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Grand Designs Live

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tahir

Joined: 28 Oct 2004
Posts: 45674
Location: Essex

Posted: Mon May 16, 05 10:00 am Post subject: Grand Designs Live

A lot of self build companies are exhibiting at Grand Designs live which takes place 10-12 June this year at Excel in London's Docklands

https://www.granddesignslive.com/pm/11

If you want to buy tickets in advance then I found this on the C4 website:

Quote:

As if this wasn't enough we've got a special 4Homes offer on tickets - they would normally cost ï¿½15 (or ï¿½10.50 in advance) but if you ring 0870 9063833 you will be able to order tickets for ï¿½9

They'll still try and charge you ï¿½10.50 though, just tell thenm that you saw it offered on the C4 website at that price:

https://www.channel4.com/4homes/chatvotewin/competitions/Grand_Designs_Live.html

dougal

Joined: 15 Jan 2005
Posts: 7184
Location: South Kent

Posted: Wed Jun 08, 05 11:38 pm Post subject:
Anyone else going on Saturday?

tahir

Joined: 28 Oct 2004
Posts: 45674
Location: Essex

Posted: Thu Jun 09, 05 9:10 am Post subject:
Me

tahir

Joined: 28 Oct 2004
Posts: 45674
Location: Essex

Posted: Mon Jun 13, 05 10:06 am Post subject:
Pretty pointless I thought, more about fancy "style" accessories, lots of flash kitchens, steel rads and stuff. What did you think Dougal? And did you get anything useful out of the Whispergen people?

Blue Peter

Joined: 21 Mar 2005
Posts: 2400
Location: Milton Keynes

Posted: Mon Jun 13, 05 10:56 am Post subject:

tahir wrote:

Pretty pointless I thought, more about fancy "style" accessories, lots of flash kitchens, steel rads and stuff.

I think that that's basically because those are the things which companies can sell you. Aside from kit houses, they can't really sell you the main thing,

Peter.

Behemoth

Joined: 01 Dec 2004
Posts: 19023
Location: Leeds

Posted: Mon Jun 13, 05 11:06 am Post subject:

At the housebuilder and Renovation show there were lots of design and build, drainage, building systems, windows, heating and plubming systems as well as the second fix suppliers of kitchens, doors fixtures.

My only criticism was that the design and build services all seemed to be focussing on building individual homes not far removed from most developer's 'executive homes'.

It's worth a visit if you get the chance. Try and pick up some comp tickets if you can. they usally have three of four ayear around the country.

dougal

Joined: 15 Jan 2005
Posts: 7184
Location: South Kent

Posted: Mon Jun 13, 05 12:35 pm Post subject:

tahir wrote:

What did you think Dougal? And did you get anything useful out of the Whispergen people?

Rather a lot of "designer tat" IMHO. There were some 'good' things and some 'nice' things though. First "hands on" with an Eglu! Its bigger than I thought, and the chicken run does seem secure. Versions for ducks and rabbits too (different internal details).
And Mercedes (for no really obvious reason) were showing the "B Class"... ï¿½17/23k in September, didn't seem much more space than an A Class, but longer, lower, wider and more luggage space...

The Whispergen CHP gas boiler was indeed the standout for me.
They seem to be actually signing people up, but they need to 'survey' the property for suitability. Then it seems to be a subsidised fixed price package - inc install of 2-way meter with ordinary 'standing charge' thereafter (ie no annual fee).
Currently, the boiler is a bit small - just 8kw of heat. But there's supposed to be a 12 (15/16?)kw unit available in maybe October...
The 8kw boiler generates 1.2kw of electricity "whenever" the boiler is firing - which doesn't sound to me like a modulating boiler. (So my guess is it really ought to have a thermal store rather than an ordinary conventional system.) But IMHO it seems like a massively better idea for us townies than something like a Windsave.
I'm trying to find out more, and will, of course, report back.
Everything is seemingly still being sorted out - eg price that surplus is sold to the grid, currently it *is* Economy7 retail price for all 24 hours. Simple, but perhaps not very reasonable?

Blue Peter

Joined: 21 Mar 2005
Posts: 2400
Location: Milton Keynes

Posted: Mon Jun 13, 05 12:38 pm Post subject:
Some details of micro-CHP and Whispergen: https://www.newbuilder.co.uk/bffmag/winter03/13_3%20Cover_story.pdf Peter.

Guest

Posted: Mon Jun 13, 05 1:56 pm Post subject:
Managed to miss it as I was in casualty with my stepson for most of the day. Any info/reviews of the event posted here gratefully rec'd

tahir

Joined: 28 Oct 2004
Posts: 45674
Location: Essex

Posted: Mon Jun 13, 05 2:00 pm Post subject:
Nothing too serious I hope

Cashew

Joined: 21 Jan 2005
Posts: 60
Location: UK

Posted: Mon Jun 13, 05 2:19 pm Post subject:

tahir wrote:

Nothing too serious I hope

He had a fit, but we don't know why yet. No history of anything like that happening in the past.

Some serious stuff already ruled out but more tests going on.

Cheers for asking

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