Redoctober

Nail. Head

@pdf27 in answer to your questions - I honestly don't know why we did do liquid screed downstairs and biscuit mix upstairs as the rationale was never explained and I never asked. With most things on our build, I was happy to go with those who knew what they were doing. That said, I can only guess it was down to ease and possibly the structure of the base the coverings were going onto. I've never heard of a liquid screed being poured in an upstairs environment but that doesn't mean to say it can't. The upstairs floor is as solid as anything. To explain better, I have attached a PDF showing the make up of our floor, which incorporates the UFH. We followed this and as I say, its solid and we suffer no creaking at all. For "Stirling boards" we used "eggerboards." As for sound transmission, that too is non existent as the ceiling downstairs has double plaster boards fitted and the gaps between the joists were stuffed with insulation. Now the technical question! I do very little with the system - The main "unit" is set at 21 degrees. I have then set all the individual rooms at various temps, using their stand alone thermostats. The spare bedrooms upstairs are guest rooms so are not used very much during the colder months when the heating would be on. Their temps are adjusted accordingly. For a more detailed explanation of temp flows etc, we might have to seek guidance from the collective as I don't fully understand it myself, I just know it works!! Suspended timber - BUF.pdf

@pdf27 have a look at this thread from my blog - may answer some of your questions.

Exciting ! We "pinched" Border Oaks design too and made it our own. Our porch was made by a local Oak frame yard and they managed to match the price for us. Good luck and hopefully once up, you can post a picture.

@dance621 try not to be so downbeat. It seems to me that the barrier to moving on with this project is the fear that your budget isn't sufficient enough. OK, you haven't managed to gain a degree of reassurance from the forum which would have perhaps give you the confidence you are seeking. That unfortunately is understandable, given the lack of personal knowledge known about the actual project. That said though, can you not take confidence that your budget is achievable by what you have researched or received from those who do know the project? What costs do the architects put on the project? Have you priced up the plans yourself or via various trades? Or are these budget figures simply arrived at to suit your budget? If it is the latter, then who knows, you may have over budgeted!!! Or is it the case you have been given "ball park" figures and they are too far North of your available budget? If that is the case then again, that might not be so much of a deal breaker if you willing to adapt you expectations, along the lines suggested by @Ferdinand

@dance621 - First of all I think @Ferdinand should be applauded for his efforts in assisting with this thread. Clearly a lot of effort has gone into it and this should be commended as it not only reflects well on him but the forum as well. Top job. Anyway, the costs you have budgeted for above - you say they are fantasy figures. Are any actually based on researched costings? Do they include labour? VAT? My thoughts are as follows - The plumbing budget appears high - that said the UFH budget appears on the low side - Are you intending to have an ASHP - If so which budget is that in? Oak floor materials? How much square footage do you need? - seems on the low side to me what with all the sundry items you would need. How long to envisage this work to take? If I have read this correctly, it seems the work is to be carried out by you and your Hungarian chap - A 26 week build with a budget of £25k for his services amounts to less than £200 a day. All said and done, I wish you luck and look forward to seeing it progress.

This is exactly what we did. We arranged for SW to connect us from the Mains supply across the single track lane, into the Boundary box and then through our hedge into the plot, whereby the plumber fixed up a standpipe arrangement for the builders. [We had to pay for the road to be dug up and the trench to be dug through the hedge mind]. Eventually, when we were ready to move indoors so to speak, SW came out and connected us up completely, burying the connection at the standpipe junction. I can't recall whether or not I paid up front or at the conclusion of the job but nonetheless, the total costs back in 2018 was £976 of which I reclaimed £19.68 in VAT.

@Thedreamer We got ours from a company advertising on Etsy.com - about £30 if I recall correctly.

They feed into another similar looking box just to the outside of the meter box, which the shed power and lights also run from. For completeness her is the overall picture !

@PeterW and @ProDave - yes sorry guys, you can always rely on me to confuse things - The photo above was taken PRIOR to the electrician doing his fixes. The photo below shows the finished article together with whatever the fuse box that is required having been fitted. Thanks.

Presumably, this is what I have here.?

@Bored Shopper - I can't help regarding the facts but our meter box is a good distance from our CU - In fact it is in the outside carport [ well protected] and the CU is in the utility - the distance between the two is at least 9 metres. The cable runs from the meter box underground, into the house underground and then pops up in the utility room. A no point was this an issue for any tradesman or BCO - I would question the Solar Panel guys and ask on what authority do they say that is the case. Good luck.

I'm not saying I am anti MVHR, as the system obviously has benefits above and beyond the "inconveniences" of life mentioned above. We didn't install one in our house for reasons that have been stated elsewhere within this forum but in relation to this thread I would just like to add the following for balance. Prior to installing a system, you have to weigh up the capital investment against any benefits. Then there is the ongoing maintenance and replacement of filters. Also you have to ask yourself whether or not you can live with having the inlet / outlets ducts being constantly visible. There you go, that's my twopence worth and no, we are not having to dust everyday, empty the house of spiders/flies, have to put up with smells and prop internal doors open as a result of having windows open. Oh, nearly forgot, I don't believe the world is flat either!! ?

Hi @Pord67 - sorry I'm a bit late catching this thread but what a great place you have in the making - such an unusual build method. That said, it looks to be an effective method. I know you are probably busy with everything but is there any chance you could document your experiences in some sort of a blog ? I believe, it would be a very valuable and useful resource for the forum. Top job though, and good luck with it.?

Hi @Sarah A we are one of those also in the Borders. Take a look at my blog if you have time to sit with a cup of tea.? You may find some bits useful especially when it comes to securing the plot. We undertook our build through 2018 so some of the prices etc mentioned may be a bit dated. Anyway, look forward to reading about your adventure as it unfolds. Our postcode if it helps is TD12 4........ The kettle will always be on should you feel a visit would be worthwhile.

Hi @Reiver we are in the Eastern side of the Borders and the stone concerned is either from Perthshire or Cumbria as the make up of the wall is a combination of Perthshire stone, Cumbrian stone and Borders Buff. @Russell griffiths funny, I did actually now the lawns today, all 600 as metres of it.??. Thanks for your thoughts anyway, much appreciated?

Hi all. Within my external wall, I have one particular stone that is showing signs of erosion - see images. Is this something to be concerned about or do I have too much time on my hands????

Hi @AliG we used the following - found them to be reliable, reasonably priced and quick with their report / findings. http://www.meteorsoilsurveys.co.uk/

Hi @Balraj Appadu I don't know your circumstances in as much as will you be working full time whilst the build is underway? What is the build budget? How complex is the build itself? All these matters will have an impact upon your decision. The route you are taking seems very similar to the one we took and I managed the project myself, without any prior experiences. That said, I was able to be on site most days etc. You have the main elements covered - all it seems you need to do is co-ordinate the add on trades. This is something you should be able to do yourself. Hiring a PM can be expensive and generally, on a "standard" self build, unnecessary in my opinion. Take a look at my blog as this might help you in understanding what is needed to be done etc.

A Sounds like a plan but it seems the answer is a fairly easy one in as much as what is your preference? As for its application, a quick search on the internet should provide the answers. A quick search using - internal concrete floor paint has thrown up many options. Here are two such results - https://www.promain.co.uk/blog/paint-seal-concrete-floors/ and https://www.watco.co.uk/help-advice/application-guides/concrete-floor-paint-application-guide Good luck.

Hi @Boris we too have a similar set up leading from our kitchen area into the utility room. See photos below as to how we overcame it. Doesn't look out of place and if anything, i feel it adds a bit of character. Two shots from the kitchen side showing the deep recess and then one from the other side, in the utility room showing it to be flush so to speak. I hope this helps.

Hi - a little late to this thread but for my two pennies worth, we stuck ours in the car port / garage whatever you wish to call it. See image and or my blog for details. SP Energy supplied up to 50 metres of cable all within the connection costs they charged, which was about £900 job done. We used best part of that 50 metre run to take the cable from the pole into the carport. This was all done ahead of the TF being erected and allowed the Trades to tap into the power supply as and when. The meter is held within a proper approved box and we have had no trouble with it since. It keeps it out of the way and accessible .

For what it is worth, coming from a complete novice but would one of these not be suitable? https://www.drainagesuperstore.co.uk/browse/underground-drainage/flexible-couplings.html

Lovely looking plot and a interesting project. I shall look forward to seeing this one unfold. Thanks also for sharing the info regarding the Ag Tie and having it removed. I'm sure this will be of benefit to some who may find themselves being restricted by such measures. Good luck.

Fair comments but the life I lead isn't like that sadly. I'm not in a position whereby I can dismiss the cost of any such item and I'm sure I am not alone. God forbid if I purchased everything I fancied / that was better for me etc without any regard to the costs / value, I'd be living under the hedge rather than admiring it from my comfy armchair!!?