How do I bathroom / kitchen / extension? etc.

I've got zero experience of dMVHR (decentralised, single-room) units, aside from reading that they can be quite loud.

Our Zehnder MVHR system, including installation and commissioning, is ~£3K, but that's at mates'-rates (installer is a friend who's also supplying the ASHP). It would have been more than double that otherwise, putting it beyond affordability for us. Also, unless your house is already being refurbed, it's very long, invasive and expensive to rip the place apart running ducts everywhere. For us, it was a case of 'now or never'.

That is what we are doing for our island. Order full sheet, cut out rectangle. Keep off cuts for fun project. Getting worktops cut to order is not impossible, but I wouldn't trust myself to measure it, or trust that the walls are straight/square. Can you have your contractor take charge of that?

Coincidentally the kitchen fitter quote bloke just left, and he said that they can cut everything themselves from rectangular sheet - except for under-mounted sink hole. Presumably that's just a bit too on-show to risk it. So we'll order a big old rectangle with a sink hole and let them do the rest.

Annoyingly they said that our fridge socket isn't up to code - needs to have a remote switch as it's a built-in fridge. Looks like our waste pipe and water pipes are also slightly in the wrong place so will need moving or we'll have to have half-depth drawers in those places.

Constant niggles.

Think I've really fucked off the plumber by insisting on the bath being flipped, he just could not wrap his head around it... Hope I still have a plumber tomorrow!

i think you're probably going about it the right way with the big sheets.

however, i ordered bamboo worktops cut to size from https://www.worktop-express.co.uk/online-bespoke-worktop-tool/ and they all fit together and were installed without any drama (i think i had to plane a little bit off one of the back edges)
any minor gaps on the back edge close to the walls were covered up when i did the backsplash tiling.

At some point we want/need to redo our kitchen, luckily I'm related to @dbr but at present he doesn't do flooring.

We currently have hideous 500x500mm tiles with a printed concrete/distressed effect so they will need to be changed. 4x5m kitchen with wet UFH.

What are the options and approx costs per m2? Ideally want something that is cost effective, child friendly, very cleanable/stain resistant, doesn't show up dirt to badly, modern ish/clean look.

I remember there was some chat on here about concrete floors, microcement etc. Local library has concrete floor with aggregate in it that I really like, but I think I read on here it may be too hard.

Suggestions please!

I'll probably use their online design thing, but give a healthy margin around the edges.

To state the obvious, tiles?

Concrete will need polishing etc which will cost, no?

Tiles are an option, but I don't think they will necessarily be a cheap option, but that is why I'm asking I guess!

Linoleum.

It's an option. I've used Forbo Marmoleum in my old flat's bathroom and know plenty of people who have it, but I'm not convinced for a large kitchen floor. I feel it shows up dirt quite a lot can scratch/scuff in my experience. Also shows up every minor flaw in the subfloor if it's not totally perfect.

Also not actually that cheap inc installation - Cavendish deVere calculator is around £160/m2 and that's before removal of the old tiles.

Durable, easy to clean, look nice (design dependant), nice understood - especially with ufh.

I don't know what cheap is, but I don't think they'd be that expensive, come in all range of costa

When I ordered our cut to size worktop I got them to cut the back at a 32 degree angle so it was easier to trim to fit the less than straight/level wall it butted up to.

clever! although i guess the strength might depend on the grain direction if using timber?
in our case the worktops were along newly plastered walls so they were fairly straight.

My recollection was that one you exclude the cheapest shit options and the ridiculous expensive options, they're all about the same price.

E.g. Micro concrete isn't that expensive to buy, but once you factor all the prep work and finding a willing party the cost jumps.

Thoughtfully non-faddy tiles will likely be the best all round.

However, it sounds like what you actually want is concrete, so given it's not a crazy amount of m², just go for it!

I checked my memory, I think everyone installs them so you don't see the overflow.
He probably still struggles with the concept of a bathtub that two people can comfortably use at the same time?

Someone tried to break in to our house the other week, splitting the front door in the process, so it’s time for a new one. I was going to get an insulated door blank and fettle it myself a-la @dbr, but just don’t have the time…

Where’s the go-to turnkey front door place? Ideally just for supply of a matching design of Victorian style, glazed etc.

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We've got a reading nook that we wanted to put bench seats in on two sides. We've been looking for options and Mrs Sparky came across stuff made for camper vans, which I felt was almost a home run but isn't quite right. Anywhere else we should be looking? Or do I need to get the tracksaw out?

https://www.vanfurniture.co.uk/shop/l-shaped-camper-bed-flatpack?gad_source=1&gclid=CjwKCAjww_iwBhApEiwAuG6ccA2_LUCPEFoYRWO3K2GGY5QHBLgLWhtUzn3WYAyOdf4GOtGeuQt8OBoCmhQQAvD_BwE

Mrs Sparky came across stuff made for camper vans, which I felt was almost a home run but isn't quite right.

@sbbohr - isn't this the sort of thing you now do?

Ta!

Precisionplank.Co.uk

Just email me a rough sketch with features and dimensions and I’ll price it;

Materials currently are

Poplar premium - laid up like birch ply
Birch ply
Eucalyptus hexa coating
Birch with Hexa coating

Birch is the best.

Laminate options within a few weeks, hydraulic press arrived yesterday.

Nice one. Couldn't load your website, but send me your email address and I'll send a sketch!

https://www.precisionplank.co.uk/ !

Xoxo