Ferdinand

Would this be an application where scorching the cladding would have worked? Ferdinand

That looks like a good plan. Do you have detailed or outline? Depending where you are, and considering the current uncertainty, and depending on the expiry date of your PP, and whether it is detailed or outline, you may want to get Full PP then lock it in by starting development, then take a look around as market conditions may have changed significantly in 3 or 6 month's time. Having given that warning, those look like the type of houses which will rent out economically in most places. Jeremy's incentive scheme looks good, but since an architect could expect 10% or so (that's a guess) I would incentivise them with 20-30% of the saving not 50%. Ferdinand

What is a diving rod? Do you need to wear a diving suit? Or is it the (maybe) obvious divining rod typo? Ferdinand

Nice one. As ever: Detail. Detail. Detail. Detail. Detail. F

Chimney sweep brush?

Bits of this don't quite fit the title, but the sub sub sub forum said it was lonely. I have a small detached property on a largish plot (650sqm) with a long term tenant (5 yrs +). T has asked for a "utility" room, which really means somewhere for stuff for pets, second fridge, garden sink etc. I'm fairly happy to spend on it within reason. The T may well be there for another decade. However, the ultimate logical use for the house will be an extension from 2 bed, 1 recept, to upscale 3/4 bed 2 recept, as that is what the plot will take. Would cost perhaps 60-80k at current prices, and I would more than get it back on sale, but it would be crazy to do that as it would be a terrible rental return and not relevant to the current tenant. A - Going for full PP for a finished plan, and putting the foundations in to lock it in, and either building part of it designed to be a suitable room, or putting eg a leanto garage on the slab with an external grade door from the existing. B - Putting in a single garage for now, then removing later if I extend in a decade or so, with an external door from the existing. The garage could either be a simple concrete sectional leanto, or something insulated and heated. C - Build on a single story extension. That feels like 12-20k by the time it is done. To my eye A looks too complicated, as I do not feel a great need to lock in the PP now. So I think that this is a KISS project, and probably a single garage is the option - ideally one that can be reused elsewhere later. Does anyone have any views on the options. Any recommendation for garage builders? Ferdinand

Does anyone know what happened to the Jet Stream route in 1997-8 for a comparison? I don't know where to find it. This is a Very Strong El Nino year, which forces the northern Jet Stream south, and 1997-8 was the last such. http://www.srh.noaa.gov/jetstream/tropics/enso_impacts.html http://ggweather.com/enso/oni.htm Ferdinand

I would have thuoght that a good plan would be: For a renovation to get the best angles on prices and timings. Buying a house at the end of the season may save 5-10%, since they may not want to be stuck for 6 more months. Buy in autumn. Renovate over rwinter. Move in or sell your existing house or the new one in spring. For a newbuild I am not so sure. Speculating Have it weathertight by late September. Internal fit and finish over wniter. Landscaping in Jan/Feb. Plant plants in Feb/Mar. But we can't control things like Planning Delays and Services. Questions: Are tradesmen cheaper in winter? What about materials? Does productivity fall when working more by artificial light? Ferdinand

At gloaming, on a night when the neighbours are out, with no wind. Then it works.

The Rangemaster looks quite new - clock and controls look identical to our 2 year old Kitchener 90. t could be worth spondulics if recent. I would move boilers from bedrooms on principle.

Referring to my extra pics, that illuminated shelf (with a separate lightswitch) would work quite well as a light for nighttime. The strip light in the mirror is good, but looks expensive. The previous people in my own house installed something similar Thinking back to the top post with the reflected wallpaper, it would work very well opposite a large window or some plants. Ferdinand

In years time you will have to change your username ... we hope.

Congratulations and welcome.

Are you about to be asked to plant 6 million daffodils and a mulberry tree?

Heh. The night before it was a 330 sqft :corner suite -) in the Kensington Hilton. Following the Ebuild thread about rewards etc back in Feb/March, I have managed to manipulate my way to top tier Hilton Diamond status - so it was book a standard room in the sale in March for £103 (ish) inc VAT, then there's usually an auto-upgrade to the Executive Floor and King room or sometimes suite, welcome drink and a couple of bits and pieces, 3 or 4pm checkout, and complimentary breakfast. Not a bad deal at all. Here are a few more pics (give me a bit to add them from the iPAD):

Pics were on the iPad so added afterwards. Not good at typing text for BH on iPad.

This is an example of the use of a picture wallpaper and a large mirror in my Hilton Doubletree Hotel room in London last week, Very effective. The room was about 21ft x 12 ft, with the corner taken out for a large shower room. This is the lobby with floor to ceiling treescape wallpaper, and a floor to ceiling mirror opposite. And this is the view from the bed. Ferdinand

If you get reports, make sure that you have the right to "Reassign". We have just sold our housing developemnt plot, and this was one thing we missed - and it has cost a couple of thousand in fees to various consultants to transfer reports to the buyer. The buyer will insist because they they get the benefit of indemnity etc.

I think one challenging thing about hiring architects is that they can do so much ... and you then have to decide what you want them to do, and communicate ti, and make sure you limit them to it. The relationship, the cost, and the contract are all equally important. Make sure that you will not have to pay extra charges to have copyright in the plans for your house assigned to you, or for others to use them; that the basis for recalculating fees should extra work be necessary is acceptable; and whether you want fees calculated on the estimated cost or actual cost (*). There be dragons in the standard RIBA contracts. (*) eg Going 20% over budget due to something which will involve no extra architecting could suddenly add 20% to your fees. What you need is your wits about you, enough time to really sweat the detail, willingness to ask awkward questions and stand your ground, and possibly advice from a property person in the "hoary old git (f or m)" category. Ferdinand

Which I understand normally takes a few weeks to come through. Ferdinand

I might go for a standard door and a window alongside, or have the Frenchies such that you can just open one half easiily, on the basis that when you are just popping in and out the bifolds will be slower to open every time. Ferdinand

CHeers

Incidentally, Honda-engined seems to be the "last forever" option amongst whackers, too. Ferdinand

I will need to hire a minidigger for a day or weekend (prob weekend) to dig a soakaway (easy), and to remove a row of stumps from an overgrown hedge that were cut to a couple of feet above the ground 4-5 years ago, and have not resprouted (so roots should be partially rotted). The hedge was beech, and the stumps are up to about 6-10" in diameter. There are about a dozen of them. Would I be wanting a 1.5 tonne minidigger for that? Thanks Ferdinand

Actually, the genuine Spoonerism version would be more appropriate for Buildhub: If I brick you, do you not plead...