Ferdinand

I do not especially like it except where needed. In bedrooms it is a little evil and too boxing-in imo. Stained glass a la 1930s is an option, or etched is very nice, or even painted. All preferably commissioned from a local artist. Looking at modern glazing in churches can be an inspiration - my favourites are probably the new Coventry Cathedral for its varied uses, and the full set of windows by Chagall at All Saints Tudelely in Kent. My particular soft spot is etched glazing, but there is not *that* much of that about. eg http://www.tudeley.org/lookatthewindows.htm (not very good photos, but you see the point). My neighbours had a planning condition at my original house for obscure glazing on the landing / utility room as it looks right over my front garden, but I have not enforced the condition when they accidentally (!) left it clear. I do plan a an extension for that side but since they are non-habitable rooms it should be circumventable, and if necessary I could offer a stained glass panel which would be small beer in the context of an 80k build. Ferdinand

Slightly more seriously I think I would want: Approx 1mx1m of slabs with: 1 - Traditional boot scraper. 2 - Raised area where Bill Der can put foot up, with bucket of water and stiff bristled (like yard brush) hand brush, useable without hand getting wet. 3 - Clean route from 2 to kitchen door. 4 - Deep pile doormat that can take being hosed down. Hose down once per day. F

Can you use incentives? Keep in Rich Tea and Chocolate Digestives. Unclean boots get the former. Or disposable galoshes at 3p each? http://www.screwfix.com/p/disposable-overshoes-blue-size-one-size-fits-all-100-pack/3734K

If @MrsRA is standing there with a rolling pin doing absolutely nothing, I think the solution for easy boot cleaning is standing there next to you holding a rolling pin. Replace the rolling pin with a roller brush, get a convenient chair and footstall and kneeler pad, and ... Bingo !

I bought my first house in 88/89. Was pretty tough at 15% interest rates and at one stage I nearly lost the house. Fortunately I still have it so never lost any equity, though it has been an albatross to an extent by discouraging me from buying elsewhere until recently - rented in London for 8 years, including being offered a 400sqft 1 bed sunless flat on a short lease in EC2 for 70k plus 12.5k for a lease extension in 1999. Now sell for about £400k :-). But service charge was £3k. This is a better one in the same block for 475k. http://www.zoopla.co.uk/for-sale/details/40536360#KWXRHQMXQkvx6O5o.97 Mansion Block ROFL. It was a Victorian slum clearance project near Wesley's Chapel. Ferdinand

Cheers :-). I knew you should have built it the other way round !

All true, and though you can certainly build houses in such a way as to make a profit on average (eg as a big landlord you should currently arguably be investing in eg the fringes of Crewe for 20 year capital returns and decent rental returns - HS2), but for self-builders with an estate of one (or perhaps two) the risk is not spread and the priorities need to be different. The risk mitigation for self-builders is perhaps smoothing over time rather than smoothing over a range of assets. Even aiming to try will and invest for a return may distort choices, though it can be a useful subsidiary goal imo. F

Even in London, fluctuations are rather less than the wibbling attention-seeking people who need to sell newspapers or keep their support-bases in palpitations keep telling us. This is (RPI I think) inflation adjusted 1988 to 2014 The biggest fluctuation in London was a plus and minus 10-15% in 2 years after the Brown bust. From http://www.newstatesman.com/politics/2014/04/five-signs-london-property-bubble-reaching-unsustainable-proportions (The original article is imo rather fanciful.) And here is one from the FT - also London: https://ftalphaville.ft.com/2013/10/15/1666322/wait-what-the-enormous-unnoticed-collapse-in-london-property-prices/ (A much better article)

No - he is a satirist :-). Flagged as humour ... just in case. H&S people do have excellent senses of humour, as long as the basic message is treated seriously. They have a Snopes style debunking website. http://www.hse.gov.uk/myth/myth-busting/index.htm

For something made by an amateur at home in about 2007-8, the technical quality is excellent. "Even non-existent risk must be mitigated!".

The best educational H&S video I have seen. Ahem.

Surely round the corner makes sense as you get a longer sun on deck period? F

Yep. @Onoff Scaffold poles works. I have a 90+ year old friends who has had her car (continuation of the main bungalow roof) port on scaffold poles since my dad designed it in 1971. @Crofter Perhaps. We had a concrete slab there already courtesy of the previous owner and his non-built conservatory. Ferdinand

We did GRP guttering for a Victorian Mill moulded from the cast-iron originals that were fine. We also used it on our listed house - been there since the 1980s and the house sold without a tremor. There is also at least one roof ball made from resin and a mould marked "*** *** roof ball" in the cellar. It can be fine if made properly and sympathetically. We also sold GRP balustrades to the National Trust for the roof parapets of one of their houses. It may be that you can find examples to argue your Local Council down, though this may be an issue on which some BCOs may be particularly dogmatic. Ferdinand

Huh? If it is in use elsewhere such reports should be available off the shelf, surely? Does he mean spread of fire on the outside? How is this different to eg wood or plastic siding cladding? F

Edited.

Let me also fly the flag for raised patios, which are as cheap as chips if the situation warrants - especially if you have (or build as part of your house base) a slab in situ.

Yep. Also we have antislip paint which seems to work OK. Yes expensive, but mine (Cuprinol) came as a Wickes BOGOF which mitigates the £25 per can. For a decking that high you *must* have a pond and a plank, Blackbeard style.

Why not put some fibres in? They are designed to prevent cracking. And it is annoying me (sorry) - could you remove the extra p from the title. Ferdinand

It depends on your planned setup and your personal involvement. What is your planned setup? E.g. MCS or not? I think you would end up with a company per discipline ... not many PV suppliers do plumbing for e.g. You may be asking this question too early and need to DYOR first. F

A couple of questions about the Automist water mist fire suppressor. 1 - Is Automist still essentially a monopoly for mist systems, or are there any alternatives? The cost of the head seems eyewatering, and for several floors each or one or more rooms prohibitive. 2 - What do they call it in Germany? Ferdinand

Yep. Always free real coffee and nice little packets of biscuits here, plus a free bacon sandwich van on Wed and Fri mornings !

45% off Reisser at Howdens Had a postcard through the door this morning saying that Howdens have 45% off all Reisser screws until I think the end of March. You need to be trade, and this is the Mansfield branch. Ferdinand

Edited to remove vile anti-Norfolk slur.

Do some Googling for brick Grp cladding. There are a number out there.