We've been to a few of these before in the run-up to the build so we knew what to expect and who we wanted to search out.
We spent quite a bit of time seeking out solutions for our rainwater harvester problem (overflow below the water table) with little luck. There is a new range of tanks specially designed for this that have just come out, but there's not a lot we can do now our tank is under several tonnes of concrete.... Creative solutions will have to suffice here!
We also discussed the underfloor heating on the first floor. This is also an area of much debate as, to get the best from our heat pump, we'll have to run the heating at as low a temperature as possible, which means it will have to be extra efficient. The decision is whether to run the pipework above or below the first floor deck. Current best wisdom seems to be to put them above in a dry mix. This increases the thermal mass of the floor and makes the system more efficient but will add approximately 40mm to the height of the deck which could cause problems for Potton. I'll let you know what we decide.
We also discovered some really great deals on the stone materials for the walls and floors. Applestone and slate are the two currently favoured choices and with show discounts and end of line deals we should be able to get the prices down by up to £10/m2 from our budget. Good news indeed!
Now all we need is a set of foundations that float...
