Marvin

Hi @JackofAll You haven't indicated how you intend to heat water. I assume a instant hot water system and it will need a pressure limiter anyway. However in general a water pressure limiter will protect your home from excessive pressure which over time can wear out equipment, cause some loos to be very noisy when filling, protect water softeners, allow a more regularised supply when more than one tap, loo, shower or machine is using water at the same time. I usually connect them right after the supply to any outside taps.

Hi @JackofAll Personally I would use a pressure reducing valve set at about 3 bar fixed on the incoming main. Depending on how far you are away from the supply during the summer the pressure can drop significantly. But its not just the pressure its actually the flow rate that you should worry about. Test this by using the first tap from the mains: Put a big bucket under the tap. Turn the tap full on and count how long it takes to fill the bucket and then turn tap off. Measure the water in the bucket so you know how many litres are in it. Divide the litres by the amount of seconds it took to fill the bucket and times the result by 60. This will be the amount of water that will enter the house system per minute. As an example a typical shower will use between 12 and 16 litres a minute. What will happen: If you have 2 showers on at the same time in the house you will need a supply of 24 to 32 litres per minute otherwise the showers will dribble. Bear in mind the kitchen tap on and off loos flushed, washing machines and dishwasher possibly using water whilst showering. Good luck M

Shame. Easily available: lead sealant in lead colour.

Yes. if anything, I prefer to see a mister system....

Yup. You'll know for sure doing this...

A must.

Hi @G and J This is a fluid question. The GU10s have gone up and down in price. The range of choices is now so big as to require a spread sheet to list them. Different makers produce different qualities with different designs with different materials. Different installations with different temperature extremes, being turned on and off more or less frequently. The list goes on and on. You can buy them for 79 pence each now. The first ones I bought cost 3.75 each. You can also pay £7.99 for 1 thingy. I have clients who have had the same GU10's for over 20 years without replacing one (these were all glass domed ones). I had one client where the same bulbs kept blowing. I put it down to the poorly built cold flat roof allowing a breeze to blow through...

Interesting. We have multiple GU10 brands, some different wattages with different brightness and angles. Some get hotter than others and I think this is a factor. Also I seem to remember reading that ceramic domed ones are better in regard to heat problems. We have about 50 installed. Some have so far lasted 8 years with high use. WE mainly use GU10 4W 120 degree warm, cool, or daylight. @NickfromwalesDid you see how I managed not to mention Bulbs? 🤬 I just mentioned them.

Hi @Pocster Er... No one wants to look at your photos in case their of, or eluding to, an abnormal anatomical subject matter. Especially when you write about gel. M

I have not done this. However I wouldn't do this. Pipes in trenches in the ground are a big heat loss thing especially over that distance. Yes it can be done but you will be paying a lot more for heating and hot water forever... I saw one once. The concrete path above the pipes melted the snow, and the rain water flowing around the pipes absorbed heat before flowing away. It would have been better to lay them in a swimming pool. Outside temperature effects ground temperature significantly in the first meter so on very cold days the ground around the pipes will be colder... Protecting boiler and pipes from freezing will be achieved by running the boiler during the day and night or antifreeze?? Humidity effects the electrical side of a boiler and components. I wouldn't do this either, but it would be better off in the loft if you have one suitable. The best place is inside the building thermal envelope. Other's may have other opinions Good luck M

This sort of thing often happens over the Xmas period due to the requirement for a decision to be made over a limited amount of time. Sometimes applications submitted in December miss the last parish council planning meeting but need to be commented on before the main council planning meeting in January. In cases like this information is usually forwarded to parish councillors for opinions and the result forwarded to the main council. I think the rules regarding notification to neighbours have been watered down over the years. Sadly the vast amount of objections people make are not valid planning reasons under the rules for planning permission to be denied. The neighbour informed by letter was probably the one whose boundary was nearest the works to be carried out or would somehow be directly affected. If the neighbour was informed during the consultation period I think the requirement to allow people to make comments would have been fulfilled. Planning is a minefield and is only equalled by building control....

In my humble opinion I think this shows the different mindset between buying, doing up and selling, and buying, renovating and living in. With a bit of luck, insulation would last and have no running cost, however the additional energy used because of the lack of insulation would probably increase year on year. I think there's a lot of maths to find the reality to the cost difference and it would depend who's doing the work etc. For us facing a future of retirement and a reduced income it is better for us to have paid at the beginning (by spending less on holidays) then trying to find more money later. But then we intend to stay here. My brother used to say 'Pay now or pay later either way you pay' The only thing is you do not know how much the future bill will be.

not like you..

Yes.

Hi @Jimbobjones Planning says yes, and building control have to ensure you follow building regulations - different things. I know a lot of plans that permit a building, however there was nowhere for rainwater to go but in the foul sewer, and this was permitted by default. M.