saveasteading

Very good. Could a version of this be put at the start to engage attention and cut tothe point? what about a headline? Government's Air source heat pump (ASHP) grant system only benefits the closed shop industry, It costs more to the end client and taxpayer, and is a hindrance to the UK reducing emissions.

Sorry, I have read it properly now. You can't turn it off, rather than it's running all the time. Yes they should fix that for you.

That is pretty much what we have done. We are adding an insulating layer on the inside to achieve current standards, and it will also reduce temperature fluctuations in the service void. We have modified our wall cavity design to be 50% pir and 50% (ish) mineral wool. Practical and more likely to perform as intended. I've not seen a technical assessment on thermal looping in this situation. I know it is an issue in windows and especially skylights. In this situation I'm not immediately concerned , but happy to be enlightened. @IcevergeSo right about the Kingspan details. Their manuals used to be so good that it was often my first reference. Then they give the free cad stuff to architects so no thinking was required. As I've said, I have not looked at the drawings. Is this based on the ubiquitous Scottish white hoose?

If the info goes to a journalist then they can dumb it down as appropriate. If it goes in 'Which' magazine, all the papers can pick it....where their masters allow. Can we read your pitch please? OK to say no.

Can someone here with the knowledge write a short statement on why it is a bad idea? Then it could be sent to Which magazine to investigate. Also I think the Guardian are always looking for social stories.

Now, I am not expert but will say something then others can chip in. I think 25mm is standard. But if the water pressure is consistently high then 20mm may be enough. Unless the water company changes that short piece, there will be a throttle effect there even if you put a bigger pipe in. Is there enough water in the house now? If nothing in the house is running then there must be a leak in either the lead, or mdpe or at your side of the meter. Once you have taken the lead connection off, i would fit a valve, then you can turn it off and see if the flow has stopped, before connecting the new pipe. Do you leave that valve on the system for your convenience in emergency or is it an unnecessary additional leak point?

It jut seems to me like the previous 'green deal' etc. It is very easy for the government to set up yet another scheme, and throw money at the new quango. The people promoting the green deal were charming but not skilled, being on a serious of moves from one grant aided quango to the next. I'm assuming this is much the same. And where does the unskilled quango go for advice? Easy, uncomplicated advice on how to run a scheme: the closed shop that will gain. then they come up with 1. use us and our people or there is no grant ahhh that's it. there is no rule 2.

Is there a single technical person 'at the top', or near it?

One would hope that an Architect had considered this. in terms of structure and of insulation`, With a thought to practicality and local norms. You can get building reg's with 300mm but it will preclude some constructions. Ask your architect to draw or describe the wall / building construction they have in mind, as a matter of urgency. I'm a bit concerned that this doesn't appear to have been discussed with you. I should emphasise that I have not looked at your drawings, as Iadded don't want downloads of other peoples' projects.

Most areas have a dedicated timber merchant, often an independent. Being specialist they may have more names.

If you can find a joiner who went to college, they will know the principles , and have done at least one. The details will be on the drawings. Ours made up panels on the slab and manhandled them into place. Thus a normal bm wagon can do the delivery. Helps on cash flow and risk too... Read elsewhere on bh.

The cheaper the quote for this assessment the more they will enter generic figures and the tick boxes that are easiest. Otherwise there would be dozens of questions for you to answer, and you'd be passing them on to your suppliers, who don't necessarily know the answer. I'm used to SBEM not SAP but it seems similar. The difference between the first assessment and the answer we needed was once a single tick in the right box for the gas boiler efficiency. I dont think the assessor eve realised the significance (basically a percentage was applied in the formula, making more difference than it should have). would your assessor send you a draft of the assessment?

A selective shot, not the best view but one that omits personalisation/ neighbours etc The grass was cut 2 days ago. The dips are from ancient drainage ( it dries out quickly) The wild bit is new. It was simply allowed to grow. The only planting was some yellow rattle seeds and the apple trees , so it is not established. I cut it once a year and rake the cuttings off.

That isn't strong in itself so you don't have to worry about the roohlight strength. For strength you need fibreglass sheets madd to the vladdinv profile. There are also polycarbonate moulded to suit, which will simply lap, whereas twin wall is fiddly to fit. If there is an agricultural cladding supplier near you, they will get it in the right profile. But don't the bitumen sheet people offer clear sheets too? Buying one panel might be quite costly. Come back on here for fixing advice....basically use very big washers.

I vaguely remember the inputs and tickboxes for boiler and controls make a big difference.

Firstly Truth is good. Secondly, most insurers invest heavily in finding an excuse to deny responsibility. I met an insurance manager (you will have heard of them) who boasted that only 30% of their income went out again in claims. This is exceptional I believe, but the principle stands.

I wonder if the water pressure is significant. I have some on mains, and the flow varies from too little to popping the fittings, as the pressure varies. The small pump ones come off sometimes too, but i haven't established a logic to it. My claber timer didn't last a whole summer. If I recall it leaked internally. good luck with yours.

Part of the design process is to assess the ground strength. Then the SE calculates the weight and other loads of the building and what area of foundations will spread the load far enough that any settlement is trivial. For the 3 storey building that will require a larger area (perhaps 3 times as much) of foundations than for the single storey, unless the ground is very strong. It seems that they have added the single storey as if it was an extension, rather than lined through. But it still shouldn't separate and move differentially. Your inspector would know all of that, if he has any expertise, or even has been paying attention. Perhaps others on here know if NHBC are to be relied on. I'm not from a housing background. I do know though that the big developers do not regard themselves as builders, and leave all that stuff to others. The 'others' may, or may not, have included an SE. Or they may just have built to typical details (seriously that happens). No you are not wasting your time. Every process starts somewhere, and you have it on record that they have made an inspection and agreed that there is shrinkage damage. I wonder if this is something you should advise to your house insurer. They may send an independent expert and pick this argument up for you, with more clout, rather than paying to fix it. Or perhaps they'll say not to worry, and you can accept that. It's up to you if you want to take it further, or hope it goes away.

The green bit gets mown, and the cuttings left where they fall, and is fine for kids. Doesn't need watering or weeding. In fact they prefer to see the daises, buttercups and clover, and the insects.

For the grass you just let it go brown and recover again. It always does. I'm very happy with the new unmown area and letting the rest of the grass and other plants ( no longer called weeds) fight it out. The insect life likes it too. I foresee sprinklers being banned soon. I would anyway, but I'd get Attenborough to explain why.

This is pretty standard. The pipes are also very easy to pull off the connectors. ( gardening or passing cats) Allow for occasional maintenancd and an annual session of trimming pipe ends and flushing algae from nozzles.

That's the sort of thing that Engineers think about. I guess they didn't bother with that expenditure. For clarity. Extension is mentioned, perhaps as a convenient description, but it was all built together as new? In a 5 year old building? No. And if it had then that would be a worry, not an excuse. That surprises me. Perhaps they asked the postman as he was passing anyway. Seriously I would acknowledge receipt and ask for the status and qualifications of the inspector. Also if they intend to monitor the problem.

does it say of what? the walls are shrinking?

Half a storey, no muck away , and provides additional insulation to the ground floor. OK I am sold. You must need some serious pumping to keep it dry, if you have a wet season between the permafrost and the summer.

I would expect some Engineers' practices to be very happy to do both. It is Building Science. For a purely Structural Engineer there would be a lot of reading up to do on insulation, but the science is easy enough. But there is probably one in a practice of 10 that is into it. This might result in a neatly integrated and practical design. Controversially I suggest that Architects practices tend to be more individual and linear in their work and sublet these secondary specialities to other consultants.