Selfbuildsarah

Hi all The pipes for our ASHP are being fitted through an external rendered wall of our MBC timber frame. The external rendering is starting shortly but we haven’t had our airtightness test yet. We are hoping to get ASHP pipes in through the wall and fix grommets and tape in advance of rendering (after airtightness test) so that they a render around. There are so many different grommets and tape. We think we will go for Pro Clima but not sure which. Do we need different kind for external and internal? Thanks all.

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I’ve read about temporary staircases on here before (Howdens for £100?) but no luck finding one for our build. Our local Howdens wouldn’t say how much for a basic staircase and weren’t interested in us signing up for an account. Nothing on eBay. We are not skilled enough to make one unfortunately!

Who said I wanted a black concrete tiles Nick? I’ve had samples of EVERY product. They are sitting outside my current house in a lovely coordinated heap and the black fascia still matches our windows. Weinerberger cover themselves on their website by saying batches may vary. Order dark grey tile with matching dry verge and you get plum tones with a non toning/matching verge and I have to put up with it. I’ll take Nick’s advice and stop staring at it. All good. Thanks Nick

Black is black therefore only matches our windows. Grey is not grey as far as the Weinerberger company go. Still don’t want a plum coloured roof. If I’m buying a dark grey tile that’s what I expect to get. Sorry if I’m being pedantic. It’s called attention to detail.

I really shouldn’t have moaned. Things just got worse. A right old mish mash of colours now. Hideous. This was not part of my vision. Any suggestions? I suggested roof tile paint to my husband. He was not happy.

It’s really bugging me. Doesn’t help that the houses near us have nice sharp looking dark grey tiles 🫤

Started roofing and I’m slightly disappointed that the appearance of our Danum TLE roof tiles looks almost plum coloured instead of dark grey. Will the colour change when it weathers in? Certainly doesn’t look dark grey to me 🫤

Details from architect above

Our QS says he can’t find a supplier for cavity barriers for timber frame! 🤔🤦‍♀️

Apologies, forgot to post reply to this. Do we use the Rockwool type or the flexible pvc wrapped cavity barrier? Thank you

Building control have just said fit an in-line roof tile vent. Opinions please!

Just spoken to Brendan from MBC on site and he’s reassured us all taping including soil pipe will be done by MBC so we will stick with the one plus AAVs 👍

Thanks Branco. We did think about this. We will have a further chat with builder this morning. Presumably we will have to get the OK with building control first if we choose to do that?

Our timber frame is nearly up and we have a roofer and builder lined up for external work. I don’t think our roofer is familiar with airtight, timber frame or our builder 😬 We have been advised to use ProClima Roflex gasket and Tescon Vana tape to seal soil stack. Apologies if this is a silly question (mine usually are) but is this for penetration through the roof tiles or lower or both? Should we also be using a special flashing? Our roofing will be Danum TLE system. We are going to have to explain this clearly to roofer and builder this morning!

My husband is a bit of a technophobe and not computer literate. He is struggling with the Obi portal to upload required documents. Asked me to take a look. I am usually fairly confident with tech and if I don’t know how to use a system I will find out how to. Well I can’t make head nor tail of it. There is clearly going to be a lot of info to upload and we are clueless. Any suggestions for support in this process?

Advice please re fire rated mineral wool cavity closure. We will be having part timber clad and part render on our MBC timber frame airtight house. Do we need different types of cavity closure according to surface. What about ventilation? A possible builder is asking what we want!

Having trouble finding any first fix plumbers in Cambridgeshire or surrounding areas. Where are they hiding? Any suggestions or recommendations gratefully received. We are running short of time.

Apologies if this is in the wrong place - wasn’t quite sure where it ought to be! Does anyone know where I can find the spindles in this photo? They are not the same as most round/tubular versions. These are more of a flat, ribbon shape. Thank you

Someone has just raised something I haven’t come across so far - do we need antifreeze in our ufh?

This is way harder than we imagined. We are (at the moment) working on the assumption that the external work will be carried out by individual trades, rendering, timber cladding, brick plinth and roof. Looking for a builder/contractor for internal work. Good ones seem to be thin on the ground in Huntingdonshire/Cambridgeshire and those we’ve approached either don’t respond to calls/emails or say no, too busy, can’t do it until August/Sept or not interested. We are currently preparing the site for MBC to start at the end of April and here we are unable to look forward ………

Thank you Alan

All 16 pages? 😳

Can anyone recommend somewhere for personalised site signage please? Our plot is at the bottom of a partly completed development and so we want to position appropriate signage along the route rather than just rely on what three words. Thanks!

I’ve finally got around to looking at the heat loss figures and roughly calculated that the suggested size of heat pump by our installers is too large. They have told us 12kw but my calculations said 7kw. I will do a room by room calculation to double-check but I wondered if some kind soul has the time to check for me if I send my SAP report. I simply can’t get on with the online checkers. Would be so grateful.