SarahG

Good that makes sense- ok so maybe I am in agreement in having hard flooring downstairs due to the UFH. I can perhaps afford a couple of rugs. This is my exact memory of sisal, defeats the object of a nice soft carpet. Maybe we can agree on a wool loop pile or similar for bedrooms only. Oh really- I wanted light stone coloured tiles for the downstairs too. Definitely like the idea of carpet runner on stairs. Now my head is spinning with too many flooring options!

@Conor - Depends on the carpet you go for! He wants this expensive sisal stuff. Although I wouldn't put that in kids bedrooms. @JohnMo why is UFH and carpet rubbish? We will have UFH downstairs only but I wanted carpet in playroom and study. Upstairs won't be UFH so guess it doesn't matter then. My issue with hard flooring also is you then have to spend a fortune on rugs to make it actually feel nice and homely. Also will it be more noisy with hard than carpet?

I see here that you cannot claim VAT relief for carpet - https://www.gov.uk/guidance/vat-refunds-for-new-builds-if-youre-a-diy-housebuilder#goods-you-can-or-cannot-claim-for Can you claim back the VAT on hard flooring though, such as solid wood floor or tiles? I am currently going through a debate with my husband if we have solid flooring throughout the whole house- I want carpets in bedrooms and he does not. I think if you have to pay VAT on carpet and not on hard flooring then this might support his argument and not mine?!

If anyone is looking for conveyancing for their self build I would recommend Russell & Russell. Excellent communication and very quick to respond. Also the price was extremely competitive. Just completed today and really happy with the service I received.

We were not keen on the windows our builder recommended and he is happy for us to source our own. So having heard positive stories from others about windows from Poland we are looking at this company which a friend recommended- https://eurostyl.net.pl/en Has anyone used them before? We have a quote which seems pretty reasonable, they are really helpful and seem to be able to provide exactly what we want and the website looks good (not necessarily an indicator!). I cannot find any reviews online though.

Thanks- I have sent across my site insurance quote from Protek which mentions Saffron. I am hoping that will be enough to satisfy them. So I can just take that policy out and we are good.

Yes that's exactly it. I wasn't quite sure if we needed our own site insurance, as far as I can tell it's all covered under the builders insurance. He seemed to think we didn't need it anyway. I'll speak to Protek as I have my warranty through them and have a quote for site insurance. If they can mention saffron on that policy then maybe I will need to do that. Oh well what's another £1000 😩

Our lender has stated in terms of our mortgage offer the builders policy must state the interest of our lenders and of us as well. Obviously it does not, as it covers all his work. Just wondering if others have come across this and what they have done? I suggested to the builder maybe we need a standalone policy for just our build, he said he would take a look.

Ah ok. Yes their house is next door and is about 3m away.

No we are not building anything on their side. We are building wholly on our land. There will be a new fence which will be placed on the boundary.

We served our neighbours with a section 1 notice as we are building our single story garage right up to the boundary, wholly on our land. From what I can find online it says- Unlike other sections of the Party Wall Act, an adjoining owner cannot just appoint a surveyor on receiving a notice unless they can establish an actual dispute over the section 1 notice. Actual disputes are fairly limited and so it is unlikely that serving a section 1 notice will result in surveyors being appointed or a Party Wall Award needing to be made. Now we have received a letter from their surveyor saying they dissent to our works and have appointment them to represent them and we must draw up an award now. There is no detail on why though. Anyone have any insight or experience?

Sliding sashes with weights and cords and double glazed. Don't really want any mock features on the exterior as want it to look as traditional as possible. Thanks!

Just wondered if anyone can recommend a supplier for timber sash windows ideally with structural (rather than astragal) bar running down the middle. Asking for a friend

I have never in 14 years had anyone to the property for our first mortgage or any standard remortgage since. This is the first self build and they will be sending someone, they could just use Zoopla and save me £1400 and them some time..

Finally the lender is happy with the builder! My mortgage advisor went above and beyond to help us. The builder also sent us lots of useful documents, all this managed to reassure them thankfully. So glad to make it to the next stage, now the land valuation. I'm sure this will be fine..