Council inspector's first visit.

Yesterday the holes were dug bigger in preparation of the council inspector's visit.

Deeper hole was dug for footing

Andrew, the inspector looks a very serious person.  I can tell that David respects him a lot.  According to David, he is one of those very helpful inspectors.  David often call him to ask questions.  Like yesterday, David prepared a list of questions to ask him.  And he gave pretty straightforward answers.

David was nervous about the water pipe that he discovered.  He said some inspectors would ask builders to replace the pipe with PVC pipe, i.e. extra work.  I think that is rubbish.  Because the existing pipe has been ok for decades, replacing it only increases the risk of leak at the joins.  I guess Andrew shares the same view.  He was not very bother about the pipe.  He told the builders to put the concrete back, it will be fine.

Wait, as I type I just recalled that copper may react to concrete chemically and cause corrosion.  I should ask David to sleeve it before pouring concrete into the footing.

Another thing is the foundation for the corner of the kitchen.  Because I want a flat wall at the connection of the original kitchen wall and the extended wall, David worried that Andrew may ask for additional support or ask for more support for the RSJ (by retaining more of the perpendicular wall).  But the worry wasn't needed.  After the builders dug more earth out to show the originally footing, Andrew thinks that the new footing should be sufficient for the support the new structure.

The chimney at the corner is a pain because it gets in the way of the future toilet.

Although David told him that he can remove the top (over the roof) part of the chimney first, Andrew however doesn't like the idea of removing the chimney stack in the garage without structural calculations.  If I am going to ask someone to do a structural calculation, it will cost a lot more time and money.  Don't think it's worthwhile to do.

Another thing that Andrew doesn't like is using the timber floor for the garage floor with underfloor heating.  He explained how moisture can get in there and rot the timber (which I don't understand).  He insists burying underfloor heating in concrete screed.  And, if the flood will be screed, he then disagrees us using stud wall for insulation.  The wall will have to be block wall with fibreglass insulation.  The block wall with fibreglass insulation will be about 4 inches thicker than the stud wall with celotex insulation.  

The dilemma for me is, smaller room with underfloor heating; or bigger room with conventional radiator and towel rail.  At the end, I chose the latter.