Ferdinand

Well it wasn't as if my original heckle wasn't blunt ... ???

I think "mandatory or not" is the wrong question. "Useful or not" is the right question. If you are not on a bowling green, it is a very good basis for everything else. F

If there are any small bits of contamination you know about, consider digging those first as appearance in a report may cause a bigger activity. eg If a shed has had lead paint in it for half a century.

I think the key to understanding Ecology BS is that they are small - they only write about £40m of mortgages a year. And I suspect (don't know) that they are actually very well run.

There are two sides to this - investor and borrower. Just thoughts. The control with crowd funding is with the platform not the investor. In general, suspect the well developed funding infrastructure and many options in this country makes it difficult for them. I am only aware personally of one self-builder who uses them, and that was one of our members who used Folk2Folk, who do have a track record. But I understand that they have stopped doing self-build funding. Their main business is crowdfunded loans secured against commercial buildings. Investor side 1 - To me, crowd funding platforms are still a bit short on track record for this area. It does not yet for me pass the gift-horse test. 2 - There is a long history of innovative-looking get rich quick ideas in the property sector, wide boys and non-transparent deals, and it all going either missing or tits-up. And some of it can walk a bit too close to the line. Professionals and developers are still quite shy, imo for good reason, and every so often there is some sort of scandal. 3 - They would normally offer investors a 5-10%+ return at present. That is a lot for a self-builder to carry at present. 4 - I am not really convinced that any of them are self-build experts, which is what would be needed. I could be wrong - Have not looked at them all. Borrower side 4 - I can see it maybe for upfront or build or bridging costs, but is dependent on the build succeeding and a robust payback method afterwards. If a borrower cannot borrow from a bank, that is a telltale that they could be a high risk, or the crowdfund is the last chance saloon. 5 - The indeterminate end of self-build projects is a difficult-to-manage risk. 6 - The lack of experience of most self-builders is also a risk. 7 - I am not clear what sort of verification they run on borrowers. Pro developers would normally have other assets, and so could be gone after. If self-builders have other assets they will often be using them to fund their contribution to a build. All of the above is open to debate. One alternative is a private loan arranged via a local solicitor. Ferdinand

Is the principle not that you ignore everything we say and do it your own way that we all tell you that it will be a disaster, and it takes 3 times as long? As evidenced by the sprayed ceiling? That way fups are reduced by 67% per unit time because you have only done the other 33% of the project? Ferdinand PS No abusive, prejudiced, anti-@pocster assumptions or unwarranted and unjustified floccinaucinihilipilifications have been made in this post. PPS /lie PPPS Have a Fogcutter and you will not remember any of it anyway. PPPPS Before you do, where does one find that sort of delusional optimistic SWMBO? I just got clearance from the medics for a sort-of social life.

I don't see the sense of not designing one in, as we - and our children or parents or friends - are all as likely as anyone to spend time in a wheelchair or have a leg off later. I think a few people have also arranged sloped paths to the another door round the house. I am in an older house, with steps, and I made mine on top of the existing path for a relative from adjustable support pads and big slabs. It will stay, and be flanked by spillover planting and river pebbles the other side. But still be removable in a single day. At least know how you will do one in future, even if you don't have one now. F

Is that for storage or use? Have a look at some garage gym type designs, which can cover a lot of different exercises. If you are going to put steppers and walkers in there, the space will soon vanish but things like eg rowers can store on end.

My new blueberry grove, for one. And making it a bit less obvious whether the car is there or not etc. Can't mention the rest - don't want @pocster to turn green.

I think it may make sense to keep water out, but that would be for potential freeze / thaw damage. Is a B&B floor not basically the same as a motorway bridge? F

Backlands development is a big red flag in a *lot* of places. The impression I have is that bungalows are favoured, and multiple houses in a cul-de-sac may be more favoured than singles as they are a windfall site for the LA. But it is often different in each locality. So I would do what homework you can first, starting on the Council website with what has succeeded in the past. F

Interesting. I am now wondering about how to make it more private and considering a solid gate and the implications.

And welcome.

It's up to you, based on what your abiilities are and perhaps more importantly where you want to put your personal effort to add value and quality. If you have done it before one option is to use one of the previous architects who does not hate you now (?) in a capacity as a paid-for-time consultant or "lunch out at the pub" mentor. I have a retired friend previously employed as an architect by my dad in the early 1970s who is willing to answer questions, give feedback, or do small reports etc on that type of basis as and when. There are plenty of free or cheap packages available for you to do the design side. I think plenty on here have done it ... try the blogs. I would suggest reading the Jeremy Harris blog, as I think he documented vicissitudes of the process side of things in most detail http://www.mayfly.eu/ . He is rather an unusually resourceful person, though - and currently not around on BH. I like to do everything myself once, so I understand it for next time. Ferdinand

Agreed there - one of my favourite September things is the wild damsons in the hedges near Bradwell Power Station. You could fill a wheelbarrow with them. (Not Kent, but still South of Birmingham.)

Can I ask the ABO (*) question? Your roof and drainpipes and gutters are all sound and not contributing, aren't they? I'm sure they are, but one saying on BH is that the only stupid question is the one we did not ask. F * Absolutely Bloody Obvious.

There are also reasonable prices available online. eg £250 with the Car Wash bundle https://www.cleanstore.co.uk/products/Product.asp?ID=16583 That one comes with the Carwash thing, and the "mid-patio" thing (which would presumably clear the middle of my patio), and the drain-cleaning thing, and a thing called a "Handgun". The only missing thing is a "soak the 18 neighbourhood cats at 30m" thing. My super squirter (£3 from the £3 Shop) only has a 10m reliable range. Hmm. Might be worth the difference for the long guarantee. F

(Hoicks thread back from the Underworld) I am looking at a Nilfisk Excellent E-145 refurbished at £170 here: https://www.nilfiskoutlet.co.uk/products/product.asp?id=5576 I have a certain amount of concrete slabbery, so could probably use one. Can anyone comment on whether the rather short 9m hose is much of a limitation? I would have to run a hose from the back through the garage as I currently have no water at the front (other than 400l rainwater in 2 water butts for the garden). My front garden is very roughly 13m x 15m, and I have paths at the extemity both ways ?. If anyone is familiar with the site, do the "bundles" eg with car washing and patio brush come up very often? Cheers Ferdinand

People who live in the tropics ... ?. My bicycling friend in Deal (who is in her 60s) spent most of August on the beach or in the sea.

To be fair, when I lived in South Hampstead my landlord used to jog across the Heath for a swim every morning, then come back and take a cold shower in the nud in the back garden afterwards for most of the year. If a 60 year old willow-thin Londoner can do it, you lot must really be pampering your doggos. Have anyone got a hot air dryer to make them extra comfy? (But I'm the one who installed the catflap into the shed to keep the cat in its correct place.)

How long do the leaves stay? I have a corner that needs a bit more gentle windbreak.

That's interesting. Do you get any sloes from it? (PS I quoted this in the sloe thread over at Gardeners World https://forum.gardenersworld.com/discussion/1045988/sloe-picking/p1)

The only issue I have seen flagged up is that they put out suckers, so need to be kept an eye on.

This blog post is just to note the possibility of using Blackthorn (also known as sloe) as a hedge - which was not one I had thought about. Blackthorn will grow into a small tree, but can also be made into a hedge; personally I think it might be attractive as one species in an informal hedge. The fruit can be made into jams, jellies or flavoured gin. Unlike many gin flavourings, it is far more than a tinge - you *know* that it has sloes in it. It also has white flowers between March and June, and is hardy throughout the UK. Do any buildhubbers have blackthorn in their hedges? Are there any problems? My garden is entirely walled or fenced, but I think I might find room for a bush to grow to perhaps 2.5 or 3m high. For the birds, you understand. And the gin.

If you are the client, you should perhaps be instructing not lobbying.