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Re: The House Projects Thread
Posted: Tue Jul 14, 2020 3:57 pm
by Swervin_Mervin
It just gets better - having put a deposit down for new windows the window company surveyor's been out this afternoon (as the project at the rear of the house stalls we thought we'd crack on with new windows at the front). Not only has the bay at the front settled (and therefore they need a full structural report as to whether any remediation is necessary) the alu windows we wanted (Origin) don't have a structural bay pole. Doh!
Be quicker to knock the sodding house down and re-build at this rate.
Re: The House Projects Thread
Posted: Tue Jul 14, 2020 6:10 pm
by Mito Man
Bit of a quick half day one for my mum. We put together one of these kit saunas years ago but the first month a cow smashed through the door, then the power supply from the shed couldn’t handle 32 amps for the heater and it wasn’t worth digging a new trench for so it was left to erode away.
Firstly it needed a roof as it was about as watertight as an old Defender, the cow smashing the door probably saved it from rotting as before then it was always soaked inside. Looked at a fireplace for it but the cheapest Harvia one costs £600 for the stove and £600 for the flue - fuck off
Went with the usual camping stove I put in all the sheds for £230
Finally replacing the door, the cows break in about 2 times a year and the goats will just ram anything reflective so polycarbonate it is
Finally stuck a CO detector in but pleased with it.
Re: The House Projects Thread
Posted: Wed Jul 15, 2020 4:24 pm
by Ascender
Very nice Mito

Re: The House Projects Thread
Posted: Wed Jul 15, 2020 4:30 pm
by Broccers
Swervin_Mervin wrote: Tue Jul 14, 2020 3:57 pm
It just gets better - having put a deposit down for new windows the window company surveyor's been out this afternoon (as the project at the rear of the house stalls we thought we'd crack on with new windows at the front). Not only has the bay at the front settled (and therefore they need a full structural report as to whether any remediation is necessary) the alu windows we wanted (Origin) don't have a structural bay pole. Doh!
Be quicker to knock the sodding house down and re-build at this rate.
Your house insurance will cover settlement but not subsidence....
Re: The House Projects Thread
Posted: Wed Jul 15, 2020 4:32 pm
by Rich B
Broccers wrote: Wed Jul 15, 2020 4:30 pm
Swervin_Mervin wrote: Tue Jul 14, 2020 3:57 pm
It just gets better - having put a deposit down for new windows the window company surveyor's been out this afternoon (as the project at the rear of the house stalls we thought we'd crack on with new windows at the front). Not only has the bay at the front settled (and therefore they need a full structural report as to whether any remediation is necessary) the alu windows we wanted (Origin) don't have a structural bay pole. Doh!
Be quicker to knock the sodding house down and re-build at this rate.
Your house insurance will cover settlement but not subsidence....
well that’s not true.
Re: The House Projects Thread
Posted: Wed Jul 15, 2020 4:39 pm
by Broccers
Rich B wrote: Wed Jul 15, 2020 4:32 pm
Broccers wrote: Wed Jul 15, 2020 4:30 pm
Swervin_Mervin wrote: Tue Jul 14, 2020 3:57 pm
It just gets better - having put a deposit down for new windows the window company surveyor's been out this afternoon (as the project at the rear of the house stalls we thought we'd crack on with new windows at the front). Not only has the bay at the front settled (and therefore they need a full structural report as to whether any remediation is necessary) the alu windows we wanted (Origin) don't have a structural bay pole. Doh!
Be quicker to knock the sodding house down and re-build at this rate.
Your house insurance will cover settlement but not subsidence....
well that’s not true.
OK mine is like this as just been through it.... yours may not be
Re: The House Projects Thread
Posted: Wed Jul 15, 2020 4:45 pm
by Mito Man
Ascender wrote: Wed Jul 15, 2020 4:24 pm
Very nice Mito
Cheers. Did discover a design flaw with the polycarbonate. Once it gets above 60 degrees the increased air pressure pushes the door out. Hoping some neodymium magnets will fix it

Re: The House Projects Thread
Posted: Wed Jul 15, 2020 4:45 pm
by Swervin_Mervin
It will also make it all a monumental ballache so unless costs start to get silly we'll probably just sort it ourselves
Re: The House Projects Thread
Posted: Wed Jul 15, 2020 8:41 pm
by Jobbo
Rich B wrote: Wed Jul 15, 2020 4:32 pm
Broccers wrote: Wed Jul 15, 2020 4:30 pm
Swervin_Mervin wrote: Tue Jul 14, 2020 3:57 pm
It just gets better - having put a deposit down for new windows the window company surveyor's been out this afternoon (as the project at the rear of the house stalls we thought we'd crack on with new windows at the front). Not only has the bay at the front settled (and therefore they need a full structural report as to whether any remediation is necessary) the alu windows we wanted (Origin) don't have a structural bay pole. Doh!
Be quicker to knock the sodding house down and re-build at this rate.
Your house insurance will cover settlement but not subsidence....
well that’s not true.
For a house which has previously been underpinned, it is almost universally true. Subsidence tends only to be insurable at very high premiums and excesses if it’s occurred before.
Re: The House Projects Thread
Posted: Wed Jul 15, 2020 8:56 pm
by jamcg
Mito Man wrote: Wed Jul 15, 2020 4:45 pm
Ascender wrote: Wed Jul 15, 2020 4:24 pm
Very nice Mito
Cheers. Did discover a design flaw with the polycarbonate. Once it gets above 60 degrees the increased air pressure pushes the door out. Hoping some neodymium magnets will fix it
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/283511450394
Re: The House Projects Thread
Posted: Wed Jul 15, 2020 8:58 pm
by Rich B
Jobbo wrote: Wed Jul 15, 2020 8:41 pm
Rich B wrote: Wed Jul 15, 2020 4:32 pm
Broccers wrote: Wed Jul 15, 2020 4:30 pm
Your house insurance will cover settlement but not subsidence....
well that’s not true.
For a house which has previously been underpinned, it is almost universally true. Subsidence tends only to be insurable at very high premiums and excesses if it’s occurred before.
fair point, just reread and he mentions previous underpinning.
Re: The House Projects Thread
Posted: Wed Jul 15, 2020 10:27 pm
by Swervin_Mervin
It has no official previous subsidence. It was tricky to insure because of being underpinned but our current insurer viewed all the evidence and considered that the underpinning related only to the construction of the 2 storey side extension.
It's a fvcking stupid position to adopt by insurers anyway - a fixed house is significantly lower risk than one which isn't and they don't appear to rate risk by areas subject to previous claims. So 2 houses down could get insurance from anywhere amd more cheaply than we can yet be significantly greater risk of subsidence to the insurer.
But then, it's insurance so it makes no sense obvs. Hence why we won't be involving them if at all possible
Re: The House Projects Thread
Posted: Wed Jul 15, 2020 11:11 pm
by Jobbo
Make sure the spec states something about ground works and foundations for extension, not underpinning

Re: The House Projects Thread
Posted: Wed Jul 15, 2020 11:40 pm
by Swervin_Mervin
If only! Trouble with insurers is it's a yes\no question. Is it underpinned? Yes = gtf with many. To say no would be a lie as they extend under some sections of the original building, as they would have to.
I don't mind that much really. Insurance isn't that much really and they seem like a thorough bunch with good detaile cover
Re: The House Projects Thread
Posted: Fri Jul 17, 2020 8:36 pm
by Jimmy Choo
I've had an offer accepted on a place in Gloucester. It's got a driveway (that won't just have a smashed up MX5 in it like the last time I had a driveway) and it's got an outhouse with power. There's a small garden that's been paved over so I'll be ripping that up so there is some grass there.
First port of call is getting a sparky to put in more than 1 double socket per room, get a machete to find the back garden, rip up the godawful carpets and put down some new flooring to replace the smashed tiles in the kitchen and hallway. I'm very happy about it.
Re: The House Projects Thread
Posted: Fri Jul 17, 2020 8:53 pm
by speedingfine
Jimmy Choo wrote: Fri Jul 17, 2020 8:36 pm
I've had an offer accepted on a place in Gloucester. It's got a driveway (that won't just have a smashed up MX5 in it like the last time I had a driveway) and it's got an outhouse with power. There's a small garden that's been paved over so I'll be ripping that up so there is some grass there.
First port of call is getting a sparky to put in more than 1 double socket per room, get a machete to find the back garden, rip up the godawful carpets and put down some new flooring to replace the smashed tiles in the kitchen and hallway. I'm very happy about it.
Congrats Jimmy

Re: The House Projects Thread
Posted: Fri Jul 17, 2020 9:56 pm
by DeskJockey
Congrats. Sounds like a good (re)start.
Re: The House Projects Thread
Posted: Fri Jul 17, 2020 10:52 pm
by mik
That’s awesome. Moving on Jimmy.

Re: The House Projects Thread
Posted: Fri Jul 17, 2020 11:57 pm
by Swervin_Mervin
Nice one Jimmy

Re: The House Projects Thread
Posted: Sat Jul 18, 2020 6:33 am
by Jobbo
Congrats Jimmy
