SBMS

Thanks for the feedback. The elevations drawings aren’t representative of the window style. It’ll be more like this: Done in aluminium, not really twee or cottage like. The black cladding is on other parts of the house as well: the architect has tied it in. I’ll post up the full design at some point. The feedback on the doors though I agree with and hadn’t to be honest noticed till now, so will definitely be switching them out for solid.

Interesting point.. I might ask the architects to do a version with solid doors vs the glass doors, is it the glass doors you think could make it look like an office?

Nice! Do you mind me asking how much?

Because of...price? Structurally impossible? Look naff?

Hi all Still at design stage and architect has designed a front glazed opening with a door and 2 storey glazing. It's 2700mm wide and 4700mm tall. We are having an open gallery so there is no floor that would allow us to naturally separate the glazing into two units. Do you think curtain walling is the only approach? I wondered about whether to put a small-ish steel in at the first floor anyway and clad it on the outside and inside, allowing us to go with conventional aluminium glazing/door below and above? What are people's thoughts?

To answer your original question, yes you can reclaim VAT on flooring with the exception of carpet and carpet tiles. Be aware that if you’re having it installed then the installation should be zero rated rather than reclaiming.

Leave what unattended? The bats or the ecologists??

Same position?

Thanks all. Has anyone had any experience of firms in Lancashire that are reasonable and quick? Am looking at a couple options but any recommendations would be appreciated!

Thanks Temp But I think it now has to be part of the initial application in order for it to be validated.

We're currently going through the pain of having to have bat emergence surveys done following a preliminary roost assessment for bats (PRA) that identified there 'could be bats' for some old barns we have to knock down for planning. We've been quoted £6k+VAT for the emergence surveys! Our quote is for full dusk surveys... infra red...video monitoring... a further survey 3 weeks later... This is for about 4 small barns on the land and will set back our build timeframes (first survey mid may, next survey end of June so puts our planning permission submission back a lot...) Two questions: 1. Does this price sound reasonable? 2. I am wondering if we should do another PRA with another company? It seems the one we picked may be overly...picky?

Can you elaborate? What do you know now?

Got you. It’s probably not the worst idea to get ballparks but just be mindful that once you get your building regs drawings and there are steel sizes etc if you have any that the builder may need to ‘revise’ their quote. This might also be why builders are asking for money to quote (none of ours did). They might think it’s very speculative not quoting to regs drawings. Most we spoke to refused to quote from planning and said they needed the full detail to quote accurately.

Are they quoting from planning drawings or full building drawings?

How about getting another quote to compare?

Be great if members have those numbers to hand, I assumed it was a big ask so though sqm was easier!

We’re early days and looking at all options but are steering more towards passive standards. Last build was block and brick and ACH achieved wasn’t the best. Also difficult getting trades to understand the detail and quality required for passive standards but the TF erectors (MBC at least) seem to understand it a lot more.

Fair enough! What insulation did you use on your brick and block? I'm guessing you didn't try and get to passivhaus standards for it, or did you?

Thanks @Buzz for comprehensive answer that’s really useful. Two questions - what was your house size and why didn’t you go TF in the end?

Do the TF companies quote from building regs drawings or can they do it from stage 1 drawings?

I wonder if this is true just for superstructure sqm prices? Granted a finished sqm price for a build is impossible due to internal finish, but I'm not sure there's a huge deviation in superstructure pricing for two TF builds that are of similar size and shape. Also, am not trying to price the job, just trying to get a feel for past builders' costs for TF

Do you care to share your MBC cost?

Am just investigating different methods of construction. Appreciate the answer isn’t exact just wondered if there’s a range.

Thanks. I got a number of about 700 from another group. Be interesting to see what other members got though.

Thanks - what size sqm was your build?