Page 21 of 139
Re: The House Projects Thread
Posted: Mon Jan 21, 2019 8:40 pm
by McSwede
GG. wrote: Mon Jan 21, 2019 6:46 pm
Random question - does anyone have recommendations for LED flood lights?
Our ancient halogen one in the back garden ist kaput so I need to source a replacement and most seem to have transitioned to LED these days.
BELL Lighting do good stuff for sensible money via an electrical wholesaler.
Re: The House Projects Thread
Posted: Tue Jan 22, 2019 8:54 pm
by Nathan
GG. wrote: Mon Jan 21, 2019 6:46 pm
Random question - does anyone have recommendations for LED flood lights?
Our ancient halogen one in the back garden ist kaput so I need to source a replacement and most seem to have transitioned to LED these days.
From this Sunday in store Lidl
https://www.lidl.co.uk/en/MiddleofLidl. ... leId=19778
Re: The House Projects Thread
Posted: Tue Jan 22, 2019 9:56 pm
by Jobbo
We received a letter in the list today from a builder who had clearly spotted our planning application and was touting for business. Is that a thing now?
We’re the 34th validated planning application in our district this year, based on the reference number allocated. Which is approx 2 per day, so easy enough for anyone to send out letters to householders speculatively.
Re: The House Projects Thread
Posted: Tue Jan 22, 2019 10:10 pm
by Carlos
Jobbo wrote: Tue Jan 22, 2019 9:56 pm
We received a letter in the list today from a builder who had clearly spotted our planning application and was touting for business. Is that a thing now?
We’re the 34th validated planning application in our district this year, based on the reference number allocated. Which is approx 2 per day, so easy enough for anyone to send out letters to householders speculatively.
Yep. It will be builders merchants next with trade discount for a self build subject to minimum spend.
Re: The House Projects Thread
Posted: Tue Jan 22, 2019 10:17 pm
by Carlos
GG. wrote: Mon Jan 21, 2019 6:46 pm
Random question - does anyone have recommendations for LED flood lights?
Our ancient halogen one in the back garden ist kaput so I need to source a replacement and most seem to have transitioned to LED these days.
I just fitted a 20w Screwfix jobby to replace a big Halogen for a 10x10m garden and it's ample.
Re: The House Projects Thread
Posted: Wed Jan 23, 2019 11:33 am
by ste
Jobbo wrote: Tue Jan 22, 2019 9:56 pm
We received a letter in the list today from a builder who had clearly spotted our planning application and was touting for business. Is that a thing now?
We’re the 34th validated planning application in our district this year, based on the reference number allocated. Which is approx 2 per day, so easy enough for anyone to send out letters to householders speculatively.
Very much a thing, received appriox 50 I reckon.
Re: The House Projects Thread
Posted: Wed Jan 23, 2019 11:57 am
by Swervin_Mervin
Been a thing for years. Used to always get calls at my previous place (planning practice) about bloody pallisade fencing and suchlike.
Re: The House Projects Thread
Posted: Wed Jan 23, 2019 12:07 pm
by Jobbo
ste wrote: Wed Jan 23, 2019 11:33 am
Jobbo wrote: Tue Jan 22, 2019 9:56 pm
We received a letter in the list today from a builder who had clearly spotted our planning application and was touting for business. Is that a thing now?
We’re the 34th validated planning application in our district this year, based on the reference number allocated. Which is approx 2 per day, so easy enough for anyone to send out letters to householders speculatively.
Very much a thing, received appriox 50 I reckon.
Oh FFS

Re: The House Projects Thread
Posted: Wed Jan 23, 2019 6:18 pm
by Mito Man
Not a house project but just a ramble about the forestry commission. A few weeks ago I noticed one of their vans and staff having a look around my parents place from outside. They wouldn’t tell me anything and came across quite rude as I wasn’t the owner - anyway I gave them my dad’s contact emails. A few days ago they called him and said they’re doing a survey some time this week and will fell some trees to inspect their health. Apparently their helicopter may have detected spruce bark beetles. They won’t give any information as to how many trees they will fell. Speaking to the farmer today who has more experience with them he says they can be like this, just entering property without even consulting the owner and carrying out these “surveys.”
It’s a bit of a fucking violation isn’t it? Having someone enter your place without telling you when, cut down whatever they want and leave...
Also I find it odd that we have a fleet of government funded helicopters surveying tree health but no government funded air ambulance.
Will see what damage the idiots have done on Saturday...
Re: The House Projects Thread
Posted: Wed Jan 23, 2019 6:45 pm
by Simon
You should go all 'Tony Martin' on them...
Re: The House Projects Thread
Posted: Wed Jan 23, 2019 8:19 pm
by McSwede
Mito Man wrote: Wed Jan 23, 2019 6:18 pm
Apparently their helicopter may have detected spruce bark beetles.
Big beetles if they can see them from a helicopter

I'd keep the BF indoors for a while until they catch them
Re: The House Projects Thread
Posted: Wed Jan 23, 2019 8:41 pm
by DeskJockey
ste wrote: Wed Jan 23, 2019 11:33 am
Jobbo wrote: Tue Jan 22, 2019 9:56 pm
We received a letter in the list today from a builder who had clearly spotted our planning application and was touting for business. Is that a thing now?
We’re the 34th validated planning application in our district this year, based on the reference number allocated. Which is approx 2 per day, so easy enough for anyone to send out letters to householders speculatively.
Very much a thing, received appriox 50 I reckon.
Sadly yes. We've had about 10.
Re: The House Projects Thread
Posted: Wed Jan 23, 2019 10:53 pm
by jamcg
Mito Man wrote: Wed Jan 23, 2019 6:18 pm
Not a house project but just a ramble about the forestry commission. A few weeks ago I noticed one of their vans and staff having a look around my parents place from outside. They wouldn’t tell me anything and came across quite rude as I wasn’t the owner - anyway I gave them my dad’s contact emails. A few days ago they called him and said they’re doing a survey some time this week and will fell some trees to inspect their health. Apparently their helicopter may have detected spruce bark beetles. They won’t give any information as to how many trees they will fell. Speaking to the farmer today who has more experience with them he says they can be like this, just entering property without even consulting the owner and carrying out these “surveys.”
It’s a bit of a fucking violation isn’t it? Having someone enter your place without telling you when, cut down whatever they want and leave...
Also I find it odd that we have a fleet of government funded helicopters surveying tree health but no government funded air ambulance.
Will see what damage the idiots have done on Saturday...
where can I get some of these beetles???!! I’ve got a tree with a preservation order on I’d love to see cut down
Re: The House Projects Thread
Posted: Wed Jan 23, 2019 11:00 pm
by Mito Man
They’re coming from Europe. Just another reason to wish for brexit to happen. Fucking foreign beetles, coming here, taking our trees...
Re: The House Projects Thread
Posted: Wed Jan 23, 2019 11:07 pm
by Rich B
DeskJockey wrote: Wed Jan 23, 2019 8:41 pm
ste wrote: Wed Jan 23, 2019 11:33 am
Jobbo wrote: Tue Jan 22, 2019 9:56 pm
We received a letter in the list today from a builder who had clearly spotted our planning application and was touting for business. Is that a thing now?
We’re the 34th validated planning application in our district this year, based on the reference number allocated. Which is approx 2 per day, so easy enough for anyone to send out letters to householders speculatively.
Very much a thing, received appriox 50 I reckon.
Sadly yes. We've had about 10.
why sadly? Sounds like great opportunity to find builders interested in your project to get quotes from.
Re: The House Projects Thread
Posted: Thu Jan 24, 2019 6:39 am
by Jobbo
I thought builders were so busy they didn’t need to tout for business? The one we’ve had so far gives no address, no email address, just a mobile number at the end of quite a long pre-printed letter. Doesn’t fill me with confidence.
Re: The House Projects Thread
Posted: Thu Jan 24, 2019 7:28 am
by DeskJockey
Rich B wrote: Wed Jan 23, 2019 11:07 pm
DeskJockey wrote: Wed Jan 23, 2019 8:41 pm
ste wrote: Wed Jan 23, 2019 11:33 am
Very much a thing, received appriox 50 I reckon.
Sadly yes. We've had about 10.
why sadly? Sounds like great opportunity to find builders interested in your project to get quotes from.
If the letters, as Jobbo said, had been anything other than a standard form, then maybe. I class those in the same category as any other unsolicited mail and I wouldn't deal with them unless they've got good reviews on one of the checking/vetting sites, where I would go to find them in the first place.
Re: The House Projects Thread
Posted: Sat Jan 26, 2019 7:21 pm
by Rich B
Re: The House Projects Thread
Posted: Sat Jan 26, 2019 9:51 pm
by DeskJockey
Looks good! I can't see any ventilation over the hob, how do you handle grease/smells/steam?
Re: The House Projects Thread
Posted: Sat Jan 26, 2019 9:57 pm
by Rich B
DeskJockey wrote: Sat Jan 26, 2019 9:51 pm
Looks good! I can't see any ventilation over the hob, how do you handle grease/smells/steam?
there’ll be an extractor eventually - I’ve run out of money for now!