Hi people, am just looking to pick peoples brains. After 4 year battle with
the local planners we have finally got planning permission for the
conversion of a Barn into residential premises. Waiting so long we are eager
to get things rolling, and will be seeing the architect in the next week or
so.

However after doing our first house as a self build there were a number of
things we missed and would have liked. We want this one to be perfect not
just for us but for families down the line. So what I was looking for was
things that people on here would really like to have see in their house.
Things we are considering a Network cables to most rooms, Underfloor
heating, Reed bed sewage treatment, Heat exchangers. Now this is only a few
things if people on here have ideas on these or any others ideas I would be
much appreciated.
Yours
John

On Sat, 15 Jan 2005 19:53:01 -0000, "John Borman"
wrote:


So what I was looking for was
things that people on here would really like to have see in their house.
Things we are considering a Network cables to most rooms, Underfloor
heating, Reed bed sewage treatment, Heat exchangers. Now this is only a few
things if people on here have ideas on these or any others ideas I would be
much appreciated.

In my ideal house they'd be troughs in the floor for additional
pipework/cabling, along with concealed ducting in the wall for the
same.

Possibly an artificial celing would also be a good idea, like they
have in offices. This would allow cables/pipes to be routed with ease
at a later date.

I'd also like mains sockets in the loft area so that I could place
aerial boosters, network routers etc up there....(what I'd really like
is to install some sort of 'media server' in the loft)

I'd also like some way of recycing 'grey' water for flushing the
toilet etc. and possibly some sort of 'solar' heating system, or at
least provision made for it to be added at a later date.

A double garage with an inspection pit...I could go on..

sPoNiX

"John Borman" wrote in message
...
Hi people, am just looking to pick peoples brains. After 4 year battle
with the local planners we have finally got planning permission for the
conversion of a Barn into residential premises. Waiting so long we are
eager to get things rolling, and will be seeing the architect in the next
week or so.

However after doing our first house as a self build there were a number of
things we missed and would have liked. We want this one to be perfect not
just for us but for families down the line. So what I was looking for was
things that people on here would really like to have see in their house.
Things we are considering a Network cables to most rooms,

Technology moves on, Ten years ago (or less) nobody would
have wanted this. In ten years (or less) they won't again

Underfloor heating,

This isn't the most efficient method, why do you think that
you should want it

Reed bed sewage treatment, Heat exchangers. Now this is only a few things
if people on here have ideas on these or any others ideas I would be much
appreciated.
Yours
John

"John Borman" wrote in message
...
Hi people, am just looking to pick peoples brains. After 4 year battle
with the local planners we have finally got planning permission for the
conversion of a Barn into residential premises. Waiting so long we are
eager to get things rolling, and will be seeing the architect in the next
week or so.

However after doing our first house as a self build there were a number of
things we missed and would have liked. We want this one to be perfect not
just for us but for families down the line. So what I was looking for was
things that people on here would really like to have see in their house.
Things we are considering a Network cables to most rooms,

Don't see the point in going to all that expence when most big technology
companies are producing more and more wireless products.

Would look at having floor mains sockets instead of wall sockets especially
in the living areas to avoid have sockets half way up the walls.

Underfloor heating, Reed bed sewage treatment, Heat exchangers. Now this
is only a few things if people on here have ideas on these or any others
ideas I would be much appreciated.
Yours
John

"John Borman" wrote in message
...
Hi people, am just looking to pick peoples brains. After 4 year battle
with
the local planners we have finally got planning permission for the
conversion of a Barn into residential premises. Waiting so long we are
eager
to get things rolling, and will be seeing the architect in the next week
or
so.

If it's been fours years then the building regs have moved on so much the
original plans are obselete anyway. Insulation, damp-proofing, heating,
glazing, ventilation and a lot more will need updating to the latest regs.
You might have a shock at how much the cost has jumped due to this.


Reed bed sewage treatment

Big debate on whether these are legal or not. My authority will not allow
them no matter how much you plead with them despite the huge amounts of
cow-****e the reeds in our fields deal with.
Also septic tanks are discourage and they want Klaristers (sp?) installed.


Heat exchangers.

Definitely. And prices have dropped significantly. BES do individual ones
at a price that makes the whole house ducting not worth doing.


Other things I would look at are solar water pre-heat (still needs some
heating to get to usuable temp but does save energy), heat stores and rain
or grey water re-use.

Good luck.

"John Borman" wrote in
:

Now this is only a few things if people on here have ideas
on these or any others ideas I would be much appreciated.

Flood protection.

--
Rod

www.annalaurie.co.uk

"Dave Jones" wrote in message
...


Would look at having floor mains sockets instead of wall sockets
especially in the living areas to avoid have sockets half way up the
walls.

Don't they get full of crud though?

They would in our house.

And tiny bits of kids' toys?

They would have in our house.


Mary

"Dave Jones" wrote in message
...

Would look at having floor mains sockets instead of wall sockets
especially
in the living areas to avoid have sockets half way up the walls.

Ah yeah. I forgot part M. Joy. Not.

You'll need to put all your sockets in silly positions and have a silly door
stop, then change it all back to sensible once the BCO has signed you off.

On Sat, 15 Jan 2005 22:40:11 +0100, "tim"
wrote:


"John Borman" wrote in message
...


Underfloor heating,

This isn't the most efficient method, why do you think that
you should want it


Personally I'd want it because:

a) There's no radiators around the walls so more scope for arranging
furniture

b) I like warm floors on a cold winters morning :-)

Cheers,

John

On Sat, 15 Jan 2005 22:41:48 -0000, "Mike" wrote:


"John Borman" wrote in message
...

Reed bed sewage treatment

Big debate on whether these are legal or not. My authority will not allow
them no matter how much you plead with them despite the huge amounts of
cow-****e the reeds in our fields deal with.
Also septic tanks are discourage and they want Klaristers (sp?) installed.


I'm curious about this.

Somebody else on this group has mentioned trouble getting permission
for a septic tank recently but I got one put in just over a year ago
with no problems at all.

Is this another case of environmental agencies in different areas
having different interpretations of the new regulations regarding
septic tanks, I wonder ?

Cheers,

John

Dave Jones wrote:

Things we are considering a Network cables to most rooms,

Don't see the point in going to all that expence when most big technology
companies are producing more and more wireless products.

To give the Frequently Given Answer: because radio bandwidth is
inherently limited in a fixed area, while copper can carry lots more for
a given volume occupied (because the field don't spread nearly so
much!). Even the overblown populariser of things digital, Nicolas
Negroponte, got this one right.

In practice, laying ducting or other easy-access channels is your
biggest win. If not that, structured cabling with last year's "top"
cable spec should give you at least 10 years', prolly much nearer 20, of
usability, from DC (I will shortly be using some of mine for simple
signalling) through to gigabit speeds.

Stefek

"John Anderton" wrote in message
...
On Sat, 15 Jan 2005 22:41:48 -0000, "Mike" wrote:


"John Borman" wrote in message
...

Reed bed sewage treatment

Big debate on whether these are legal or not. My authority will not
allow
them no matter how much you plead with them despite the huge amounts of
cow-****e the reeds in our fields deal with.
Also septic tanks are discourage and they want Klaristers (sp?)
installed.


I'm curious about this.

Somebody else on this group has mentioned trouble getting permission
for a septic tank recently but I got one put in just over a year ago
with no problems at all.

Is this another case of environmental agencies in different areas
having different interpretations of the new regulations regarding
septic tanks, I wonder ?

Yep !

Plus worries on what ramblers might end up walking in. Always thought a
rambler up to his neck in ****e was an improvement myself :-)

"John Borman" wrote in message
...
Hi people, am just looking to pick peoples brains. After 4 year battle
with
the local planners we have finally got planning permission for the
conversion of a Barn into residential premises. Waiting so long we are
eager
to get things rolling, and will be seeing the architect in the next week
or
so.

However after doing our first house as a self build there were a number of
things we missed and would have liked. We want this one to be perfect not
just for us but for families down the line. So what I was looking for was
things that people on here would really like to have see in their house.
Things we are considering a Network cables to most rooms, Underfloor
heating, Reed bed sewage treatment, Heat exchangers. Now this is only a
few
things if people on here have ideas on these or any others ideas I would
be
much appreciated.
Yours
John

- Superinsulated
- Air tight
- Large solar roof supplying hot water to a thermal store battery
- CAT 5 to all rooms, although wireless technolohy is making this redundant.
- Rainwater harvesting taking water from roof.
- Reedbed
- Low flush toilets
- low energy appliances (mainly AEG)
- low flow spay head aerated taps
- Heat recovery and ventilation with a copper coil heater battery in the
ductwork to heat the place. (heating needs will be low with
superinsulation)
- very low temp underfloor heating run from the thermal store battery (only
if barn is too big and superinsulation does not quite hack it).
- Warmcell blown-in insulation in all stud walls to deaden sound too.
- Rockwool bats in floors to deaden sound.
- DHW pre-heated, or heated, by thermal store
- Heat recovery point of use extractors in kitchen and bathroom.
- Large kitchen extraction fed into main heat recovery duct system
- quadruple glazing
- backup generator to supply essential circuits. (can a portable unit hung
on garage wall and plugged in)

PVC cells are not worth it yet, neither is a heat pump.

On Sat, 15 Jan 2005 23:59:38 -0000, "Mike" wrote:


"John Anderton" wrote in message
.. .
On Sat, 15 Jan 2005 22:41:48 -0000, "Mike" wrote:


Is this another case of environmental agencies in different areas
having different interpretations of the new regulations regarding
septic tanks, I wonder ?

Yep !

Plus worries on what ramblers might end up walking in. Always thought a
rambler up to his neck in ****e was an improvement myself :-)

Do you often have ramblers in your garden, then ?

Cheers,

John

Mike wrote:
"John Anderton" wrote in message
...
On Sat, 15 Jan 2005 22:41:48 -0000, "Mike" wrote:


"John Borman" wrote in message
...

Reed bed sewage treatment

Big debate on whether these are legal or not. My authority will
not allow them no matter how much you plead with them despite the
huge amounts of cow-****e the reeds in our fields deal with.
Also septic tanks are discourage and they want Klaristers (sp?)
installed.


I'm curious about this.

Somebody else on this group has mentioned trouble getting permission
for a septic tank recently but I got one put in just over a year ago
with no problems at all.

Is this another case of environmental agencies in different areas
having different interpretations of the new regulations regarding
septic tanks, I wonder ?

Yep !

Plus worries on what ramblers might end up walking in. Always
thought a rambler up to his neck in ****e was an improvement myself
:-)

Do you really want Janet Street Porter shreiking out you from the bottom of
your garden though?

--
James...
www.jameshart.co.uk

"Mary Fisher" wrote in message
et...

"Dave Jones" wrote in message
...


Would look at having floor mains sockets instead of wall sockets
especially in the living areas to avoid have sockets half way up the
walls.

Don't they get full of crud though?

They would in our house.

And tiny bits of kids' toys?

They would have in our house.


Mary
Yep maybe, but was just thinking for fixed item locations such as tv, stereo
etc
So would keep all the cable out of site, for general use chrome skts don't
look to bad on the wall.


Just reading the wiring regs, from the on site guide: P155 (Brown)

Heights of switches and sockets

The Building Regulations require switches and sockets-outlets in dwellings
to be installed so that all persons including those whose reach is limited
can easily use them. A way of satisfying the requirements is to install
switches and sockets in habitable rooms at a height between 450mm and 1200mm
from the finished floor level. Unless the dwelling is for persons whose
reach is limited the requirements would not apply to kitchens and garages
but specifically only to rooms that visitors would normally use.

This refers to reg 553-01-06 which states
A socket-outlet on a wall shall be mounted at a height above the floor or
any working surface to minimize the risk of mechanical damage to the
socket-outlet or to an associated plug and its flexible cord which might be
caused during insertion, use or withdrawal of the plug.

Unless Part M has other regs which countermand this, to me this does not
seem enforceable as nothing in the wiring regs specifying any height.

And having a socket between 450mm and 1200mm off the floor so you can trip
on and damage the cord when its in use would be against the regs!

Dave

John Borman wrote:

heating, Reed bed sewage treatment, Heat exchangers. Now this is only a few
things if people on here have ideas on these or any others ideas I would be
much appreciated.

ducted "whole house" Aircon / heat pump
Wiring concentration cupboard somewhere in the middle of the house for
all telecoms / data.
UPS + generator for critical services
A couple of good sized rooms to allow for things like snooker tables
etc. ;-)
Decoupled floor and ceilings (better noise insulation between floors)


--
Cheers,

John.

/================================================== ===============\
| Internode Ltd - http://www.internode.co.uk |
|-----------------------------------------------------------------|
| John Rumm - john(at)internode(dot)co(dot)uk |
\================================================= ================/

Reed bed sewage treatment

Big debate on whether these are legal or not. My authority will not allow
them no matter how much you plead with them despite the huge amounts of
cow-****e the reeds in our fields deal with.
Also septic tanks are discourage and they want Klaristers (sp?) installed.

The responsibility of the Environment Agency rather than the planners
surely? Any consent for a new septic tank is now for a maximum of ten years.
Subterranean treatment plants that produce a much lower level of pollutants
are becoming the norm.

Somebody else on this group has mentioned trouble getting permission
for a septic tank recently but I got one put in just over a year ago
with no problems at all.

Is this another case of environmental agencies in different areas
having different interpretations of the new regulations regarding
septic tanks, I wonder ?

No! The Environment Agency are responsible for all consents not the planners
or building control. The same rules apply to the whole of England and Wales.
There is exemption from consent where the output volume is very low. What
varies is the ground conditions and this may mean that a septic tank is not
allowed where there is heavy clay and no room for a large soakaway. Just my
situation except that there was room and the soakaway area is huge!

On Sun, 16 Jan 2005 04:19:33 +0000, John Rumm
wrote:

Decoupled floor and ceilings (better noise insulation between floors)

That will make an enormous difference if you can afford the height.
Chunks of our former telephone exchange have a gap of about 18 inches
between the upstairs floor and the ceiling below, and the lack of noise
there, compared with the other bits, when our two little monsters charge
around is phenomenal.
--
On-line canal route planner: http://www.canalplan.org.uk

(Waterways World site of the month, April 2001)

On Sun, 16 Jan 2005 08:02:30 -0000, "Peter Crosland"
wrote:

Somebody else on this group has mentioned trouble getting permission
for a septic tank recently but I got one put in just over a year ago
with no problems at all.

Is this another case of environmental agencies in different areas
having different interpretations of the new regulations regarding
septic tanks, I wonder ?

No! The Environment Agency are responsible for all consents not the planners
or building control.

Perhaps I should have said environmental agency offices.

The same rules apply to the whole of England and Wales.

There does seem to be variation to how they are applied though. As you
say elsewhere in this thread, mini treatment plants are becoming the
norm and the one case where such a plant was installed that I am
familiar with involved some *very* heavy "recommendations" from the
environment official despite the fact that there was an existing
(damaged)septic tank and (undamaged) soakaway which could have been
reused.

In my case a mini treatment works was never even mentioned.

There is exemption from consent where the output volume is very low. What
varies is the ground conditions and this may mean that a septic tank is not
allowed where there is heavy clay and no room for a large soakaway. Just my
situation except that there was room and the soakaway area is huge!


Cheers,

John

If it's been fours years then the building regs have moved on so much the
original plans are obselete anyway. Insulation, damp-proofing, heating,
glazing, ventilation and a lot more will need updating to the latest regs.
You might have a shock at how much the cost has jumped due to this.

Originally we were just applying for outline permisssion, we havent
submitted any detailed plans. The quote we got when submitting plans was for
conversionto commercial premises (As planners said this was ok, but we were
saying it was uneconomic,) was in the region of 450 thousand, which we were
told would be roughly half for residential.

No! The Environment Agency are responsible for all consents not the
planners or building control. The same rules apply to the whole of England
and Wales. There is exemption from consent where the output volume is very
low. What varies is the ground conditions and this may mean that a septic
tank is not allowed where there is heavy clay and no room for a large
soakaway. Just my situation except that there was room and the soakaway
area is huge!

We have quite a large pond that at present wont hold water, so a regular
input of water from a reed bed sewage treatment plant should be able to be
discharged into it??

Now this is only a few things if people on here have ideas
on these or any others ideas I would be much appreciated.

Flood protection.

At the top of a hill so don't think that's going to be a problem, even
though Mersea Island isn't to far away...

Can I just say thanks for all the input gonna hand it to the architect and
see how long it will take till he has heart attack

Perhaps I should have said environmental agency offices.

The same rules apply to the whole of England and Wales.

There does seem to be variation to how they are applied though. As you
say elsewhere in this thread, mini treatment plants are becoming the
norm and the one case where such a plant was installed that I am
familiar with involved some *very* heavy "recommendations" from the
environment official despite the fact that there was an existing
(damaged)septic tank and (undamaged) soakaway which could have been
reused.

Not quite that simple I suspect. When applying for a new septic tank or
treatment plant you have to submit test results for the permeability of the
ground. The proximity of watercourses and boreholes is another factor that
has to be taken into account. The greater the permeability smaller the
soakaway that is required. It is highly unlikely that an old soakaway would
come anywhere near the required size and in any case they do gradually
become choked with debris over time. Thus a new one is almost invariably
required. The fact that only a ten year consent will be issued for a septic
tank suggests to me that the will no longer be allowed at all before too
long.

James Hart wrote:
Mike wrote:

Plus worries on what ramblers might end up walking in. Always
thought a rambler up to his neck in ****e was an improvement myself
:-)

Do you really want Janet Street Porter shreiking out you from the bottom of
your garden though?


Up to her neck in do-do? Surely the spectacle would be well worthwhile...

David

Mike wrote:
"Dave Jones" wrote in message
...

Would look at having floor mains sockets instead of wall sockets
especially
in the living areas to avoid have sockets half way up the walls.

Ah yeah. I forgot part M. Joy. Not.

You'll need to put all your sockets in silly positions and have a silly door
stop, then change it all back to sensible once the BCO has signed you off.

Are floor sockets actually allowed at all in the domestic setting, these
days? (Or anywhere else for that matter?!)

David

"John Borman" wrote in message
...
Now this is only a few things if people on here have ideas
on these or any others ideas I would be much appreciated.

Flood protection.

At the top of a hill so don't think that's going to be a problem, even
though Mersea Island isn't to far away...



================
Lightning conductor(s)?

Cic.

Lightning conductor(s)?

Never thought of that

Dave Jones wrote:

Just reading the wiring regs, from the on site guide: P155 (Brown)

Heights of switches and sockets

The Building Regulations require switches and sockets-outlets in dwellings
to be installed so that all persons including those whose reach is limited
can easily use them. A way of satisfying the requirements is to install
switches and sockets in habitable rooms at a height between 450mm and 1200mm
from the finished floor level. Unless the dwelling is for persons whose
reach is limited the requirements would not apply to kitchens and garages
but specifically only to rooms that visitors would normally use.

This refers to reg 553-01-06 which states
A socket-outlet on a wall shall be mounted at a height above the floor or
any working surface to minimize the risk of mechanical damage to the
socket-outlet or to an associated plug and its flexible cord which might be
caused during insertion, use or withdrawal of the plug.

Unless Part M has other regs which countermand this, to me this does not
seem enforceable as nothing in the wiring regs specifying any height.

I think you'll find it is enforceable under Part M - although so far as
houses are concerned this only applies to new-build. Approved Document
M contains the same diagram that appears in the OSG. You might be able
to argue that it doesn't say that *all* sockets have to be between those
heights.

--
Andy

John Borman wrote:

Hi people, am just looking to pick peoples brains. After 4 year battle with
the local planners we have finally got planning permission for the
conversion of a Barn into residential premises. Waiting so long we are eager
to get things rolling, and will be seeing the architect in the next week or
so.

However after doing our first house as a self build there were a number of
things we missed and would have liked. We want this one to be perfect not
just for us but for families down the line. So what I was looking for was
things that people on here would really like to have see in their house.
Things we are considering a Network cables to most rooms, Underfloor
heating, Reed bed sewage treatment, Heat exchangers. Now this is only a few
things if people on here have ideas on these or any others ideas I would be
much appreciated.

Things I liked about mone were

UFH
TV.radio distribution amp Every TV works flawlessly
Enough cat 5 around to have phones and computers wherever you want
without using silly DECT ond WiFi.
Doorphones instead of doorbells
Sepearrte switched and possibly dimmed circuits for lights, incldng 5A
sockets for 'occasional' lighting - standard, desk and table lamps.
LV spots if spots are what you want. Never ever use mains halogens. In
laws have riopped them all out after months of expensive bulb
replacements. I hardly have had to replace any LV bulbs at all.
Alarm cables laid in to feed sensors, bells etc etc.
A couple of wet rooms where we can shower the dog amd clean wellies.
Slate floors in the busy areas to take the mud that country living involves.
Outside electrical sockets, and hose places for watering the garden,
washing mud off wellies, and running the odd power tool and gardeing
implements.
Designed in patios, walls, steps, car parking, etc etc. Including a way
to get vehicles into the back garden for log cutting, and general
tractor and digger access. Note that some car toyts are 1/48 scale, and
many drawing are done at 1:50. This allows you to practice reversing in
your drive without building it. It sounds silly, but it helped us
enormously to utilise the space we had for vehicular access.
Rainwater runoff vectored into a pond.
Mains pressure hot water. With a BIG hot water tank.
Water softening.
Outside lights at every door.
Single glazed lead lights. These are gorgeouus, and we never get
condensation, except in the bathroom in the coldets weather, and the fan
soon clears, and heavy grade thermally lined curtains make them better
than double glazed, when drawn.
Aga. A style decision.
Working open fires of massive proportions. With underfloor vents to feed
air to them.
Insulation to teh highest possible standards.
Re routing overhead 11KV to underground, an repalcing a patheric pole
mounted transfrmner with a huge one in the garden corner. Ugly brute,
but no more dimming lights when the microwave comes on.
Fully boarded loft space, with storage racking. And lights. makes it
easy to use for stirage, and easy to get to teh pipeworlkifnecessary,
but al pipes are now enclosed om wooden ducts packed with rockwool.


Things I didn't get quite right

Lighting. Could use more switches, and more lights.
UFH upstairs. It was almost impossible to install there (almost zero
floor depth), but I wish I had made the effort However the wet fan blown
convectors work very well and are less ugly than radiators.
Chimneys. I ended up with smoke hoods. Not my fault but the builder whom
I mistakenly trusted.
I would have put even MORE insulation under the floor than the regs wanted.
I would have paid FAR more ettention to micro draughts had I known how
much diference a little gap in a piece of celotex made.
Solid wood flooring rather than engineering laminate. I thik it would
have been possible with UFH, if it were done with that in mind. We may
one day remove the lot and go parquet...
Pay to have the telephone feed undergrounded.
Even bigger (than 22mm) water pipes everywhere. In a big house even thse
lead to some flow reduction on CH and hot and cold water. Likewise a
bigger bore than 22mm water softener. Its OK, but not quite as massive a
flow as before I fitted it. Circulation systems for 'instant' hot water
are a balance beytween how much heat you lose and how much water you
swaste. Do the sums. I am unmetered on water.
Even MORE detailed plans of layouts etc. Especially of things like
utility rooms, and bathrooms and showers. Moving a bog post drainage
installation is hugely difficult. Likewise when She wants the bed where
the phone point and bedside light points are not, its a bit of a rewire..
A slightly more sophisticated and zoned heating controller. And more
stats even than I have. Not hard to retrofit though.
Even more built in storage than exists.
Electricity in the garage. And maybe water too,
A custom built workshop.
A place for garden machinery that is thief proof.
Some way to have cat flaps without draughts.
Ditto a letter box.





Yours
John

Mike wrote:

"John Borman" wrote in message
...

Hi people, am just looking to pick peoples brains. After 4 year battle

with

the local planners we have finally got planning permission for the
conversion of a Barn into residential premises. Waiting so long we are

eager

to get things rolling, and will be seeing the architect in the next week

or

so.


If it's been fours years then the building regs have moved on so much the
original plans are obselete anyway. Insulation, damp-proofing, heating,
glazing, ventilation and a lot more will need updating to the latest regs.
You might have a shock at how much the cost has jumped due to this.



Reed bed sewage treatment


Big debate on whether these are legal or not. My authority will not allow
them no matter how much you plead with them despite the huge amounts of
cow-****e the reeds in our fields deal with.
Also septic tanks are discourage and they want Klaristers (sp?) installed.


Klargesters. Mine has performed flawlessly.
Ugly, but they certainly work.
Recommended, but think carefully where to put it.



Heat exchangers.


Definitely. And prices have dropped significantly. BES do individual ones
at a price that makes the whole house ducting not worth doing.

Good idea. I'd also look into pollen filters on at least bedrooms if you
get asthma.


Other things I would look at are solar water pre-heat (still needs some
heating to get to usuable temp but does save energy), heat stores and rain
or grey water re-use.

Hmm. Not worth the ugliness and effort IMHO. YMMV.

Good luck.

Mike wrote:

"Dave Jones" wrote in message
...

Would look at having floor mains sockets instead of wall sockets

especially

in the living areas to avoid have sockets half way up the walls.


Ah yeah. I forgot part M. Joy. Not.

You'll need to put all your sockets in silly positions and have a silly door
stop, then change it all back to sensible once the BCO has signed you off.


Yes.

Dave Jones wrote:

"John Borman" wrote in message
...

Hi people, am just looking to pick peoples brains. After 4 year battle
with the local planners we have finally got planning permission for the
conversion of a Barn into residential premises. Waiting so long we are
eager to get things rolling, and will be seeing the architect in the next
week or so.

However after doing our first house as a self build there were a number of
things we missed and would have liked. We want this one to be perfect not
just for us but for families down the line. So what I was looking for was
things that people on here would really like to have see in their house.
Things we are considering a Network cables to most rooms,


Don't see the point in going to all that expence when most big technology
companies are producing more and more wireless products.


Cost nothing really to lay teh wires. I thik i have at most 50 quid
ofcat 5 in this house - but there are minium of two cat 5 to every
habitable space. Likewuise UHF TV cable and alarm cable,
Wifi can't punch thriough foil backed plasterboard and a house renderd
in metal lath and cement..

Would look at having floor mains sockets instead of wall sockets especially
in the living areas to avoid have sockets half way up the walls.


Underfloor heating, Reed bed sewage treatment, Heat exchangers. Now this
is only a few things if people on here have ideas on these or any others
ideas I would be much appreciated.
Yours
John

Rod Hewitt wrote:

"John Borman" wrote in
:


Now this is only a few things if people on here have ideas
on these or any others ideas I would be much appreciated.


Flood protection.


That is a good one.

I am on top of a hill, so its no issue here, but simple meaures like
e.g. building a raised earh bank around the house with teh drives going
over it, will keep you dry during temporary gflooding.

If its a brand new house, consider building it a few feet above ground
level as well.

OK the bottom bit could be a cellar that just floods anyway - but can be
pumped out.

John Anderton wrote:

On Sat, 15 Jan 2005 23:59:38 -0000, "Mike" wrote:


"John Anderton" wrote in message
. ..

On Sat, 15 Jan 2005 22:41:48 -0000, "Mike" wrote:


Is this another case of environmental agencies in different areas
having different interpretations of the new regulations regarding
septic tanks, I wonder ?

Yep !

Plus worries on what ramblers might end up walking in. Always thought a
rambler up to his neck in ****e was an improvement myself :-)


Do you often have ramblers in your garden, then ?

quite a lot of shotgun cartdridges turn up there...
...and the thives who nick lawnmowers.,
Cheers,

John

John Anderton wrote:

On Sat, 15 Jan 2005 22:40:11 +0100, "tim"
wrote:


"John Borman" wrote in message
...


Underfloor heating,

This isn't the most efficient method, why do you think that
you should want it



Personally I'd want it because:

a) There's no radiators around the walls so more scope for arranging
furniture

b) I like warm floors on a cold winters morning :-)


Yup. Its not actually that much more expensive to run if you pay
attention to insulation.

Given that you probably down't want out-of-house times of day
tempertures to drop much below 15 anyway, you end up with almost as much
overal heatloss from a house that cools down hen you are at work.

Given there would be similart thermal mass in it, and similar insulation.


Cheers,

John

John Anderton wrote:

On Sat, 15 Jan 2005 22:41:48 -0000, "Mike" wrote:


"John Borman" wrote in message
...


Reed bed sewage treatment

Big debate on whether these are legal or not. My authority will not allow
them no matter how much you plead with them despite the huge amounts of
cow-****e the reeds in our fields deal with.
Also septic tanks are discourage and they want Klaristers (sp?) installed.



I'm curious about this.

Somebody else on this group has mentioned trouble getting permission
for a septic tank recently but I got one put in just over a year ago
with no problems at all.

Is this another case of environmental agencies in different areas
having different interpretations of the new regulations regarding
septic tanks, I wonder ?


Here in Suffolk, it was Klargester or Klargester.
Cheers,

John

John Borman wrote:

No! The Environment Agency are responsible for all consents not the
planners or building control. The same rules apply to the whole of England
and Wales. There is exemption from consent where the output volume is very
low. What varies is the ground conditions and this may mean that a septic
tank is not allowed where there is heavy clay and no room for a large
soakaway. Just my situation except that there was room and the soakaway
area is huge!


We have quite a large pond that at present wont hold water, so a regular
input of water from a reed bed sewage treatment plant should be able to be
discharged into it??


Use rainwater runoff.