saveasteading

Yes, except perhaps draw the plots more exactly than the land registry does. The red line is very approximate. You can add dimensions. Or bang in some marker posts now and record them as the future boundary.

Next chapter I have just cut back a shrub which was about to overhang the pavement. I have a pile of sticky, leafy ends which I will shred and use as mulch (4 barrows of mulch so far) Messy end sticks go in the brown bin (and I will buy back the equivalent composted. (It was all meant to be free to collect by ratepayers)) Loppable or chain sawn branches are going in the open fire. Burning amazingly well, just with their natural dryness. Not buying in more logs. A few branches will be selected to use for bean poles. The options were, skip or bonfire or many trips to the tip. Or 'landscape' contractor who would probably burn it in a field. So the only thing I could do better, I think, is change open fire to WBS. I planted the shrub 20 years ago so all of it is carbon I sequestered.

I rather assumed, I know I should find out, that they use bark and waste wood as fuel to dry out the timber chips, and what we see is a mix. They import whole logs, many from Norway, and strip the bark then make the flakes. There must be a huge amount of bark and chips. There is no shortage of bark around there , with many timber works. The smoke/steam certainly always seems to disappear sooner than smoke would. I was in a business group , all MDs trying to be more sustainable. Mostly as an ethos, all to reduce waste, a few for cred points. We went round each others factories etc, and tore strips off each others methods, websites etc. Great fun. We organised a visit to a nuclear power station and had 3 hours of a Senior Engineer's time. Fascinating. Then tried for the waste recycling centre, but were declined. Why? A waste company however, gave me a tour of their plant where they sort out skips and make most money from the air in a skip, and sorting out recyclables. I expected to trap them by asking where the plasterboard was. It was sorted in a corner. They also make lots of money when the incinerator breaks down, and the trucks go to them instead. They send mixed rubbish to Germany where it gets incinerated. So why no visits to the recycling centre? I think my confidante was sworn to secrecy on this one. Obv something was not to be seen or criticised.

Knowing that Spanish WBS are less than half the price of the same models in the UK, and are very well made, we went to get one for here*. There were none with direct air. in passing we noted that there are 3 qualities. 1. Seemed to be from 100 years ago, very rustic and unsophisticated and very, very cheap. there were lots on display so must be bought. 2. high quality , modern, big name, but not with direct air, yet. 3. very flash indeed. On the other hand there seem to be lots from Scandinavia, which are all direct air and all expensive. I wonder where Denmark and Sweden stand in relation to banning them. * It would have been 'used' before crossing the channel, just in case.

Ok we will set up a factory then. OSB is made close enough to see the smoke from the factory...oh ..smoke!!!?? But they only use whole tree trunks. No recycling as far as I know ( and they would tell us). Seriously though, I was once dismantling a 1930s shed, made with lots of high quality pine trusses. First nobody wanted it reclaimed (despite the county council sponsoring a sheltered workshop to take it and sell back.) Just words. Secondly we couldn't get it taken to the waste incineration plant (20 miles away, but not what they take). Words. Thirdly , no waste company would take it other than as mixed waste. Fourthly, I contacted a government quango that was promoting reuse, re- etc. They had very nice representatives and beautiful brochures (Would I like a few?) I asked them for a sustainable solution. No idea. But it is what you are for, and only that. Nope. So we gave up and let a demo company take the lot. It probably went in a field. That was Kent. Offcuts in Highland? There is no incineration...all unrecycled goes to tip. We had perhaps a couple of barrowloads maximum. So I am still thinking that burning it is pragmatically appropriate.. Saves electricity. Doesn't rot underground. No transport. I should also emphasise that, being diy, the cutting is thought out and waste is a miniscule proportion, so fewer trees died than with your average builder.

For your opinion, which I read with interest and espect. We have fitted a 5kW Woodburner. It is currently being used to burn offcuts from the stud wall construction. Not for tidiness but to warm the place for the workers' comfort and to keep out the damp. Good or bad?

I have bought a pack of stump killer for a hawthorn that refused to give in. Then it gave in, without trearment, so that has worked. Jeyes fluid is stated to do it. The blue colour looks lethal. Maybe it is diesel with added blue. Just googled it. Easy to find stump killer.

Area. The size for 5kW came to something like 67mm dia, and the same website quoted the coin thing. Hence there seem to be kits at 80mm.

You can kill a stump. Drill holes into it and pour in what is clearly called 'stump killer'. If it was all accessible you could spray the shoots a couple of times a year until it gives up.

I found a website that gave the formula, but I can't find it again. From memory it is 80mm dia for a 5kW stove with totally external air. Or the size of a 50p coin per kW. It must be a very approximate estimate though, as it will depend on the length and any bends in the pipe. Most kits are of corrugated pipe, further restricting flow, so a bigger diameter like 100mm would be sensible. We put ours in before the floor slab, so used 110 dia drain pipe, then a smaller connection to the stove.

There may well be planning conditions applying to a property or an area, forbidding conversion of a garage, or at least requiring approval. This would be because the garage is one of a required number of parking spaces, approved with the original permission. ie if the garage is not available for parking, where does the car go? Plus, an extra room potentially requires another vehicle.

They are used to line basements that are damp, and similar for the rear of retaining walls, to divert water to the base. If the stonework is well done then you are looking at dampness and not liquid, running water. However there are scenarios that could cause issues. More info would help. What purpose, location and structure of the wall. I have never used such a product, but i t is easy to google. I think newton is a well known brand.

He has. See link currently 18 hours ago

I'm not in a position to look into this at present, but they are easy enough to source. You have to consider where any water can go after it runs down the face. Can you drain the bottom?

Is there meant to be an attachment? Many would be interested if you have a blank one, ie no names or location.

Grey on metal has always been very stable for us. I'm sure it fades slightly but it does so evenly. Putting these mentioned grey colours side by side, especially in shade, there isn't a huge difference. On big panels it is very clear. I agree. Choose the colour you want.

For general info. I recall one project where the local authority desperately needed us to make a project viable. (Tenders well over budget). Their qs was insistent on a highly altered contract that was otherwise industry standard. Every change of course favoured their client, insofar as they even knew why it was altered. So I said that we needed to charge for an expert analysis and probably for the increased risk, and there would be a delay. They gave way and the contract was unaltered. School got the sports hall and the 35% saving. The benefit of proper "design and build". These contracts are intended to be 'fair and equitable' so any change will alter the risk.

Can we see it? Sounds good. We used to use a 4 page document for very big projects. Clients liked that it was 1. Free. 2 easy to understand. But lawyers and qs reps of bigger companies prefer more words.

Keeps its colour better though. 15 years ago I had trouble getting this colour, which had many names, but I insisted. So the popularity may be my fault. Although as a sprayed colour on pvc it turned a lovely lilac. I agree that the windows should match the existing for some continuity.

Or cow muck, which filters through. Our ground is pure sand which drains at 17 seconds/mm Except in the covered barn area where there was zero percolation. After 300mm of excavating manure and sand mix, it is clean again. Sheep's feet also make ground impenetrable by puddling clay, just as canals were lined.

warranty - what should I expect/aim for? None. A builder who has a dependable warranty will charge a lot. Common law covers it in theory. Either pay 50% more for a bigger company, or learn up and check build quality as you go. Do make sure the insurance is valid and relevant. Get a copy if it and read the small print. it needs to be for a surprisingly high level of cover.. someone else may know the going rate.

You pay it. Assuming you have mains the use is a tiny cost. Nothing will spoil relations more than you charging.. Anyway, if you tell the builder you will charge for it, then he will rightly add it to his quotation as a job cost.

I was very surprised when Nordan said we choose our own straps then showed us some metal offcut from who knows what. What size, how many, what screws, would be better to be specified, or at least suggested.

Never say never. Most of my commercial experience is with steel buildings, so the screw through the frame is simple and very effective. With an ali frame, and glazed on site this is quick and tidy, with the screws hidden.

You can also have a system of running contracts, all written by you. Eg an email saying, dear Dave*, as agreed today, please construct the footings and blockwork up to dpc and backfill. Includes all labour, plant and materials, and details to the drawing I gave you today. To begin on monday and be completed within 2 weeks. Payment in full of £x within a week of completion. There are many gaps in this but it covers enough to prevent a major dispute. * what is the ubiquitous name for builders these days? Stefan perhaps.