Ferdinand

Yep, for many. FOrtunately on the main planning application I have done in the last few years, the only potential bat roost was an old oak tree in a hedgerow. I am very critical of a system which makes the organisation which is the main adviser to Local Authorities and Natural England ... and a massive cotnributor to policy ... the same organisation which gets its revenue from training Batmen. THey even run the Bat Helpline referred to on the Natural England website FFS. HEre for example is a course outline stating that the method statement in a British Standard was "taken directly from this course". https://www.bats.org.uk/our-work/training-and-conferences/training-for-arborists-tree-surgeons/bats-and-arboriculture-secondary-roost-surveys-for-arborists TO me that is a poisonous nest of conflicts of interest and the whole thing needs root and branch reform. In the meantime the setup Is imo inimical to the protection of bats. THis account is amusing but sobering: https://www.countrylife.co.uk/country-campaigns/beware-the-bat-mafia-8911 Ferdinand

@Hecateh I think you have now worked this out. There's nothing stopping you stick into a bit of trellis or even a bit of willow hurdle on the fence at the appropriate point to give extra height, either on it snow or with a vigorous climber. The only extra thing I would add is that if you are going to ask for a change via whatever route, it is probably better to do it reasonably quickly i.e. In 3-12 months not 2-3 years. F

I think if you work out your max flow and divide it by the qty of showers that will tell you something. YOu could do that now. Is your electric shower communal i.e. In the common parts? IF it is then I would stick with it as a crisis resource. IF it is not, then I wOuld consider switching to UVC as your emergency routine will rely on your Ts sharing showers, which is not such a good fallback. Personally I think that sticking with an electric shower is a good idea in addition to the others, as for a self-managed property you could be away for a weekend or a week, and in a luxury HMO you would get your nuts roasted. I would go straight for the accumulator, ideally for everything, but there is an argument that says you could just restrict it to a subset of showers, or even just to the eclectic one if the others are OK together. I think that allowing your builder to go on wild goose chases may, when you examine the whole enchilada, be a bit of a red herring ?. Ferdinand

And probably a rule of thumb.

I guess so ?.

Personally I would say talk to them about it, and see what they want. Then let them see it being done. Is there something to be said for either doing it with a handheld jackhammer first on that strip, or leaving it in place? F

Indeed they do, under "nuisance", and probably the EH Department. In the meantime a mirror carefully directed?

And make sure anything you hang will bounce...

Use TWO command.com strips....

they also do another version without the hook, where there are two halves for the wall and the pic, and the adhesion is like Velcro.

If someone is taking it away that is probably one time to insist on the correct Waste Trnsfer / Handling license. If it is fly tipped down a local drain, you would I think be responsible.

Years ago at the mini-manor we had a big hollow tree blow over and tickle the neighbours' roof a hundred feet away. Bloke came along, and agreed to cut it up and take it away for £x. His estimating skills were some way off, as it took many times more than the couple of days he estimated. It was one of the traditional broadleaves that goes like marble when it has been standing dead for a bit.

Why not also put a min/max temp and humidity in there? They cost very little. I just bought one of these for a tenner and it seems fine. https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B017KNQNZA F

I would say it would s a big risk for the sake of a pre-owned half price mint dh off eBay.

And you can of course get refrigerated ones, which are well insulated already. Dad dad one that came on its own wheels (ie artic trailer) for its last journey - like a pint-sized HMS Belfast to the Pool of London. Saves all that buggering about with Hiabs.

Is there any reason why you cold not connect to a ventilation roof tile, as happens to flues?

I have posted a blog entry showing a sectional loft being installed with a crane that I happened to come across, with a lot of photos of the process. It is over there so that I can find it again more easily. Any questions or observations in the comments, please. The blog entry is here. Ferdinand

That's the one. Ta.

While I have you @ProDave - what is the word you use for "toft" up there? I couldn't remember it. A "toft" is a house + outbuildings, typically a farmstead.

This week I came across a team installing entire sections of loft on a house-build with a seriously large crane. Really quite interesting, and an opportunity to indulge in some doggerel. As I was planning for my toft I met a man with a Modular Loft Windows were installed and tiles With insulation, floors and style Windows, Lift, Loft, Tiles Make an instant ancient pile! A extraordinarily transportable loft - But do I want one for my toft? (with apologies to St Ives) More photos below, and you can see the contact details on the side of the van in the last picture if you want one.. Gently does it... What they are matching... Close-ups and Details The Company Installing

Hi Gilly. This has been discussed at length from time to time, if you dig - perhaps via Google with the site:buildhub.org.uk parameter. A further option is a site office type Portakabin, as those come insulated (to a degree) and wired. If you are able to connect it to the drains, then that can also be your builder-loo and kitchen, potentially. Ferdinand

One more on this thread. The car has also now carried its first major load - three rooms worth of scrap laminate floor to the tip, which I make about 45 sqm at perhaps 10kg per sqm = 450kg. Handled without turning a hair, or losing any driveability. That may have to do with the fact that *all* cars are now junior tanks. Mine weighs in at approx 1500kg, and that is light for the class - the equivalent Merc E-Class is 300kg heavier. F

Interesting stuff. Thanks for all the comments. It may be others than BC - eg the various forms of landlord regulator, HMO departments, Env Health, and others. Tenant Parents worried about their small children being trapped in or out of bedrooms is a regular thing. I am not aware if eg proper fire alarm arrangements count as a mitigation, which in theory they should. A classic similar situation is thumbturn locks to external doors imposed by Authorities to make sure that Ts losing the keys can get out. The T can see that as "now my three year old can get into the road and be run over". There may also be a slight security issue. Sometimes these are honoured in the breach, sometimes they are enforced. F

Looking at that diagram, I'd say that Strongbacks are as much about dampening vibration, as they are about reducing deflection. F

BUt I think that if I needed to do that, I think I would create a pedestal for the bath of say 1.8m by 1.8m and make that a strong monocoque spanning 4 joists, or alternatively as a raised end of the room. Then treat it decoratively as drawing attention within the room decor. I am sure I recall Sean Connery and a Bond Girl in such a bath, where the bath was a fish tank.