Ferdinand

A couple of general points. Have you or predecessor taken the outside ground level down to a sensible place? That makes a difference. When we first moved into ours as a family a long time ago, you could see a damp "tide mark" on the walls at about 7ft, and detect it with a moisture meter ? . The floor joists were laid directly on he earth. Will the listing authorities let you put air bricks in?

You can get sample pots from Little Green for a fiver. And they come with a free brush. ?

To op: One of our members wrote in some detail about how they did their cost reductions:

RE: Gym Have you considered how you are going to get all the heavy gubbins up there with that somewhat intricate staircase route? Have you had work done about structural calcs for the gym? (Personally, as a gym part-owner of a formerly upstairs gym, I think you are possibly mad just putting it there !) Re: Parking I think you may need 3 spaces for that many bedrooms, but you say you have PP already. F

On-topic I concur with most above. I would take a very careful look at 1 - Making it more 'unified', and 2 - Looking at the costs/benefits of a full rebuild, especially if you can avoid CiL (it looks like the sort of area that might have CiL)as well as VAT. Off-topic. I'm struggling with all these chimneys and gateposts. Why? Is the Council run by a secret cabal of chimney sweeps who want to ensure the future of their nefarious businesses by adding unnecessary chimneys to new houses?

Thanks all.

Can anyone recommend? My experience with low/high usage pushbutton loos is that they have a habit of developing "trickle leaks", and wasting water until it is next checked. For me this is a problem with some tenants who naturally look a little less carefully than I do at home. Is there a good compromise flushing system which is both low water usage, relatively inexpensive and robust in not leaking? Thanks Ferdinand

I doubt whether a 2m ceiling will meet Building Regs. There is no formal limit afaik, but docs such as the London Space Standard suggest 2.2m. I think you need more like 2.2m or 2.3m. 2.3m is really the minimum which is comfortable imo. Phone your Buildings Regs debt to check. For heating I would perhaps consider one of those single room reversible heat pumps you mention, and an in line Electric Heater for water - but for cost you will want short durations showers ? . It's really all affected by the purpose eg is it an annexe, or a posh spare bedroom, or with a separate entrance. Then you have things like eg Council Tax to think about. There's a lot of stuff to go into - I would start with talking it through with a professional, or the Council.

Shoulda gone to Specsavers Wickes.

TBH those are minimal amounts of insulation, even if it was just on one side. And since it is scraping through building standards I assume it is PIR. I would suggest something more like 120mm or 150mm of PIR on the outside if you want to use that, and a target U vale of more like 0.13 or 0,15. The extra is far more cost-effective, as you still only have to do one set of structure, fitting and labour. Or go for a thicker layer of EPS, which is less expensive. Do not let anyone tell you to be unambitious.

I would recommend try on the Property Tribes site.

Incidentally I dropped the same post over on a Gardening Forum - interesting comments. https://forum.gardenersworld.com/discussion/1058489/how-much-mains-water-do-you-use/

I think that's because as a group we are well off, with bigger houses, and mainly decent gardens. To be fair, a lot of people on BH have very good "collect rainwater to use in garden" arrangements, I think.

Do new houses in Scotland have to have a meter installed? Down Sooth I think Southern Water (ie Chichester etc) are moving forward with compulsory meters over a couple of decades. Another half dozen companies can do the same thing if they wish due to being areas of water stress. https://www.thisismoney.co.uk/money/experts/article-6951463/I-told-water-meter-installed-dont-want-one-compulsory.html NI are embarrassed to be installing them, but have to in new properties: https://www.niwater.com/news-detail/?News_ID=10916&FriendlyID= Wales is encouraging water meters, and will install one free: https://www.dwrcymru.com/en/my-household/water-meters And in Scotland you have to pay them to give you one as an existing householder. The last number I saw was that water meters in the whole of Scotland were under 500, which may be out of date: https://www.scottishwater.co.uk/en/Your-Home/Your-Charges/Water-Meters Which all pretty much correlates with the inverse of quantity of perceived rain, Except in NI, where they are perhaps very aware of the huge bunfight in the ROI, where water used to be free at the point of tap. No And there is now a current settlement that 'normal' water is free and billing is done for the excess aiui. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Irish_Water

I thought for a minute that you were somebody from around here, where aitches 'ardly 'ever 'appen, talking about controlling your hedges. Favourite anecdote. Sister announcing at breakfast table: "We are gong to have an arbour in the back garden." Niece, at age about 6: "With ships?" F

I get it on my bill as I have a water meter. It told me that my daily usage was equivalent to 1450 cups of tea, too. Alternatively there's a handy-dandy calculator here, which will give an approx estimate: https://www.anglianwater.co.uk/help-and-advice/save-water/water-usage-calculator/#

If you buy Postsaver (which I use on all posts) go and buy direct from the manufacturer via there website as it is about 30% of the price resalers will charge you.

I would be looking with a jaundiced eye, and reflecting on what is under that raised lawn (is it real grass?), just in case you need to excavate into it for foundations or anything. I looks newbuildy, and I wonder where they put any rubble?

Thanks. I have focused on volume of mains water used not price ? .

We have compared energy bills before. I don't think we have done water usage before. These are my numbers and relevant information. Usage 2nd half 2020 - 190l per day 1st half 2021 - 260l per day Normal mains supply. Water meter installed. 200sqm property occupied by one person. Use water butts for much gardening water, but also hose. Location: Midlands I think that difference is mainly using the hose for watering the garden, and leaving the hose on by mistake, which suggests that a more organised tank/pumped garden system is the main opportunity for me to reduce usage, plus some sort of hose time or hose max-time-on switcher-offer.

This was built. 39 Bank View Road, Derby is the one in the middle below. You can see the "blank wall" etc.

Once a name gets attached to a house it is an absolute b*gg*r to get it changed ime. Take care. Mine is called I think Hillcrest or something, and it's like Dunroamin' - you expect anyone living there to have a Dachshund and furry slippers, and a traditional bird-bath, grow Hybrid-T Roses, and make their butter into curls. I keep swatting it, but it keeps coming back like a Parking Warden. ( @canalsiderenovation should call their boat NOT-Dunroamin' )

You could do worse than choose the name for your new house, and put up a sign on a pole with it in big letters. Then use that.

It's been fine for about 4 years, so I am hoping I can trace tthe bit that has suddenly come loose.