Live self-Builds - mod warning in post no. 1

Cavanjack wrote: »

Looking good. Ready to start plastering myself now. Did you put air tight tape between floor and walls? Is it common practice for the plaster to be finished so far from the floor?

I am waiting for an Airtightness test to see how much leakage is at this junction. If there is a significant amount I will taping also.

That is common as the skirting will be covering. The sand and cement coat went all the way down.

BarneyMc wrote: »

The middle image shows some sort of hood for the stove? Can I ask what this is for?

I installed a poujoulat chimney system. See below link and some attached pics.

http://www.poujoulat.co.uk/produit/9/17/1/twin-wall-insulated-chimney-system/therminox-ti-zi.html

Its a fab system but if I could go back i would have installed standard block chimneys

stickybookmark wrote: »

Yeah I know.

I had a 2 hour meeting with the HP supplier yesterday in their office. A very good guy, a young-ish guy. He knew his stuff I'd have to give him that. I am starting to think I should have gone for ASHP. Must check if it isn't too late to change.
It was very interesting learning about how the system works inside the house. Hot water priority etc. We went through the diagram of all the pieces of kit. Debate is raging as to whether GSHP goes inside or outside the house but now I'm thinking might not even get GSHP

Yes, it is hard to know which HP type to go with. I've decided to go the ASHP route. There are lots of discussions on here with pros and cons for both. I can't see why it's too late for you to change your mind as you're just starting your build.

stickybookmark wrote: »

My builder has said these are the air tightness target levels for the test:

Q50 m3/m2hr
N50 ACH

Are these acceptable for a house with HRV ? I've read through my provisional BER and can't seem to find a value for target ac/h

Less than 3 is the minimum value I understand for a house with Hrv, or at least that is what is commonly quoted as the cut off. About that and it is more difficult justify the cost of the Hrv.

Less than 3 is good. Less than 2 is better, less than 1 is.....etc

stickybookmark wrote: »

On the FF? Nope, builder insisted on taking the insulation out
So no insulation on the FF floor

Christ I'm soo p!ssed off with the lot of them today. Stress has reached an all time high !! :mad::mad::mad:
Feel like the builder just wants to plough ahead with the build regardless of whether it's structurally sound/to my taste and the engineer just wants to certify the whole thing at the end but doesn't want to be involved in any design questions.
Feeling disillusioned with the whole lot of em right now !!!

I feel your pain. Except for an odd one or two I've had to argue points with the lot of them. Very stressful indeed!!!

stickybookmark wrote: »

On the FF? Nope, builder insisted on taking the insulation out
So no insulation on the FF floor

Christ I'm soo p!ssed off with the lot of them today. Stress has reached an all time high !! :mad::mad::mad:
Feel like the builder just wants to plough ahead with the build regardless of whether it's structurally sound/to my taste and the engineer just wants to certify the whole thing at the end but doesn't want to be involved in any design questions.
Feeling disillusioned with the whole lot of em right now !!!

Are you not just at ground floor level( according to photos)? If you want it which I think you should you should Just tell your builder your putting the insulation on the first floor. End off. Has he priced for the laying of it?

I would TELL him that you insist on putting the insulation on the 1st floor slabs. It will increase the contract price seen as he didn't price for it originally, but I wouldn't imagine by much. You can agree a figure up front between you prior to doing it.

If you went with at least 50mm floor insulation sheets and 50mm perimeter insulation around external walls, it will be much better than no insulation. I have 50mm on my first floor.

It is so much easier to rectify this issue now before its done, than try do it later when it's too late.

stickybookmark wrote: »

No it was removed at tender stage so he never even priced for it. He was emphatic that it's not needed as the upstairs floor is inside the heated envelope of the house etc.

what sort of a genius came up with that.
Who instructed to have it removed off the tender. Did your arch/eng know about this what was there opinion.

stickybookmark wrote: »

The AC/Engineer had no opinion on it.

This is common. On here often a question is meet with "what does your eng say" or "your eng should be specing this detail, why are you asking these questions here"

Sadly with many eng/arch you have to second guess details. This is why I sacked off my architect who specified no perimeter insulation as that is only needed if putting in ufh. Builder doing foundations agreed. Engineers also said it was fine with out.

Hence none was put in.

God lads. I'm so glad I got to self build 5 years ago . In putting out for quotations I asked each builder simple questions and from that I decided to go for self build. Shockingly some of the engineers comments were back in 1991.

Recently saw 2 house renovation construction drawings/ plans . One was a total gutting and extension . The other was a large extension doubling of the size. I know they are not required but the construction drawings had 100mm cavity with 60mm insulation and 50mm insulated plaster board on perimeter inner leaf . No effort at all really.

Best of luck ,

Superdaddy wrote:

I'm trying to decide on what insulation to put on my first floor. Liquid screed man tells me to put 25mm eps 100. Says its cheaper than PIR and better for sound insulation. Lad selling me the insulation says its cheaper alright but less thermally efficient and the same for sound insulation. I'm putting UFH in 40mm liquid screed. It is sitting on plywood, then engineered eco joists filled with rockwool for sound insulation (after weeks of insulating I really hate fibre glass ). So what are your views? EPS or PIR?

Hi super daddy,

I am similar to yourself. My build up is as follows;

1.) Open web joists, think they are 274mm deep,
2.) On top of the joists there was 22mm OSB Board sheeting laid for the 1st floor.
3.) 50mm PIR Floor Insulation with UFH pipes and
4.) 50-55mm liquid screed,

delfagio wrote: »

Hi super daddy,

I am similar to yourself. My build up is as follows;

1.) Open web joists, think they are 274mm deep,
2.) On top of the joists there was 22mm OSB Board sheeting laid for the 1st floor.
3.) 50mm PIR Floor Insulation with UFH pipes and
4.) 50-55mm liquid screed,

Thats a pretty serious floor. My joist are 225mm, 18mm WBP.

Apologies, just had a look there last night and its actually 254mm Open Web Joists not 274mm, my mistake. :rolleyes:

Went to the house this morning to see how the screed was doing since been poured yesterday. I didn't walk on it just yet as I'd rather wait till this evening to give it a little chance longer to dry and harden up, so just literally open the outside doors and stuck my head inside to look around, but bloody hell, the condensation in the place is unreal. The windows are soaking wet.....

All the windows are open about an inch or two since yesterday to let air get in and around the screed. Really hope the weather picks up in the next few days so I can open the windows more to let more air get in, but typical Irish weather ha ha RAIN :mad::mad:

Can only attach one photo at a time for some reason?

Mac0783 wrote: »

Hi, skimming through this thread, it's very detailed! We have a pre-planning meeting with Roscommon Co Co tomorrow. I was wondering if anyone had any dealings with them and any advice? Also any advice for dealings with Councils in general when looking for planning in a village?


thanks

Hiya,

Don't know if I am much help but I'll answer you anyway as I was in your position earlier in the year and I know it's tough.

I recently got planning permission in Meath in what they call a "graig", I guess you could be generous and call it a village, it's a small 50km zone with a school and a shop down the road. The 50km zone was a big factor in us getting permission, they kind of want cluster development in low speed zones so that new entrances are less obstructive.

One thing I would say is take a look at their development plan if you haven't already. I know in Meath they are very strict on the design of a new build, they stick very much to the guidelines as per the plan.

Pre planning meetings are great depending on what stage you're at. We didn't bother going before we designed our house as really all they can tell you at that stage is whether the land is zoned for housing etc, they have nothing concrete to comment on. We went with our drawings and engineer though just before submission and the planner was able to give us lots of pointers on small changes we could make to ensure that there would be no further information requests; e.g. having chimney on the inside on house, having house in line with others on the road, wording of planning submission etc.

I may be able to answer questions better than come up with information as I don't know what exactly you're looking for!

Best of luck - exciting times!

Thanks Fiot, there is no zoning in this village, if that makes sense I looked that up. And whilst it's within the 50 km zone it's up a a road adjacent to the village ,there are a number of other houses on the road, last built circa. 2004 I think, so I'm hoping no recent applications is a good thing. We're not local to the area I think that might be our main stumbling block.. Also the house will be behind another house - however with a good entrance and a good distance behind but not inline with the other houses so I'm worried that's an issue.

I have no plans drawn up, haven't purchased site yet but have plans for another house on the road, and have printed some house fronts that I like to give an idea of what we want. hoping that will help