Ferdinand

I thought those tiles were relatively easy to retrofit, even in a warm roof? Can they not go through one of the triangular voids, or is it the position of the hood etc away from an easy route? The only things that needs care should be the membrane and insulation, subject to that. I sure hope so, as I have to retrofit one in about a week ?. F

No - this was a Second Year student project when he was 19. There are other things from earlier on the same theme. And for example a measured survey of one of the classicist buildings in Edinburgh - apparently they sent groups of students out to crawl over and manually survey buildings in different cities. I'm quite blown away by the maturity of it at that age, and the quality of the paintings, though I guess that there might be some derivative elements in the design. Of architects I know now, most still sketch, and I think it has a lot of value in getting a feel for the design rather than just creating a techno-model. I sometimes think in sketches, as do others here. And some think in models. Some aspects are quite modern - eg master suite with dressing and bath is what a number of the larger projects have on here. Others - eg many rooms downstairs - are older concepts, but for 1957 it is quite good, and for a student very gimmick-free. The relatively small size of the study vs the reception rooms is something we were debating on here just last week. The four double bedrooms are great, but all with dressing rooms is a bit "To the Manor Born and Chucked into the Gatehouse by the 1950s Inheritance Tax Laws". I'm quite tempted to use the material to start my own standalone blog - I've been sitting on a suitably self-build sounding domain for some time now, and it would be a nice Christmas Project.

Clearing out a little, I have come across a cache of material from my father's Architecture Course at Sheffield University in the late 1950s. There is also a brochure from the GRP products he was offering around 1983 from one of the original Raleigh Buildings in Nottingham. Lots of interesting projects - this is one for a "Country House", and I can see the stripped down style of the period, but there are also quarters for a maid. And a lot of illlustrations done in watercolour. And the scale is - yes - 1 inch to 6 feet. Here are a few pics, which are just auto-colour-balanced. The entry was done in haste so there are a couple of duplicates.

That is asking for an inappropriate quip. But I shall restrain myself, as the Bishop said to...

I think that depends on several things, including the physical form of the roof, and the condition of what is there already when you come to repair it. One thing you could consider would be a whole new roof, including OSB, on the top. If the roof is between parapets that may work, but may leave you hostage to further deterioration of the existing (eg if the old OSB is wet and swells). Or you could take it off and start from scratch - or switch to a different type of roof. Is the physical form such that you could eg go right over the top with a membrane? (Perhaps not or you might not have used GRP anyway.) I have seen fibreglass repairs work for years and years, but if it is nearly new and you are planning to be there for decades, it sounds like a bite the bullet and start from scratch may be the way. Ferdinand

It is about the risk management. Any clauses in your rental agreement need to be lawful, fair, and enforcible of course. One that probably requires advice imo - I would not be confident drafting such a clause. Ferdinand

I don't honestly know to the first. There is a genuine crisis in funding, so I am sympathetic to the need - which is why I argue for a different system. Personally I would target the exemption for corporate style run by charities which impact on local small businesses - important but that would only nibble at the edges. I am also sympathetic to the idea that funding pressure has now gone as far as it should. I'm inclined to think that doing that to HMOs (and making BTL generally more difficult) is cutting their noses off to spite their faces as HMO residents are the people who can least afford it, whilst driving properties from HMOs to owner occupation is driving down people per dwelling and without more supply of housing will drive up homelessness - which will land on local councils. Of course, there is a rising campaign by Councils to apply Council Tax to Student Housing as well. TBF on that one, it is driven partly by a Govt decision planning to make that be funded locally, rather than subsidised. F

Indeed - it is complicated with lots of different factors and is a VOA thing of which the Council may choose to take notice, rather than necessarily a Council thing. The rulings are buried in the VOA Manuals somewhere. There is a lot of variation documented in those threads. Stuff that may affect: Is there a loo in the ensuite? Room size? Locks on doors? 'Cooking facilities' (microwave installed by T?) Is there a shared lounge? Exclusiveness of 'estate'? Do you offer in room services eg cleaning (which may affect the exclusiveness). etc Also of course, if it gets applied to yours, it may not get applied to the one next door. F

(On a slight tangent ... another issue that is both important and current) I take it you have something in place to manage the risk that your HMO may end up as 4 x Band A dwellings for Council Tax purposes? Currently happening all over the place. https://www.property118.com/hmo-council-tax-changed-room/ https://www.propertytribes.com/hmo-individual-council-tax-banding-t-127628090.html I think this is Bristol? Band A is £1260 a year. https://www.bristol.gov.uk/council-tax/council-tax-charges-and-bands Ferdinand

Haha. It is all always different, and it changes with the wind. You may find 3 or 4 different definitions of HMO in one Council or in different areas of the law, License schemes introduced under questionable pretences, and which may require you to commit offences or contravene building regulations to be in compliance. See recent events in Liverpool, for example ?. But that is off-topic, and you are just a mouse dealing with Councils who far too often act as blind, lobotomised elephants. F

Washing machine is not on your list... And the Landlords National Purchasing Group may be worth a look: https://www.propertytribes.com/lnpg-it-worth-it-does-it-save-money-t-10096-2.html

OK, so... just in case you have not covered these yet (bet you have, mind) 1 - Make sure all gaps with downstairs are well sealed to air (and runaway beads...). Well-insulated loft hatch? 2 - Ditto make sure that your loft has adequate ventilation - usually via slots at the eaves. and 3 - My normal practice if I am insulating a loft is to work out where I will need to walk in future (eg if some joker has put the boiler up there in the past, or for an MVHR unit or similar) is to fix a walkway at rafter level over the first 100mm layer of insulation, and then putting the remaining 170mm of rockwool over it, congruent with the walkway, such that plumbers and gas men etc can just whip off a couple of pieces of rockwool and have a safe, secure walkway / environment to work with. It also potentially saves me having to deal with elephant holes in the ceiling. To do that with your graphite balls may need a little bit of thought. Ferdinand

Watch out, there's Amanita about. (Also known most suitably as the Destroying Angel).

It might help to specify a town ... Yorkshire is a big place.

Aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaarrrrrrrrrrrrrggggggggghhhhhhhhh !!!! Some people on this thread need some morels before they inflict any more old chestnuts on us.

Is anyone whistling Colonel Bogey?

But the one guarantee you have is that some of what I say is wrong ?.

If you *really* want to test this, you need to get a camel to wee on it. Or - more boringly - Tibbles the Cat.

I think there needs to be a buildhub cartoon behind one of those tiles, for posterity.

One thing you need to be obsessed by is Detail. Detail. Detail. Detail. Possibly to the extent that your architect gets bored, your wife threatens to divorce you, and your guinea pig has a brainstorm. And if you aren't, other people won't be either. F

My standard pair are one from the Nuaire Drimaster - one of the lower models such as the Hall Control - range for the PIV and the Vent-Axia Lo Carbon Tempra Plot the HRV, which has a basic trickle for configurable inside and a Pull Cord boost. The pair would normally cost approx £400-450 plus installation. I have been using these models since 2013, and the Tempra is not quite as silent as some would like (depends where you put it) so there may be a better alternative out there. Reading your reply, I would say you need a wider knowledge on heating systems and insulation specs (what is "good"?), as the current varied ideas sound complex. If the fabric is done properly and to a decent spec a Wood Stove should be purely aesthetic, and I would point you towards considering those electric simulated wood stoves that hang on the wall. What is this? Where will it vent to? Does he mean a long, thin trickle vent? And do not forget 1, or more likely 2, charge points for electric cars. F

Time for a caption competition? "I swear to it, Officer, the Martian was right there !"

Is there perhaps an argument for making the kitchen more open to the lounge-diner too, while you are at it, by reducing that wall to a half length wall, or perhaps a half-height wall - especially if a new kitchen is planned? Perhaps something else to store in the head for later. F

Given the 2 outside doors planned for the new, and the closeness of the kitchen, it should be possible to keep them reasonably separate and protect floors with runners etc. There may be an argument for providing an outside tap or temporary tap in the wetroom to avoid continual incomings for water to make materials etc. For the wetroom could you fit a temporary door in the side of the porch if it is not complicated, or even just bash a hole? Secondhand upvc in frame on ebay cost about £25. Or set up a water butt on the patio or drive and top that up each evening with a hose, and use that for cement water etc. There are solutions available for access through the roof later. Some people have them in place permanently.

I think the last paragraph in your comment is sensible. It is something I would be willing to chance my arm at in the right circumstances and context, but to be considered carefully first in all the circumstances.