Ideas needed for new build

What are those? I thought all uPVC doors had the massive rim at the bottom? Are those just for retrofits in properties built before wheelchair regs then?

I favour 'Macclesfield sills' myself (for 'proper' wooden doors):

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- on looking into it - I've just discovered come in wheelchair-friendly versions too:
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Reply to
Lobster
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The message from The Natural Philosopher contains these words:

If you want to take it to absurd lengths all insulation, however thick, will leak to a certain extent but in practical terms the 'bare midriff' between floor level and the ground outside will be responsible for the majority of any heat loss from below a solid floor both because that is where the temperature gradient is at its steepest and because by leaking so much heat it reduces the internal temperature at ground level to such an extent that there isn't much heat left to leak.

What would make some sense would be to thicken the underfloor insulation at the outside margins where it has more effect.

Reply to
Roger

OK.

I wasn't going to ... it's* not something of immediate concern!

Mary

*foundations that is - or anything IMM says.
Reply to
Mary Fisher

If you want to rip your house to pieces after you move in I suppose you can. This sub thread is very silly.

Reply to
IMM

NT wrote | In an ideal world youd do everything at initial build, but I | suspect thats not the way to get the best for ones money.

Bear in mind that VAT is reclaimable on most work on new builds, but only

*once*, so as much VAT-reclaimable work as possible should be done as part of the main build. This will also allow best quantity discounts to be obtained. Buying things later is going to cost about a fifth more once VAT and loss of discount are taken into account.

Expensive fitted kitchens and the like can be left until later, as they aren't VAT-reclaimable anyway. All the building inspector wants to see is a sink and some worktop to satisfy the 'food preparation area' requirements.

Also, any conversions to habitable use, connection of new drains to sewers, new staircase to cellar, etc., will require an additional building regs application, which is a needless expense if it can be included on the original application.

Owain

Reply to
Owain

OK smart one, you tell us what ripping apart is involved in fitting battens rockwool and PB to the walls that have not been plastered before.

NT

Reply to
bigcat

Right - I must look in to that, thanks. I'm replacing mine every few months, at least. IIRC, each one's on its own transformer (6 of) which is correctly rated; furthemore they are on a dimmer switch which AFAIK is supposed to protect the filament by avoiding the power surge at switch on. They are in a good-sized, draughty, between-floor cavity so don't get too hot. tIs there any other reason why mine should keep blowing (other than crappy bulbs)?

David

Reply to
Lobster

Do they have a web site?

Reply to
IMM

We've lived in this house for over forty years. The doors are the same as when we moved in, which are the originals (1937). What I call the threshold (you carry a bride over the threshold) is the narrow strip of wood attached to the top step. Rain has never come in.

It's probably diverted by the sloping piece of wood attached the outside of the bottom of the door. Don't know what that's called, perhaps I'll look it up if I remember ...

Interesting.

Mary

Reply to
Mary Fisher

To extend the chute idea a bit:-

If you have teenagers, a trapdoor instead of a floor in their bedroom, leading straight into a skip. Much easier in the long run than getting them to tidy up!!

Andrew

Reply to
Andrew Chesters

Hey (as one of the unfortunate) I like it!

Not sure whether the trapdoor is intended for the teenagers or their debris, or both? Either way...

David

Reply to
Lobster

That's a very good point. Surely, though, an architect would tell you that?

Reply to
Mary Fisher

Oh joy ...

We don't have them (teenagers) but I was thinking of extending it to grandchildren ...

Mary

Reply to
Mary Fisher

Yes.

Either way...

Joy!

Reply to
Mary Fisher

Ive lost all six from the track units I bought, not a single one elsewhere. Guess which ones did NOT come with newey and eyre bulbs...

Reply to
The Natural Philosopher

Yes, but it only allows you to order their catalogue by post.

Reply to
The Natural Philosopher

I think you will find that they are, if they are 'fittings'

Reply to
The Natural Philosopher

And probably neither has a wheelchair ? (Apologies offered in advance if somebody in your family does have to struggle over this theshold every day - if so I bet they'd like to see it go)

Steps aren't allowed now either.

Reply to
Mike

Crappy transformers not soft-starting ? Also transformers have a minimum power rating. Does the one bulb on each meet this ?

Reply to
Mike

I'd measure the voltage at the bulbs on load.

Slow starting has actually been found to add very little to bulb life, so thats not likely to be a factor.

NT

Reply to
bigcat

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