motorbird83

Hello everyone, I'm hoping to tap into the collective wisdom of the forum yet again regarding my loft extension! We are trying to work out with our heating engineer what we need to deal with the additional bathrooms we are adding to the house. The current boiler is 1 year old and in perfect condition. Our builder has told us that his plumber says we need to chuck the new boiler, get a new larger boiler and get a megaflow. My question is why would I need both a boiler and a megaflow. I thought a megaflow was its own heating system and that would suffice on its own even if you had multiple bathrooms. Also, even if you wanted a back up boiler, surely the one that could heat the house adequately pre-extension should suffice :/ Very confused as I think the plumber might be overspecifying the house. Right now its still just me and my husband. We had a Woscester combi in our flat which also had two bathrooms-- though in the 7 years we lived there I don't think we've ever used both showers at the same time. I can't see the multiple shower thing being that big of an issue until we have older children and given we don't have any yet, whatever we put it might need replacing by the time its of any use! If there is anyone who's done a loft and had to work through any of these heating / plumbing issues, your thoughts would be very welcome!

You get the money back you deposit for an Oyster card when you turn it in. Therefore, your family members needn't be out of pocket for the cost of the Oyster. I can't see them getting rid of Oysters altogether for smart phones. Not enough people have smartphones or debit cards-- despite what it might seem like living in ED, neither things are universal. That would lead to certain segments of society actually not being able to use transport, which would never make sense as policy for TFL. They might introduce the ability to do both in parallel but they won't prevent people without bank accounts or smartphones from being able to travel in London. Pugwash Wrote: ------------------------------------------------------- > When non London based family members visit- they > usually pay cash for one or sometimes two bus > journeys as it is not worth them getting a pass > etc. We keep 2 spare oyster cards for > grandchildren visiting ( 2 are over 15) but hubby > usually meets them at the train station so takes > Oyster cards with him.

Hmm, the dryer water is why I initially wanted itm. My husband says we'll wash wellies in the garden with the hose. Any good counter arguments to that? I keep going back and forth on this!

Hmm, that was my biggest concern as there is a non-vented dryer. However, we are going to have a wet room floor in the utility room with a floor drain-- that we if there is a leak it won't flood the house. I figure I'll just use the floor drain to poor out the water but maybe that's a bad idea. I need to think about this some more.

Oh no, I'm more confused than ever... Is soaking in a bucket that much worse than a sink?

HSBC do personal loans of up to 25k for 5.1% - 5.7%. If each of your parents took one out that should work and the term is 8 years. The early repayment charge is only 1 months interest so not at all onerous. We are doing work to our house and just took one out.

Yes, it does. I suspect we'll rarely use it and my husband can't see any reason for it but we don't have kids yet so its always hard trying to plan for a future you have no idea about :) I thought my life with kids might for some reason involve more soaking than it does now but couldn't be sure!

Hi all-- sorry for yet another thread on the work we are doing to our new family home. So far the advice I've had has been so useful I figured I would ask about this latest choice. We can either have shelves for storage or a sink in the utility room we are creating. With the sink, there would be some storage for ironing etc but much less. What would you prioritise? How often do you use your sink for soaking things? Thanks!

I do have an architect and he is one of the builders she recommended to me. He also did her house. That's why I am looking for some independent advice. I did get 3 quotes and his was in line with market and I met other references. However, I have no idea how his person financial circumstance might have changed since he last worked for either my architect or his reference. What you've said is very helpful red devil. I understand builders don't want to get burned by an insolvent client but asking for 20% of the entire costs up front seemed odd to me.

Hi EDF-- I am about to start on a gut refurb and extension of a house we've bought. The total building contract is 127k and the builder is asking for a 25k deposit. This seems excessive to me. He has great recommendations, including from my architect but I am concerned about how much he is asking for upfront before works have started. Is this normal for a big contract?

Yes if you expect them to make the plans. Drawing up plans and doing a measurement survey is expensive. You either need to pay to have it done separately and then engage a builder or sign a contract and have a builder work for you from start to finish.

This is what they emailed me last month. Subject: RE: Admission Hello For September 2013 entry the furthest we went out in the first round of offers was 799 metres. This has now increased to 960m now that all offers have been accepted/declined. Distance is measured by straight line from our school office on Dulwich Village to the main entrance of your home. Regards Office, Dulwich Hamlet Junior School

Once your house is worth more than 600k, then definitely. Even if you buy a place worth exactly the same (just bigger and further out) as you current place, the stamp duty, legal fees and agent fees will be in excess of 30k. If you are looking to spend more than what your place is worth, then you have to find the extra deposit or take on a bigger mortgage on top of the 30k+ for moving costs. That's why there are so many cranes in the sky doing loft conversions at the moment! Creating space is often a good alternative to moving and add values if you do eventual move on.

Does anyone know what is happening to the Lordship Lane police station? I understand it is closing down but what will become of the building and site?

You can buy a small house that needs cosmetic updating for 250k in that part of town. I have two set of friends looking at the moment. London, by big city international standards isn't that bad. Look at Hong Kong. I live in a house (at my Engliish partner's insistence) but most urbanites I know (including millionaires) choose to raise their families in flats. Its a very English trait to be urban and want the traditional picket fence / house / garden to feel complete. In most of the world, choosing to raise a family in a major metropolis means raising them in a flat. It goes hand in hand with urban living. LondonMix Wrote: ------------------------------------------------------- > Eltham, Mottingham, Abbey Wood...... > > > StraferJack Wrote: > -------------------------------------------------- > ----- > > > > > > Try earning a decent salary in london, and you > are > > early 30s. Should be thinking of setting up a > > base. Say 30ish k. Where exactly is affordable?

Eek, how awful for the two who were detained and found to be innocent amd subsequently released. My entire office is expats (including me) but I guess immigrants of a certain class don't get treated so shabbily by the authorities!

Agree SJ. Back on topic. Do UKBA really just do this sort of thing randomly? It seems odd to arrest and detain people as part of a random check.

My thoughts exactly. The trustees are genuinely dedicated to protecting not only green spaces in the area but the general character of the area as well. There support is rather reassuring to me as well because they are notoriously difficult to get on side for development / changes. Mick Mac Wrote: ------------------------------------------------------- > If Dulwich Estates has passed it then it can't be > too scary.

Work on a chimney etc does need building control and you should have notified them 48 hours prior to starting work (they in turn notify your neighbours). Your builder may be advising you not to do so because technically you also need to serve a partywall notice for chimney work if it on a party wall (very likely if you are mid terraced). A lot of people won't bother with the partywall notice but if your neighbours have been difficult this might be what's concerning your builder now. Also, building control absolutely do not verify that you are building a project to permitted development or planning permission specifications. It falls completely outside their remit. A property can be signed off by building control that has no planning permission. Building control do ensure that the plans and building are up to code and review the structural engineer drawings you submit.

Yes, finding out if you can afford it includes getting an indication of your finance options as well as a rough estimate of costs in my view. However, I wouldn't actually refinance / take-out a loan before getting planning permission as its not guaranteed. Also, planning permission is valuable in and of itself. It lasts for a couple of years so you have time to save up if necessary and if you sell before doing the works, you can pass the planning permission to the next buyer. Most first floor extensions are refused which is the only reason why I'd be cautious about engaging too many costs related to the project before knowing whether you can legally do the work.

Yes, but they won't point me in the direction of anyone who's had problems. I would like feedback without the filter of the company if possible which is why I am reaching out the the forum.

Hi all. I am going to install glass doors in our kitchen and have looked at various companies. Sunseeker have new ultraslim pivoting sliding doors that look great but I don't know anyone who's used the company - [www.sunseekerdoors.co.uk] If you've used them it would be great to hear your opinions good or bad or recommendation for other ultra slim doors from other companies.

Hi all. I am going to install glass doors in our kitchen and have looked at various companies. Sunseeker have new ultraslim pivoting sliding doors that look great but I don't know anyone who's used the company - http://www.sunseekerdoors.co.uk/frameless-double-glazed.html If you've used them it would be great to hear your opinions good or bad or recommendation for other ultra slim doors from other companies.

I'm doing something similar. The first thing is to get plans drawn up and apply for planning. It's not necesary to engage structural engineering costs before obtaining planning permission. Once you have planning permission, then I'd engage a structural engineer to do building regs / contruction drawings that you can use to tender the work. Building regs approval takes 6 weeks during which time you can arrange finance. However, even before you go for planning, most builders will give you a rough indication over the phone of how much a job like this should cost (it will be very ballpark and wide ranging) so you can see if you can afford it before you go down this path. First storey extensions can be difficult to obtain planning for so I would definitely do that before enganging any other costs. Good luck!

Does that mean Dulwich Hamlet is no longer willing to expand permanently as well? Renata Hamvas Wrote: ------------------------------------------------------- > Hi working mum, > there is also another secondary due to open in the > Walworth/Camberwell area, on the site that is > temporarily being used for Sacred Heart Secondary > while their school is being rebuilt. there are > also discussions/negotiations going on with some > of the current secondaries over permanent > expansions. Be aware that all of Southwark's > schools are Academies or voluntary aided and > therefore it's a different situation to the > primaries that expanding. Be aware that there is > pupil planning going on, which has anticipated the > need for extra secondary places particularly for > 2016 onwards (when the current year 3s go to > secondary.) > > A new primary will be opened within the former > Bellenden school buildings and Bessemer Grange and > Langbourne are permanently expanding. I am meeting > with council officers at the end of next week to > discuss school places. > Renata > > Renata