saveasteading

EPS on the bottom? The thickness of insulation must provide diminishing returns, but I think the theoretical calculations say that 200 is twice as good as 100. As an extreme example, at 1000 I don't think the last 100mm will be making any difference. Extending that logic, it would be best to put the better insulation on top....I think.

Yes and you have only this one chance to do it, especially if you are having underfloor heating. Someone else here can do the calculation for you, but I am guessing you get the money back in about 5 years, and as fuel prices rise you benefit more (lose less).

I'm not a fan of superfoil or the bubblewrap insulation sheets, but might that not be easy and useful under the rafters?

You are there, so why not get your hand in the pipe and see what the inside is like? These are really for problem solving, not new work, but perhaps your drain was already there.

I seem to recall that even these don't need planning. As to planning and SAP, nobody can make you fit it immediately, and it is reasonable to explain cash flow. The BCO theoretically could say you hadn't yet satisfied the SAP, but unlikely. I have many a project with 'future PV panels' on the planning drawing.

Wardrobe solid to the floor, then carpet built into it. I'm an amateur but have managed to lay carpet into walk-in wardrobe, all in one piece. Easier to cut and put a threshold on though. I can't see any advantage in building on the carpet as it will be trashed under the wardrobe walls.

It is easy enough to find by searching online. Pointing the dish is rather more difficult and there is a meter for that (even in b and q I think. For horizontal direction finding I use google earth...draw a line from the transmitter and then you can see the line of sight you need when up on the roof.

We are talking red squirrels here, and also pine martens. From what I have read the swallows are not programmed to see a box on a tree as an option anyway. Perhaps a big, insulated box constructed on the outside of an outbuilding would do.

There are mountains of the stuff in Spain and Italy, but getting smaller. Pinoso (Alicante. Spain), is the largest marble quarry in the world. The Alicante plane flies over this on approach. Different mountains, different colours.

I can tell you are genuine and can afford it as you haven't asked the cost.

I don't think we do politics here. Or swearing, whether asterisked or not..

Think dismantling rather than demolition. Look at HSE guidance on working with asbestos (which is proportionate and sensible) and Local Authority rules on disposal Or get a company to do it. Then make sure it is done sensibly for your own health and workers and neighbours. OH lines, the rules should be published online (or phone them) , and are mainly to do with proximity. High voltages jump a long way to a metal object such as a crane or hoist (or person on roof) and fusing the neighbourhood doesn't go down well.

Back to entertainment systems. I know a company that will install a system in your Mayfair basement or your yacht anywhere in the world. When he shows his 'secret' client list people just gulp at the names. Once he asked if the client would like a pre-loading of music onto the system, and was handed the client's phone and told to spend up to £10k on downloads. Happy to pass on your contact details if anyone needs that help.

Shhhhhh !!

That would be the worry. That you think you know everything, like the boarder or the sparky mentioned above. But such a person would not be on this site, asking (or answering) questions.

This would look very odd and clunky made of several units, but is simple enough made of sections. Hence needs to be a company used to this, and not one mass-producing normal windows.

Some of us know a lot about very little. Some know a little about a lot. The above trades were people who knew very little about very little, but didn't know how little they knew.....they are scary... and they are out there now.

I have had a look at the Rationel website. I don't see any mention of them doing large feature panels (one is a full gable opening to roof). That doesn't mean they wouldn't do it. In such cases I provide an intermediate steel support to allow the glazing framing to be normal sections.

Great info thanks. My recollection is that Rationel (aluminium clad)were 50% dearer than upmarket pure aluminium ( ie without the timber). I have talked to Rationel at trade shows and they made no attempt to suggest they could be cheaper. I think this was partly that their product is clearly complex and very high quality, but also that their market (Architect specified) could handle that price level. £400 supply is much cheaper than I remember and that was some years ago. Perhaps the market has changed. I have sent their Aberdeen office an initial query. Also Russel timber at Glasgow.

Your sketch is brilliant at explaining the principles. The manufacturers don't do this as well as you. If you waive copyright I will print it for training the family and questioning prospective installers. I didn't know the system sent the right temperature in different directions at different times. Perhaps not all do. A basic question if you don't mind. When a tank calls for water does a valve switch to that tank only, and is the ASHP switched to provide the higher/lower temperatures?

Your thoughts are appreciated. I looked into this, but apparently they will be easy pickings for the squirrels and pine martens. I am now thinking how many midges it takes to feed that lot! Where should a swallow nest box be located? Fortunately, Swallows will use a special open nest box in an enclosed area such as a porch or outbuilding. A Swallow Nest should be sited inside a building which allows easy access for the birds via an open door or window, such as a garage or outhouse.

Thanks all. So the companies from Aberdeen and 'the south' are happy to travel 2 hours plus, to measure and to fit. Or have local reps and fitters more likely. Have used slate grey aluminium on multiple commercial jobs and had no colour issues, but will bear this in mind. I can see that the blue in it might go green if unstable. Thinking about it more, this was in a very populous area and we still had a company from 70 miles away to get the product and service we wanted. Rationel are awfully expensive though (last I checked) and we will have 40 m2 of windows. (Rationel's website says they typically do jobs over 100m2!. I know they target, and are often nominated suppliers, on school projects) Maybe I should extend the search 'to Aberdeen and beyond'.

Looking ahead somewhat to window and door supplier, in case we need to allow any detailing at the repairing walls stage. I have been trawling through the local suppliers by web search. Every one does uPVC, some do timber but none seem to do aluminium. Apart from £50/m2 differential is there a local reason for this? We are favouring aluminium to get a slate grey colour, and because there is a large feature panel where I don't think pvc will cope. btw I have a strong dislike for 'wood effect' on plastic. Also, I was once persuaded to use coloured uPVC and liked the saving, but not how the grey windows became lilac over 2 years. Perhaps the colouring is better now.

Worth paying a QS with rating knowledge to advise. The rules of valuing are laid down, and the QS can advise if they agree or can argue for you.

Good info thanks. The detail you show is better than many, But you need a bigger area than with glass for the same light, so more heat loss. Yes, that is the best detail. But the best steel will last a lot longer than the best polycarbonate (which is much better than fibreglass). Also the screws pull the steel very tight, whereas you have to be gentler and use extra big washers over the plastic. I know that there are many more leaks at skylights than at metal joints. Plus birds sit and peck at the plastic. That is new to me. there is a foam compression filler there, so they seem to be acknowledging some concerns. Never had any air test problems due to standard cladding, only when special details had to be formed for aesthetics. When I read your piece I hadn't thought of using these rooflights in a domestic setting, so was thinking of plonked on feature skylights. I agree that metal cladding can look fine for domestic, even in an urban setting, as long as it is like this profile and grey, as it looks like an old zinc roof, only modern. Some of my concerned comments are related to flattish roof slopes, and diminish on domestic looking slopes, but composite is horrible to lift and fix on steep slopes.