Post and beam

That is one option, there will be a lot of foundations to pour so its possible. If i do build it i hope to do so on the other side of the house where there is currently a very old gargae already. The reason for submitting for a new garage is to establish the principle of one on the footprint

Hi All My planning application is for a single detatched 4 bed and a seperate garage. The question is, i may not be able to afford the garage. Not yet anyway. So If i dont build it am i in a whole world of trouble? I dont want to broach this with the planning department ahead of time in case i open a can of worms. Bettter to ask for forgiveness than ask for permission. Regards keith

I have very recently had the following.... AIA: Arborial impact assessment PEA: Preliminary ecological assessment and Bat roost survey( none thank Fek!) Reptile mitigation plan I thought there were options for the Bat survey such that the timing through the year should not unduly hold up your plans. Certainly did not pay anything like £3800 for the Bat thing. Thats painful. I still need to get an archeaological survey which apparently cannot be done until/unless i get full planning permission.

Hi, Sorry for the long delay. The site is https://www.fiverr.com/

I beleieve Potton will now do the groundwaorks as well as their Sips/Timber frame house package

I had every intention of providing a portaloo. Until yesterday that was all that i thought i am mandated to provide. But after a seminar yesterday i discovered that CDM2015 expects the following a seating area A changing and cloths drying area Water ( sink) and to drink Loo You can hire welfare portacabins that provide all that is required but they are about £800-£1000/month Russdl: Its not what Potton expect, its apparently what CDM requires. Hence the question about whether the watertight house under construction fulfills the need

Hi All First of all i am not even sure this is the best sub heading for this post, Apologies. My potential build of a potton Home will be project managed by a potton appointed manager. Under the CDM2015 regs i am required to provide welfare facilities for the guys on site. I have no issues with this of course but as SiPS construction is usually watertight very quickly can the house be regarded as a suitable rest place? Does anyone have real world practicle experience of providing welfare facilities for the build team. Thanks in advance keith

Thanks guys

The kitchen that we had rough sketched out has a pair of longish runs at 90 degrees to each other. The longest run would be 4.2 metres. It turns out that stone of any flavour only comes in a maximum of 3.5 metres and usually no more than 3.2 metres. Does anyone have any experience, good or bad of having worktops in stone joined please. It does not seem like a great idea to me. Thanks in advance keith EDIT: Apologies all. I have already asked for advice on this and totally forgotten that i had

The kitchen design we are hoping to use in our self build has a worktop run of 3.8 metres and a run of 4.2 metres at 90 degrees to it. All low level cupboards, so nothing above the worktop. I think 4.2 metres is longer than silestone and the like can be supplied. Can anyone confirm before i go and ask a retailer.

In case it is still of interest. The other thing to consider is that xDSL (aDSL) is a shared service. You will share a common link back to the telephone exchange with a number of your neighbours. This might be 2 and it might be many more. How many have been added and how many people are online right now is out of your control or knowledge. The technical issues like crap wires and connections etc are just a part of the potential issues

Thanks guys but to get back to the question, is the drop i am anticipating too steep for gravel even with the reatining hexagons stuff i have seen. One alternative i considered was to build a gabion wall across and fill with the spoil from my foundations. If i could raise it 1 metre it makes the slope much less dramatic.

This weeks question for my planned build. Advice sought yet again. The frontage to the plot i hope to build on slopes 2 metres downwards over a 18 metre distance to the house. The frontage is about the same width, 18 metres. I would be happy with a gravel drive. What kind of slope would make gravel a bad idea and what are good alternative options? I would rather spend the moneyi have on the house if at all possible.

Hi Guys. Does anyone else do this? I was having a hard time visualising what the Kitchen might look like so i asked someone to create some photo realistic renderings from details i supplied. I am really ahppy with what they created. This is using a website full of creatives around the world. £50, which i am happy with. I know that some kitchen showrooms can do similar but this remoted me from their sales patter and i dont know how good they would be anyway.

One step ahead of you. I had a look at Rationel as well.

I had a look at the Bereco site. Some of their pictures looked familiar. They are of the Potton show houses, so if Potton use them themselves i will follow up with an enquiry. Thanks again

Thanks guys, i will check these lot out

Hi Guys I liked the look of the Residence collection adverts in the magazines. However, reading reviews this evening it seems they would be a very bad choice. So, can anybody recommend a supplier for windows and doors. I expect to be buying casement windows of middle quality. Would love Sash windows but i am not a rich guy so doubt that is going to happen. Style of house is Heritage collection 1 1/2 story potton post and beam country farmhouse kind of thing. Thanks in advance keith

So, i have been investigating the potential of an ASHP instead of a gas boiler in my Potton design. The technology looks very close to a refrigerator, in fairness one that is expected to last for 20 years but still... a fridge all the same. Can anyone educate me why they are so fxxxng expensive. I get suspicious when the sales blurb tried to justify a higher wattage model 16kw instaed of 9kw for example would cost more to install because its physically a bit bigger and heavier. Why ? Up to £8k - £10k to install. I cannot see this at all. Please enlighten me wise people. Thanks keith

I dont, but family members have previously had detailed permission that lapsed on the same site. There area a couple of mature walnut trees that need to be retained but i have no plans to plant or install anything of note and i dont expect the planners will either. So i dont think this falls within what you are referring to.

I have the booklet from Andrew Jones. Fully intend to use that service if and when we go ahead. Very glad to hear an endorsement.

Thanks so much guys. I am at the early stage of planning a build and for a budget of about £350k i am trying to understand the VAT reclaim amount. This has consequences, as the less it is the more i have to keep back for landscaping etc. And vice versa of course. Fully appreciate that exactly how and what my build route is will have a big effect of the VAT. Regards keith

Totally confused now guys These 2 statements appear to be at odds. I fully accept that i might have been misinformed but now i am no better off. What am i missing?

First of all, forgive me if this has been raised before. As i understand it VAT on new builds is claimable for the supply of, roof tiles, as an example. But not on the labour to install them. I guess you know where this is going... If i got a roof tile supplier to charge me a premium for the supply of roof tiles and threw in free fitting have i just made a shrewd move or have i attempted to do something totally illegal? By the way, i have no intention of doing anything illegal. But if this is accepted practice then i would be stupid to miss out. Thanks in advance keith

The plot i have potential on is generous but has laid empty for 100 years. I know that the local authority plan for the village requires 15 affordable homes. My worry is that wait until i build a house and then throw something up and destroy the value of what i have. They know full well that nobody will build on this plot if flats already existed.