building a house

[RedHand88]

Stairs.

Concrete or timber? Have heard concrete ones can add tens of thousands of pounds, this is curved ones we're talking about. Does anyone have these? Were they worth it? Was it alot of hassle with calculations and foundations? Did you end up with concrete slabs across the entire floor upstairs?

[trueblue1234]

Stairs.

Concrete or timber? Have heard concrete ones can add tens of thousands of pounds, this is curved ones we're talking about. Does anyone have these? Were they worth it? Was it alot of hassle with calculations and foundations? Did you end up with concrete slabs across the entire floor upstairs?

Feel your pain. We went with curved stairs. Ended up going wooden, prices were crazy for concrete.  Got the stair maker to come out and measure up so calculations were all with him. We were putting slabs down upstairs anyway.

[Milltown Row2]

Just finished patio, was wondering best filler for the joints?

[93-DY-SAM]

Just finished patio, was wondering best filler for the joints?

Depends on the type of paving that was used. Some will require a mortar mix either as a wet slurry or pointed into the joints. Some will just be a simple case of dry sand brushed into the joints. It really all depends on the paving used and how it was laid. 

[JohnDenver]

Just finished patio, was wondering best filler for the joints?

Rompox is decent. Flexible to fill the joints but then hardens and should be frost and weed proof.

[johnnycool]

Stairs.

Concrete or timber? Have heard concrete ones can add tens of thousands of pounds, this is curved ones we're talking about. Does anyone have these? Were they worth it? Was it alot of hassle with calculations and foundations? Did you end up with concrete slabs across the entire floor upstairs?

Feel your pain. We went with curved stairs. Ended up going wooden, prices were crazy for concrete.  Got the stair maker to come out and measure up so calculations were all with him. We were putting slabs down upstairs anyway.

I did the same and would seriously recommend it to anyone. Far less noise when the young ones are bullocking about up there.

[clarshack]

Stairs.

Concrete or timber? Have heard concrete ones can add tens of thousands of pounds, this is curved ones we're talking about. Does anyone have these? Were they worth it? Was it alot of hassle with calculations and foundations? Did you end up with concrete slabs across the entire floor upstairs?

Feel your pain. We went with curved stairs. Ended up going wooden, prices were crazy for concrete.  Got the stair maker to come out and measure up so calculations were all with him. We were putting slabs down upstairs anyway.

I did the same and would seriously recommend it to anyone. Far less noise when the young ones are bullocking about up there.

Totally agree on the slabs for upstairs. Well worth it.

[Milltown Row2]

Just finished patio, was wondering best filler for the joints?

Depends on the type of paving that was used. Some will require a mortar mix either as a wet slurry or pointed into the joints. Some will just be a simple case of dry sand brushed into the joints. It really all depends on the paving used and how it was laid.

Just finished patio, was wondering best filler for the joints?

Rompox is decent. Flexible to fill the joints but then hardens and should be frost and weed proof.

So it was a stone based leveler and mortar for the slate paving.. gaps are about 14mm... right will pick that up and try it.. many thanks guys

[manfromdelmonte]

Regarding the soakaway, much better if you can connect the storm water from gullies to the main storm line if one is available or in to a nearby stream / river.
If a public storm isn't available and soakaway or sump is the only option; you should locate it in an area on site that is suitable, depending on the amount of surface water to be drained and the type of ground, maybe consider a second sump for good measure lined with a membrane and filled with clean stone.
Main storm line is definitely the preferred option if available.

Rainwater harvesting tank is a good investment imho

[Armamike]

Stairs.

Concrete or timber? Have heard concrete ones can add tens of thousands of pounds, this is curved ones we're talking about. Does anyone have these? Were they worth it? Was it alot of hassle with calculations and foundations? Did you end up with concrete slabs across the entire floor upstairs?

Feel your pain. We went with curved stairs. Ended up going wooden, prices were crazy for concrete.  Got the stair maker to come out and measure up so calculations were all with him. We were putting slabs down upstairs anyway.

I did the same and would seriously recommend it to anyone. Far less noise when the young ones are bullocking about up there.

Totally agree on the slabs for upstairs. Well worth it.

Just pray you don't get a leak from a shower.
Slabs are a nightmare if you get a leak from an upstairs shower (which there often is!).  Far easier and cheaper to get it sorted and find the root of the problem from downstairs if there's plasterboard.

[Flanker]

Anyone recommend a good heating engineer/plumber.
Looking to look at some form of air source / ground source / solar combination to plug into existing underfloor heating.
Have spoken to a few people who have knowledge in their own area but finding it hard to find someone who has good knowledge to bring it all together. Co Antrim/Derry area

[trueblue1234]

There's a guy Francis Glackin from Cookstown, would be worth having a chat to. He's plumber  that specialises in renewable energy. FG plumbing think the company name is.

[Flanker]

There's a guy Francis Glackin from Cookstown, would be worth having a chat to. He's plumber  that specialises in renewable energy. FG plumbing think the company name is.

Thanks is/was he from Bellaghy direction

[trueblue1234]

Think he might have been alright. It was a while ago I was speaking with him.

[Milltown Row2]

Kitchen worktops ... any decent shout outs to companies that provide them?