier. For a single domestic PTP to soakaway it doesn't seem to be a worry for us.

I'm not aware this is a requirement. Perhaps is best practice if discharging to a water course as it increases algae. Do you have a source for this info?

The prices may vary according to whether they do exactly the right size. I saw these online yesterday but know them to be in the right field. We bought the 10 person for £2,295 +vat, a year ago.

Decision made. 6mm plywood does fit to the threshold level, and is already obtained, being a standard product, So unibonding and screwing it on. Then it will need a bit of latex at the threshold and be ready. Thanks team.

I've used them 3 times over about 10 years. Very happy with technical advice (a real person) and the product. UK made, fibreglass. What else do I like? Options for depth to keep the hole shallow. Easy delivery. Bought through your BM so iz on account. Not overcomplicated.. 3 Chambers in a line Mucky in, almost clean out and that will still clean the water and flow in a power cut. I've no experience of the others, so have nothing against them.

There are other ways. Your loading is only increasing slightly, isn't it? So doesn't need doubling the joists? 1. Bolt a wallplate to the wall and rest the new joists on it. 2. Sister the existing joists. They shouldn't need to go all the way into the wall, as bending is in the middle. 3. Fix plywood on top and/ of bottom of joists thus turning ghe whole floor into a very strong structure. These are practical suggestions, not mainstream, that you must run past the SE who knows the full context.

Looks like the vortex is about £2400 and rhe Marsh £1800. Plus vat. vortex has built in sampling chamber apparently. It's all easy to find online.

If the hole is tightly dug, that is fine. If not, it can be a lot of concrete. This detail can follow as it isn't urgent. Way back, Conder and Klargester were the options. One of them became the generic name through more extensive marketing.

There isn't 6mm to play with due to existing constraints. 3mm ply or 3.6mm ply seems expensive as not in stock as standard. Not bad work for an Architect doing some practical. Existing founds and slab retained, stick build above. Nobody else involved so far, but plumber and electrician will do their stuff.

No there are joins and it moves a fraction there. After filling it may be ok, and there will be a washing machine etc which will preload. She thinks she clicked the wrong item on the order and is cross with herself, hence hoping for a magic answer. But I'm thinking best add another sheet glued and stapled everywhere. Then the taped edges may suffice too. With these joins to cover and strengthen the ply is favourite, as hardboard may not be stiff enough, Yes, it will be dry laid first.

Bosch is one of the reliable brands so that isn't the problem.. I think you may have reached structural concrete or a lump of something very hard. Have you tried different speeds? Fastest is not best. Also don't push to hard as it reduces the banging effect. Failing that, buy or borrow or hire an SDS drill. this isn't especially expensive, but good sds bits cost much more than poor ones. An sds drill bit rattles loosely in the drill and so chips rather than scrapes at the material. And/or try a different type of bit. Tungsten heads sometimes work better on hard materials. Or there are diamond bits, readily available at the merchants.

Easy. Klargester has a mechanical wheel that lifts, mixes and aerates the sludge. Very good at breaking down the stuff. But it's a mechanical thing that needs maintenance and apparently breaks down sometimes. Vortex and others have a simple air pump like in a fish tank. If it wears out, then its easy to fix or repair. Similar quality at outlet stage, which of course the law requires. BTW if the chamber is a 3 chamber process, then it will continue to do the job, just not so well, until fixed. I'm going to compare Vortex ( as it's recommended by several) with Marsh (which I know to be good). The outlet figures are both good, so it will be other factors. Cost (purchase and as complete), size, base etc.

So many variables, I can't answer that. I've had a look at vortex and Marsh. One has lugs, the other an integrated lip. I've got another project coming up hence my renewed interest. Depth of dig is a major factor, simply as good practice. More so if water table is an issue.

Is it needed at all? Bco probably but they may reasonably say that it is specialist. Likewise SE may not have studied this but probably has. I know because i studied it as designer and contractor and found how little it is understood. Spec help will come from a manufacturer. My favourite is Envirograf, then do them the credit of using their product. It is a matter of the exposed surface area and the mass of steel. Heated perimeter÷area. How chunky basically.

One of my daughters is rebuilding a conservatory, entirely herself, with great success. She has laid osb onto pir. Osb was a mistake as t and g chipboard would have been better, bit it is not changing. So the concern is that foam vinyl will reflect the texture of the osb. Also that bits of osb may flake off once the vinyl is glued down. Then of course the challenge of laying. She hasn't done carpets or vinyl before. I'm wondering if a thickish adhesive will help eg old fashioned evostik. Or a coat of unibond? Any suggestions of the best way to stick it down? Skirting later will cover edge blips.

Unless applied thinly with many coats. Or perhaps the industrial, lumpy paint look suits. @ectoplasmosis at the risk of telling you what you know. Does your design state the spec? The thickness of paint is determined by the steel exposure and how chunky it is. Many steels go underprotected. Many are protected unnecessarily. The steel fails when it reaches about 300°C. I think you are elsewhere by then, one way or another.

And quite right on reflection. They're not insured for it.