CalvinHobbes

Granite sets off a Geiger counter.

Ah, never thought of that. Cheers.

Whatcha think?

Hard to beat tarmac.

Hiya, we have a pole we want to move for access. I was told it carried 3 phase to a disused biz premises across the road. It's not appearing on the network map even as decommissioned. So here is the legend. What I see on the map is green circles joined by green lines going up the street. So how can I tell if there is 3 phase present now or not? Concerned about cost. Also there is a thick tension wire coming from the pole which is on the street, into our garden. Wonder if that would be good for negotiating? 2 wires also come from it dissecting our garden right through to the street in front of our house. They are quite low - lower than the apex of the roof. They need moved too. We don't know if there are any wayleaves, have never received anything. External_Legend.pdf

Have spent some time cutting down numerous trees prior to the digger coming. None of which are protected. There were 1 fir, 3 apple, 2 pear and 5 awful sycamore brambles enmasse and endless hedges. Half of the site had gone completely wild.Fruit trees were diseased. Definitely intend to replant apple and pear in different places, just want to get varieties right. https://www.woodlandtrust.org.uk/blog/2020/07/protected-trees/

Lol it was cheap and I would get buttons for it. Yep it was more an anti hoarding measure. It has been really useful and saved me a few grand. I will probably keep it for a while to see if there is anything useful I can do with it. *you tubes juggling

Hi, purchased a chainsaw to assist with clearing the site re vegetation. So when the build starts (builders will come in)would it be useful for anything else that I could do? Otherwise will flog it. Trying not to hoard but keen to save dosh.

file:///C:/Users/pc/Downloads/new-build-guide.pdf Who are this Alpha crowd?

Hoping not to have to borrow for our build (maybe the credit union will get a touch on the finish) but just in case what warranty?

Yes we are seeing the effects of Covid, Brexit and inflation on supply and of course prices. That said, there must be some good news. We are at the start of our journey and I would love to hear some positive things. If you can think of any, please share. I can start with finding this site, it's so handy and informative.

Just been looking through some of the clearance offerings in Homebase. It might interest someone here...https://www.homebase.co.uk/clearance.list?search=clearance

Thank you. At the moment dealing with the ivy and overgrown hedge. So if we chip off the render, cover it with mesh and render it - which type of render? Lime?

Hello,wondering what to do with the front retaining wall without rebuilding it $$$. I like stone walls, there is some peeking through the finish that was put on possibly in the 60's. Or should we just patch it?

Sounds like if you get the fire doors you will be ok? I just did a search and they seem available, is there a specific type/size you are after?

Jeez that reads like double dutch to me.

Thanks, agree need to get it right. They are new build. It makes sense for economies of scale to do the development as one.

Been clearing surface trees and scrub (mainly to stop birds nesting but also saved money) and I got advice on here about safety equip for a chainsaw. Thank you SO much, I was going to use a normal builders hat but instead followed your wise advice and got the proper forestry helmet with ear defenders and visor together with the chainsaw trousers, gloves and boots. Job is 3/4 done, taken down 6 trees (used wedges)and absolutely delighted. Safety equip perfect too for clearing really jaggy overgrown area double my height with loopers. Even managed to clear most of the debris using my trailer when I was in the area anyway. We have lovely neighbours and one does wood turning so delighted to be able to give him some of the trunks. Cheers again .

So PP is in my and husbands name for whole thing (presumably architect did that to save money). At the moment it's semi detached cottages in a terrible state. We are building two separate properties, one we will live in with a granny flat for my mother. Sister is in the other. Shared access in middle. It will be block build and after reading about insurance thought we might get the SE to check it a number of times going up instead. (Obviously still getting other insurance like public liability). So does that mean I have to do the vat reclaim for all of the development? Properties are in both sis and our names.

So I think we are within a few weeks of getting planning permission. Architect mentioned we need a structural engineer. How do we choose one? Also is there a list of stages/ points to remember when doing a self build? Like last night reading how I need to book DNO separately from meter move. Its hit or miss that I realise something needs scheduled at the mo. (Family development so we could divvy up jobs. )?

Hi Ralph, lovely house. What have you clad the sides with, top and bottom?

Just been reading about this..https://www.techadvisor.com/news/gadget/samsung-freestyle-3812086/ We have an ancient 40" samsung hanging on the wall, still a decent pic.

Ha ha ha I read on after that....

Cable ties are so brilliant - good job with this, very impressed.

Ah Gus, I agree entirely with what you said. I buy a sack of wild bird feed every week as it is. The house is near an ancient woodland too and in a different lifetime I studied ecology.