Jenki

What I did was each invoice even if multiple pages was 1 pdf so multiple pages on one file. And when I got to 20, I then went through there complicated add extra documents, then added the extra invoices and in the description said this was a document they asked for. I uploaded 28 this way.

I have considered hardwiring, but logistically it's a pain. My meter / Cabinet is on the other side of our drive / track and around 50M away. Also we have now concreted around the front of the barn and side of the house. There is an option to get a cable into the ducting that feeds the house, but would require burying the cables under a portion of the track, so this is going to be my back up plan if my very limited ESP programming skills fail implementing my wireless plan. This is a job for the colder winter months so I can look like I'm doing something in the warmth of the house 😂. Today is markedly colder ❄️

The estimate was around 3600kWh so we had a good return. This year's weather was definitely not as warm as last year, but from spring onwards we have had lots of clear skies, and prolonged dry spells. That's all changing now though,just hope it's not as long and wet as last year

I thought I'd publish some rough figures for the running costs for 12 months. Details. 85 Sq M bungalow. North Scotland -highlands All electric (heating/DHW/cooking and running * two self catering cabins) 4 kW South facing solar panels. 0.88 ACH EPC A103 Heating set to 20⁰C DHW set to 43⁰C Year to date: Total Electricity usage 3300kWh ASHP usage 890kWh heat and DHW don't know if Samsung gen6 can split the usage? Solar Generation 4254kWh Solar export (given away) 2359kWh. I'm happy with the house, and the heat retention seems very good for our budget build. Heating hasn't been needed since mid April, and has only been on around 6 days this autumn. Obviously my biggest issue is reducing our solar export. I have done nothing in this regard with the exception of manually loading shifting washing machine / drier / dishwasher on sunny days. My issue with solar diverter is that the meter is located 50M from the house (in an enclosure) the house is supplied separately from the cabins so I can't just monitor the house as the cabins maybe using power. I'm in the early stages of exploring using ESP-Now as a CT clamp monitor and building a diverter similar to how @ProDave and others have done. How do these figures look? *We had around 170 days of cabin usage which use electric for cooking/heating and the laundry.

As @nod says. He should only charge you for materials and labour less VAT, so you won't be adding this to your VAT reclaim. If he is happy for you to settle his merchant account (less the VAT) instead of paying him then that is for him to balance in his accounts, just make sure you get a receipt for payment received just in case down the road things change.

I think there is some program to interrogate the submitted list. They asked us for 26 invoices, some large item invoices kitchen, windows, treatment plant etc, but they also found a duplicate( this was an invoice and a proforma invoice submitted in error, for the same amount different reference. Also they found two invoices that were actually quotes / proforma's) we sent the wrong ones, and the reference were e.g. q123456 and pro9986. . Top tip :double check your list before typing in the the details.

Ours wasn't as quick as that and still. Not resolved yet. Submitted 24th July. Questions asked and answered 7th Aug - this was relating to my wife completing the return but my name being on the the planning application. Chased Oct 1st. Chased Oct 17th. 18th Oct asked to send 26 invoices 19th Oct sent invoices 26th Oct received part payment 28th Oct received letter via post showing items not paid. We are still trying to sort these invoices as it's around 2K on the positive, they found 2 invoices that were incorrect on the Vat and actually increased the claim for those items.

@saveasteading The SS option I suppose was more of a longevity viewpoint. I have zero experience with SS. I know cladding with metal profile would have been exponentially quicker and cheaper. I was worried about it's lifespan being so close to the coast. Who knows I might be tempted to rip off the tiles and clad with metal profile if the tile lift keeps waking me up,might have to go back to work though😔 .

For me, (budget was way too small), but I would have loved, and have not given up on the idea of standing seam roof. We used thin leading edge concrete tiles, nailed and clipped every where and we still get tile rattle with 50 mph + Westerly winds. I've used and will be using more roof sealant on the verge tiles 😔.

I've no experience with flats but I would be surprised if building regulations would allow you to build to 2009 standards. U values will be considerably different, thus bigger cavities or at least thicker insulation. all that would result in smaller rooms if the existing envelope was not increased. Methods of heating and meeting SAP requirements will have changed considerably as well. Re design to meet / exceed current standards would be a prudent minimum requirement I would have thought.

Also,.you will find 5t plus machines cheaper, as you can't tow them on trailers..factor in a transport cost and I reckon £10k will get you a great machine with good re sale costs..it will be cheaper than hiring, and a god send to have on site 24/7.

So, I'll ask,.which is it? Ben or John😉

My concern would be that with hot water and time the flexible pipe will sag. Is the pipe solvent weld? Sometimes with refurbs you need to use these, but I would want to support it, in this situation.

Seems like they have a balanced view on energy security rather than a blinkered race to net zero of which the UK, blinded by a belief they can actually make a meaningful difference whilst bankrupting the masses of it's own citizens to pay for the privilege.