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Grand Designs - full commitment again...

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Posted by: dovebiker

The architects in their wisdom put the front door on the ‘weather’ side - with the winter storms, water gets blown under the door which has been absorbed and blown the skirting. Talking with the door company about replacement seals.

This is why porches are a Good Thing. Quite a few of the old low energy houses we worked on had the classic double door entry, with outer door and floor etc designed that some weather will get in during extreme weather.

 

Spots - flipping builders. 

I've got a draft behind downstairs loo I've asked Bellway back for and my suspicion is they too have cut through the membrane when installing all the pipework.


 
Posted : 11/04/2026 7:55 am
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I have watched the everything electric video but not seen the grand designs episode. 

I guess £100k-200k on energy management is worth the investment relative to the cost of the house build? 

I'm just guessing at those figures as I've no idea how much commercial AC units cost but I do have some idea about how much sigenergy battery storage costs. 

 


 
Posted : 11/04/2026 7:57 am
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Posted by: retrorick

I guess £100k-200k on energy management is worth the investment relative to the cost of the house build? 

That and, if memory serves me, he was an entrepreneur in smart home tech - so the house was a demonstration of what is possible. 


 
Posted : 11/04/2026 8:45 am
retrorick and b33k34 reacted
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Posted by: robola

Posted by: retrorick

I guess £100k-200k on energy management is worth the investment relative to the cost of the house build? 

That and, if memory serves me, he was an entrepreneur in smart home tech - so the house was a demonstration of what is possible. 

 

Hmm. This is his company - https://www.tewke.com/products

"Not that long ago TVs and electricity meters weren’t smart, doorbells had no vision and thermostats never changed. Now it’s the turn of the light switch.
“Our homes are stuck in the past. Our energy grid is outdated, struggling with peak demand, rising costs and the slow adoption of renewables. Smart home systems are great but too often they’re costly to install and expensive to change. We need a simple and intuitive solution to both issues.
That’s why I built Tewke.”
Piers Daniell, Founder

They make a UK retrofit smart light switch that costs over £200.  It looks lovely, but there are loads of much cheaper options that do the same sort of thing - the market for stuff at that level is tiny. It's not a full smart home system and not compatible with any of them though they've got a wireless plug in the future plans.  The other sensors (temp/humidity/co2) are pretty useless if you can't do any thing with the info. 

To be honest I'm amazed they've got as far as launching anything and I'd be staggered if they survive long. There are loads of established options that ARE part of a wider ecosystem and have long term support.  I wonder who's funding it. 

 

 


 
Posted : 11/04/2026 9:04 am
nicko74 and retrorick reacted
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For the time being I'll stick with the agile tariff, tapo smart plugs and WiFi smart heaters. Next step will probably be some IKEA matter stuff which is just within my price range!


 
Posted : 11/04/2026 9:19 am
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Obscene costs involved above 🙁

On my local ride there is a guy living in a tent under a tree for a year or more. Kings Charles the Third path.

Why cant he have a porch with no draughts 🙁

Housing values are a con.

 


 
Posted : 11/04/2026 9:52 am
chrismac and retrorick reacted
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I’m still struggling to understand what’s wrong with a normal light switch and why you even need a smart one


 
Posted : 11/04/2026 10:18 am
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Posted by: b33k34

They make a UK retrofit smart light switch that costs over £200.  It looks lovely, but there are loads of much cheaper options that do the same sort of thing - the market for stuff at that level is tiny.

I totally agree but that isn't really how people think who have this much money. They actually want it to be the most expensive available, regardless of functionality. I'm sure a super high end install does wonders for advertising to footballers etc. 


 
Posted : 11/04/2026 1:54 pm
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