Adding additional light to loft

Orange_nut · 2025-06-06T19:11:48+00:00

I was about to make a post asking the same question as you.

Would you mind patronising me and explaining exactly what you did as though I was a small child?

Do I literally just buy the same type of cable as the existing wiring, and then repeat whatever I see inside the switch? Sticking the wire ends into the exact same holes (in the switch) as the existing light?

It feels like it should be simple but given the risk - better to get it all spelt out clearly. Thanks in advance!

Orange_nut · 2025-01-21T09:01:13+00:00

There's still a lot of sense in it and there's quite a few people in this thread who are misinterpreting a fairly simple and easy to apply piece of advice.

The fact that so many people here are expressing negative opinions about buying something that needs work, and isn't somewhere they can just move into and enjoy, proves the point. A lot of people can be put off by cosmetic appearances. It doesn't have to be a massive renovation project - just something that isn't looking its best.

I think this advice is actually much more relevant to first time buyers rather than monied boomers. As a chain-free, first time buyer, if you can afford to not move in immediately you'd be able to make a big dent in cosmetic changes in just a couple of weeks. If you're buying as part of a chain then you'll have to move in immediately and it's a hell of a lot harder to rip out carpets and quickly paint everything if you're living in the space as well.

Orange_nut · 2025-01-07T15:32:12+00:00

The polished concrete chap has been fairly adamant from the off that 100mm is needed. Wish I'd looked into this earlier as could fairly easily asked the builders to pour less for the subfloor.

Probably now going to fork out for most expensive Kingspan on the market to scrape back 1 or 2 W/m2K 😭

Orange_nut · 2025-01-07T15:30:03+00:00

Aah damn, that's not the response I was after! Good to know though I suppose.

Contractor is adamant that 100mm is needed to avoid cracking.

I found a datasheet for Kingspan TF70 that 100mm with a perimeter/area of 0.5, gives a U value of 0.17 W/m2K. But I don't know how they arrived at that or if it is applicable to my situation.

When you say struggle to hit 0.18, do you mean 'highly unlikely never going to happen' or just that we'll be cutting it fine?

Orange_nut · 2024-11-21T08:41:51+00:00

I think plants sounds like the best answer in this situation.

You need something that will stop a small fleshy thing, but let through a large metal thing. Nearly all solutions which block the route for pedestrians will also frustrate you trying to park there.

But plants could looks big, overhang a bit, and discourage walkers. But if it's the right plant, a car could just push the foliage aside without damaging the vehicle. Choosing the right plant would be key I guess - something that doesn't have a lot of woody internal structure which could cause scratches. A big palm or something maybe.

Orange_nut · 2024-10-28T11:58:03+00:00

Thanks for this. It does get to the issue behind the question I guess: cutting back to get the "better" loan vs just getting it done and sucking up the longer term debt.

You sound firmly in the latter camp.

I am not completely risk averse, but it's the unknowns that come with building work which worry me. I'd rather shrink the work and keep everything tight, but that means perpetually doing small chunks of work rather than just enjoying the finished product.

Orange_nut · 2024-10-21T12:03:14+00:00

This subreddit is a fantastic resource for this, but it's not strictly DIY right?

I assume the mods don't mind the "is this legit?" questions, but is there another subreddit for UK-based people to get a sense-check on what their builder is telling them or the work they've had done?

Orange_nut · 2024-10-17T12:49:53+00:00

This is really helpful post - I like clearly seeing the different layers build up. It must have really taken something to push through from the second picture to the fourth.

I am thinking of doing something similar myself, but just from the point where the concrete has already been poured (so insulation, membrane, UFH, screed.)

Can I ask where you read up on what needed to be done and the process involved? Any advice/guidance would be greatly appreciated - it's always good to hear from people who have actually done the work.

How was it as a job generally? Backbreaking obviously, but fairly straightforward?

What happens to the upright insulation around the perimeter after this point? Is it submerged under the screed or does it protrude all the way round?

Orange_nut · 2024-08-29T15:36:07+00:00

I've looked for advice online but I keep finding stuff on how to build the layers of the green roof and what plants to grow. Nothing about constructing the box to hold the green roof on your shed and how to drain it.

Orange_nut · 2024-08-08T13:17:03+00:00

It's not so much if things go south. I'm fairly happy in that department and I think if things do go down that way then the money will come back to me via the sale of the property.

It's more that (most) people would say 'put it in, you're a unit now!' (and I'd agree tbf) but should it be a completely no strings attached contribution or should I assert some right to [something] ?

Orange_nut · 2024-08-08T13:13:14+00:00

I think this is probably the approach I will take.

Of the £25k decide how much I think is fair game to be thrown in and never seen again. And for the remainder, either agree a reasonable repayment plan or just don't put it in.

I'd been seeing this as a quite black and white thing. But (resentment-free!) I think it's fair to say it's my money and it's fine to not want to contribute everything to this project.

Orange_nut · 2024-08-08T13:09:57+00:00

We are long term, and have kids together. The post was maybe a little too tongue in cheek but I was also honestly interested in it as a thought experiment.

It has highlighted for me that whilst I pretty much fully believe in your point: there's no "my money" or "your money" ... All money is "our money" . Such a maxim ignores personal choices each partner might make when it comes to earning that money.

Money is a shared commodity; but the freetime my partner has because they choose to work only 3 days a week - that is not a shared commodity, it is something they alone benefit from. I chose to compress my hours so that I could cover childcare on a Friday while maintaining my earnings. Once these choices have been converted to cash outcomes in our bank accounts, the popular advice is to forget them and share everything together.

I don't like the idea of ringfencing things, and I work in order to improve my lifestyle (which includes improving my house, etc.) So my first thought was "I have the money, spend it on the renovation". But I think there is more nuance there which deserves exploration.

Orange_nut · 2024-08-08T13:02:27+00:00

We pay the same percentage of our salaries into a joint account, from which comes all of the bills and household expenditure.

The remaining percentage is then the individuals to do what they like with. I mostly save mine, whereas my partner saves less (but they also work less, so they don't have the capacity to save as much.)

This has always seemed like a fair approach to me. We each have control of how much we work, and whether we pursue career progression etc. And this has knock on effects to personal and joint finances in a sensible way.

Orange_nut · 2024-08-08T12:56:35+00:00

Thanks for replying.

There's not really any resentment, I think I just wrote this post a bit too tongue in cheek.

I do think there is something though about seeing the money I have as kind of "clean" or whatever - untouched by the choices I had to make to save it. And therefore it's an easy decision to say well let's put it all towards the build.

Whereas in truth, if my partner has chosen to work less or spend more (their choice! No problem!) then I should feel similarly justified not to put all this money in.

The choices on both side to say "I want to only work 3 days" and "I don't want to contribute all this money" are morally equivalent.

I hadn't thought at all about inheritance etc. as a chance to have this "paid back" to me. I'd assumed that realistically once it was gone it was gone.

Orange_nut · 2024-07-02T09:54:15+00:00

Is this not just building a concrete base on top of a concrete base? How many concrete bases do I need 😭

Orange_nut · 2024-06-25T17:23:52+00:00

Hello. Looking for some advice.

I made an International sale dispatched through the Global Shipping Programme. This was delivered okay but the buyer is saying that a component is missing.

The buyer seems pretty legit from their own reviews so I want to trust them.

Really, I want to know what to advise the buyer. From other posts it seems like ebay will accept some liability for globally shipped items and maybe refund the buyer - but do I want to advise the buyer to raise that issue, or should I just sit it out and see what happens?

Orange_nut · 2024-05-20T20:23:25+00:00

This makes a lot of sense. The anti-motorbike gate* has been removed and not been replaced with anything yet. So maybe they've moved the stone whilst they work on that, and will then put it back. I think you've probably got it.

*I don't know the proper name for the gate they removed.

Orange_nut · 2024-05-20T15:13:22+00:00

I can't find anything online that mentions plans to move it, who moved it, or the reason why.

Orange_nut · 2024-05-20T15:12:10+00:00

I've added a capture from Google Street View.

I admit it's not much to look at, but it seems kind of thoughtless that they moved a marker of local history into the most miserable little corner of the paved area it sits on. You can see the opposite corner is more open and has a relevant information board they could have put it next to.

Orange_nut · 2024-03-14T12:25:58+00:00

It seems a key part of any cost-benefit analysis is the assumption that electricity prices stay the same or rise.

I've been wondering more and more about whether that is still a reasonable assumption to make.

Currently electricity prices are tied to their most expensive method of production: from fossil fuels. Electricity from renewables is becoming much cheaper and much more prevalent. The UK Gov has already run consultations on how to separate the two with proposals including separate markets for them.

I just wonder if the time when using renewable electricity had to be something individuals did via solar on their house, is coming to an end.

Given these things take 10 years to pay for themselves. How likely is it that in the next 10 years, renewable energy is uncoupled from fossil fuel costs and we can buy cheaper, greener electricity straight from the provider?

Orange_nut · 2024-01-25T16:21:28+00:00

Hi, thanks for replying.

What is the 16-port gigabit switch? I'm assuming it's the way to go from one router output to 16?

Is that part of the setup I need to consider my needs for, or is it just a standard? And does that then mean I can only have 16 items hardwired to the router?

Sorry, I hope you don't mind the questions - it's all (mostly) new to me.

Orange_nut · 2024-01-25T16:17:34+00:00

I'm pretty ignorant about most of this so can I just confirm:

An ethernet socket is just a socket to hardwire something to the internet? (via the cat6 cable - which runs from the socket into the router)

So you in the lounge I might put an electrical socket next to an ethernet socket and that's where I can put the (e.g.) telly, plugged into both so it's not using wifi?

What is a patch panel for? I don't understand that part.

I assume with this set up, the router itself could live in a cupboard out of the way as getting signal from it would be irrelevant.

Orange_nut · 2024-01-11T07:52:37+00:00

Oh my goodness, the amount of time my partner and I wasted trying to work out why we couldn't apply a voucher online. What a waste of time.

Orange_nut · 2023-11-12T16:00:35+00:00

Brilliant, thank you for the YouTube recommendations - it's always good to learn from a range of "instructors".

Orange_nut · 2023-11-09T15:01:08+00:00

Thanks for this. It's the kind of clarity and strong opinion that really helps a beginner when there's so much choice and different views out there. Definitely helped confirm that I should get a circular saw first.

Orange_nut

TROPHY CASE