Hello everyone, I’m new here and more or less a total novice so please be gentle with me! I’m planning some work on my little detached bungalow. The areas I’m unsure about are insulation, ventilation and installation of windows. I’ve attached a drawing done a while back which was part of an assessment for a heat pump. In summary I’m keeping the gas boiler as it’s a new 35kw Worcester. Hopefully the drawing will be useful. I’ll keep it simple and just concentrate on the ceilings / floors for now I’ve got a builder booked for 20th May. The wall between the two “kitchens” will be removed maki ..read more

Has anyone else had issues with getting an insurance quote for a building incorporating SIPs? I have an Oak Frame section of the house with Kingspan SIPs and on searching for a new Building's Insurance quote have come up against an unwillingness to quote as it is regarded as "an increased fire risk". Queried and went to a ''higher underwriter' but still the same answer. Thoughts? Any suggestions for a Broker to try (this was NFU ..read more

Hi all I know this topic may well have been covered quite a bit on here before but I'm exploring the possibility of installing (DIY) an external air to air heating system for the ground floor of my small, old property (1800). I just wanted to canvass opinions on the viability of such a project or perhaps get in touch (privately) with anyone with similar installs. The space to be heated is open plan, approx. 419 sq feet / 39 sq metres. I could run ducting through the void in the floor. All external walls will be insulated with 60-80mm wood fibre board, windows are double gazed but old. I hop ..read more

This StorEdge interface was fitted in 2017 along with a SolarEdge inverter and original model Powerwall. We have now had it removed as the Powerwall has been replaced with a Powerwall 2 which doesn't need the interface. I can send pics and try and find out the full model details if anyone is interested. Also, if anyone can suggest where else might be a good place to find a buyer, that would be really helpful ..read more

This is a dumb question, after all these years. We here think a lot about wall 'sandwich' build-up details, model them in WUFI etc, for interstitial condensation risk, air tightness etc. And lately, for example, I've found insulation suppliers such as Warmcel refusing to authorise their distributors to supply their product unless it's being done to a certified detail/design. Strangely, I can find nothing in Building Regs that makes similar requirement - which Part is about this, if not C (ground/rain) moisture, F vent/condensation, L thermal? No search term I can think of, produces refs to suc ..read more

What ho one and all, Following a leak (Drip Drip thread) from a SureStop mains stop-cock, I have found that a couple of the Ikea cupboard door hinges have rusted somewhat. It is not a problem replacing with the same Ikea named hinge, although the design is different and I assume they would fit. But my question is, would any other make of hinge fit Ikea doors? Basically, do all Blum hinges fit to the same temple? Thanks and toodle pip ..read more

Hi I'm finishing a lead flashing job and now need to seal the flashing that's turned into the chase. The lead has been fixed using hall clips. It's an old stone wall, with undressed stone. So nothing is straight or flat! Although some seem to favour mortar, I've decided to use lead sealant. Some of the sealants specify that a width to depth ratio of 2:1 must be used (I guess at the end of the say this is a silicone, and the same ratio is also specified for other silicones such as sanitary types, etc). Where this ratio cannot be achieved what might the implications be? Having read/watch vid ..read more

What ho one and all, When we built, I installed a SureStop to the incoming mains on the basis that if needed, my wife would be able to hit the button rather than try to figure out where the stopcock is located. And I do have a stopcock! Yesterday, when putting some stuff away, I noticed the cupboard base was wet. further investigation revealed that the SureStop has a fracture in its body so a replacement is necessary. Of course, nothing is simple as the replacement has a shorter dimension than the current model, which means I have to add about 20mm of copper. What a bugger!!!! I have figur ..read more

revor asked: "I am truly stuck cannot start new thread as says am not signed in when I am so cannot post. If I may will hijack this discussion to post following. Getting an EV at last this week. Been looking at Octopus Intelligent Go and the way I read it you can get your cheap electricity at night as well as exporting during the day at fixed 15p per Kwh. Last time I looked into it you could not have both when you had outgoing tariff. . Seems win win if I read correctly. I would instinctively charge during the day using solar that would normally go to export but looks like best to export for ..read more

A friend of mine has solved a problem that we might come across with other people. They have the Eco mode on their boiler, in other words they did not have preheating of the hot water. They were most surprised to hear my boiler come on, and upon investigation found that the Eco mode was off! They realised that this was because the electrician turned the power off when attending to a cooker switch. So what they learned was that whenever someone or something cut the power to the boiler, they will need to switch Eco mode on again when power is restored. Why to boilers or at least that make defaul ..read more