Post and beam

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.

Thank you for that. 20 metres would be really bad as far as i am concerned.

First of all i apologise if this is not in the correct area, please move it if required. I have an opportunity to build a house on a reasonably large plot set back from the road by 80'. The left 1/3 of the proposed house( looking from the road) would be obscured by a row of single storey and reather unsightly garages. My question is... If i buid the house what protection do i have, if any, that the local authority wont knock down the garages and build their required 15 'affordable homes' in the village. They would be <40' window to window square on to me if this happened. I believe this is too close and that i am worrying over nothing. However, in the town where i live which is Stevenage there have been recent flats built in the town centre above shops that face each other little more than this distance apart and looking directly at each other. It appears these kinds of privacy concerns are irrelevant when local authorities are involved.

The suggestion of a Topo' survey is indeed not a ridiculous one, i dont have an issue with it at all. However, the prices i was quoted are ridiculous.

Hi CharlieKLP Potton didn't recommend one, they told me i would have to get one done to put into the package that would form the Planning application that they submit on your behalf . Their planning submmission is £5k+VAT. Everything that they expect me to do, like the Topo' is at my cost and on top. I guess they want the Topo' so that they can design the foundations etc.

£5-600 does indeed sound cheap and i would be happy to pay that much without argument. The numbers i have been quoted so far are not cheap or even reasonable in my opinion.

Is this not up to the job then guys http://www.merlinlazer.com/Jogger-20-Automatic-Optical-Level-Package---Includes-Tripod---Staff?gclid=EAIaIQobChMI85qu7fHb8gIVDtPtCh1YVAjgEAQYASABEgIpKfD_BwE Its about £200 I did get another quote but that was still £2500. There is in fact an existing Topo for the site that relates to a previous unrelated attempt to put 8 houses on the site. It is pape only and of poor quality and Potton insist on elctronic .dwg or similar cad files.

F*!k, I have been quoted almost £5k for a Topo' survey and a street scene. £600 is a whole lot more like it. I am in hertfordshire by the way but i'm still not made of money.

Hi All I am at the very early stage of knowledge gathering in preparation of a self build. Who do i contact to get quotes(estimates) to bring services into my plot? While i am at it. Can i use one trench for electric and water provision, i dont think we will be using Mains Gas. Thanks in advance keith

Isn't the word 'quote' a legally definable term ? Other wise its an estimate. If you quote me a price for something then it means ' you can quote me on it in a court of law'. So if your builder did not revise his prices due to the time elapsed, which would have been reasonable, then the original price must stand, surely ?

I am not a builder but i have visited the show houses twice in the past 2 weeks. Apart from the 'tired' comment i cannot say that i am aware of many lapses of workmanship or snags. I think the houses are excellent.

Pottons show houses are 30 years old now. Parts of them do look tired. They have been remodelled internally in the recent past and are now very open plan inside. I happen to like the exposed beams and inglenook fireplace and i also think this sits well with the very modern kitchens. Horses for courses

I am hoping to get a self build 4 bed house project under way, never built more than a garden wall before.