CalvinHobbes

Been looking at the Graf rainwater system - maybe the 3000l platin? So 4 bedrooms, would like it for flushing and washing machine. Was wondering has anyone any advice? Obviously trying to keep the costs as low as poss. Also when do we put the tank in, is it when the digger is there doing the foundations?

Yikes we weren't going to get one since we intend to stay there forever! If we dig a trench for the tcu or demolish in December would that mean it wouldn't apply to us? (We will have a structural engineer visiting us several times as will building control).

Jeez maybe it's a local thing? JFC abbreviation for JesusF*ingChrist Apologies if anyone offended.

A friend who was a really good architect called Malachy used to go by the name Malpractice (despite our recommendations to the contrary and no he was never sued). Today I passed this building and I am sure they too are good but to me the name has similar negative undeserved connotations.😁

Just wondering why are these roof tiles peeling?

Absolutely FANTASTIC, well done. It's stunning.

Also re tips, probably best to not mention or show the actual location, it just means you can ask whatever you want without comeback locally.

Hello Gregor, good to see another one doing it in NI. You will probably hear from just about everyone in the biz here (NI) 'are you mad?' Many have locked up self build sites, stopped at foundations or when it got watertight till next year. If you are just at the planning stage hopefully the situation will have eased by the time you get planning permission through. I was speaking to a neighbour/builder the other day, he said in a month the cost of foundations he was doing in Coleraine went up by 20k. He said it's hard to get workers, there are few men working here, most are in London or Dublin, the big sites are pulling them in to get jobs wound up before the recession hits. They expect everything to go belly up next year and then hopefully prices will fall. Supplies are a problem too, the builder suppliers are very slow but their stock is sporadic. Price differences between them can be quite wild too. He said it's crazy getting quotes for the whole job now because it will be at the top of the market. Best to phase it if you insist on going ahead. Today of course I am waiting for our quotes,😒 overhead cables should be down in a week so in theory we could start demo anytime after that. I am totally green with all of this so I come on here a lot and read old threads to try and understand it. Occasionally I put on questions and I feel like a 5 year old asking the adults. Luckily the people on here are very patient and tolerant. They also seem to know between them just about everything and can be very helpful with saving money, time and sanity.

Ah Conor, he also told me your suggestion for the water connection was spot on - so you saved me min 400min . Thanks so much. Yes good point about Grenfell/Kingspan. Forgot about that.

So met the builder today who told me we should have our quote on Friday. He went on to explain that when it comes to insulation, although the architect has specified certain brands like Kingspan that sometimes he may have to swap for another comparable brand due to supply issues. He then went on to point out that the insulation brands all tell the builders merchants they will have price increases say for example on Monday at 8am. He said they all did it simultaneously and it happened regularly. Is that not cartel behaviour? Is it allowed?

Thank you so much, seriously chuffed with that.💃 The flow was fine for the cottage that was there. The main thing is that I don't then have to do anything right now about it. The building can start with them using the water source that's in place .Cheers.

Thanks. 4 bathrooms and the water has to rise up a steep slope. Just wondering - why do we need a NEW connection? Like right now we have one (in the house we are about to demolish) Can we not just redirect the pipe on our land to the edge and link it to a tap for building?

Just applying for our connection. Unsure which to go for.

Been looking at everything from this https://www.farmstream.co.uk/products/farmstream-360?variant=39283563790382 to this https://www.wyze.com/products/wyze-cam-outdoor?related_selling_plan=41618559008930

So waiting for date for wires to be disconnected and temp consumer unit to go up. Considering mounting a videocam beside it on back wall on a pole. I appreciate too I have to get builder to sign agreement it will be recorded/filmed (is there particular wording?) Any recommendations for a camera? Thanks.

Did you decide? We are in a similar boat.

Thank you Gus, you don't know how much I needed to hear that.

Some more pics

I passed this today so stopped to take a few pics. Thought you might like a look. https://www.propertypal.com/the-qube-hazelwood-avenue-prehen-park-derry/632137

Thank you all so much, the guy at the power company is very good and has been really helpful too. I have sent him this and what the lady at HMRC has told me so hopefully he can update it. Temp great tip about the VAT forum, I will submerge myself in it!

The bill is £3817.12, £636.19 is vat. Will we be able to reclaim any part of that? I saw this thread but there

A lot of studios getting decommissioned, for example LWT on the Southbank. Perhaps recycle one of theirs?

Waiting for NIE to remove some wires then we should be starting, just wondering was there anyone here in this region just about to start actual building. It's taken quite a while to get PP sorted. Would love a gander at other sites that are block and self build but round here it's mostly commercial or wood framed estates.

Twice, what would you recommend for a self builder?

Had a chat with the planner at the power company today we have a 3 phase pole smack in the middle of our intended driveway. He explained if it was on our property they would move it for free if it washindering development but since I don't think it is on our land, we would have to pay. Then I pointed out there was a stay for it on our property (which we don't receive payment for)and he said I could do an application because of the stay. He has heard of it being successful before though he didn't sound uber hopeful. He said it would be up to an engineer (higher level). Anyone else have experience of similar? I also pointed out the pole has been there a long time and probably needs replaced. 😬