a2w, solar,mhrv, windows, etc.. recomendations please

gooner99

Hi. Hopefully going to finally get building our house sometime this year. I've done quite a bit of research in the past few years and boards has been great on that front, but would like to get up to date info. I would be grateful if you guys that have build recently or are currently building, or indeed involved in the building game could give me website, contact details, experiences, recommendations and advice on manufacturers, systems, suppliers and installers of the following. Of course it will likely be more appropriate to pm some of this information.

Heat pumps, a2w and ground bore. Bit concerned with a2w on our site as it's only meters from the sea. I'd imagine the salt air would destroy the outdoor unit?

Solar panels and Solar PV.

MVHR systems.

Windows. Again wary of alu-clad due to the close proximity to the sea, so probably looking at good quality PVC (hopefully triple glazing).

Air-tightness advisers, suppliers, systems, tapes, etc.

Heating consultants/engineers and BER.

Insulation. Going wide cavity.

We're based in the North West, so also have easy access to the North.
All advice welcome and any money saving tips also welcome.

Thanks in advance.

Calahonda52

Is this list for real?

You have given no idea of the type, size, shape of house exposure, site conditions, the expected spec in terms of airtightness values, energy demand profile, etc etc.
neither have you given any idea as to if you have any professionals on board advising you and your preferred method of contracting the work.
TBO
I've done quite a bit of research in the past few years and boards has been great on that front, but would like to get up to date info
reads like pure plamas.

Only that I am feeling somewhat benevolent I would think you are taking the guys and gals here for fools.

gooner99

Calahonda52 wrote: »

Is this list for real?

You have given no idea of the type, size, shape of house exposure, site conditions, the expected spec in terms of airtightness values, energy demand profile, etc etc.
neither have you given any idea as to if you have any professionals on board advising you and your preferred method of contracting the work.
TBO
I've done quite a bit of research in the past few years and boards has been great on that front, but would like to get up to date info
reads like pure plamas.

Only that I am feeling somewhat benevolent I would think you are taking the guys and gals here for fools.

Hi. I believe my request was for up to date recommendations for manufacturers, suppliers, installers and general recommendations for the items I listed. I don't see what bearing the details you mention have on this. Anyway thanks for your input. I made my post in good faith, as I have always found boardsies to be most helpful. Sorry if you felt that I have taking the good folk here for fools.

Mods please feel free to remove this thread.

a_noodle_jenny

Hey gooner - would you ever think of going to a self build show? Or even a home and garden building show... I see them advertised online here due to browsing history and am thinking I could have learned a lot from them particularly around ground works, cavity thickness insulation and heating systems - we came into that very late in the build - ie foundations were in and block work had just started... Not a clue what we were at!

We divide the jobs up here for our build, OH does a lot of work on certain areas and when I get involved he leaves the areas that I'm good at to me. But he's doing the most work and handles the finances. Generally we consult on decisions but not always. We spend a lot of time in the phone just chatting to self builders, suppliers etc. I liken it to planning a wedding only on a way bigger scale, one crowd recommends the other. Facebook is very good too, this is a rapidly growing area - tweeting and instagraming and possibly snapchatting your work, for me these a repositories of real work, real ideas for real people in real houses with tooth brushes in bathroom and fairy liquid at the sink. Magazines about houses and catalogues aren't my thing - they're too heavy!

Every day is new learning, today I learned that the lead up time for a composite front door is 7 weeks for oak outside and cream door and frame inside. I learned that if you want a lever / lever handle with thumb turn on inside you can have low stormguard threshold which comes in gold which will look nice and people won't trip coming out my front door like in our rental... But mainly I'm glad because I think the gold looks nice because our front door is just very badly installed. The other thumb turn lock cannot be installed only will a pull closed locking mechanism and standard threshold. That's not the half of it with the research on this door, basically I wanted a door that was low u value but looked well on the house.

Yesterday I learned that it is not unusual to see a bathroom sink with a fairly average looking (as I saw it)vanity cabinet costing €850 or more, that a tap can cost well over €100 on top of that. Worth it for some but yes that shocked me. Suppliers haven't got great showrooms in this part of the country so there's only a few options that you can physically see so that's why I suggested a trade show. We have young kids so can't really get away together unless it's local.

Building is a science, I have huge respect for tradespeople and they work very hard. We have been very lucky with our people to date.
HTH! Thanks to everyone for sharing their building projects to date and their expertise.

tvisdead

Hi guys,

some what in a similiar boat myself. but would be great if I could get a recommendation for a supplier/design/ installer of MHRV systems.

If you have installed a system and can offer a recommendation please drop me a PM.

Cheers

mike_2009

There's a self build show on in Belfast next weekend if you can get to it. Lots of stuff to see from mostly northern suppliers.

gooner99

Was at the self build at citywest last year. Some great info from many of the suppliers there. Belfast show would be great but don't think I can make it. There's a local building seminar on soon, so will go to that. Thanks all so far for the advice and info, keep it coming.

BarneyMc

mike_2009 wrote: »

There's a self build show on in Belfast next weekend if you can get to it. Lots of stuff to see from mostly northern suppliers.

Yip, get along to that. A lot of lads under one roof so it will save you a lot of time and effort driving/phoning around.