Kevin McCloud webchat - Monday 20th June - 1 - 2 pm

[RachelMumsnet]

He's been at the top of our webchat wish list for too long, so we're v excited to announce that we'll be joined next Monday (20th June) by Kevin McCloud who'll be answering your questions between 1 and 2 pm.

Designer, property developer, writer, eco-campaigner and television presenter, Kevin is best known for the Channel 4 series, Grand Designs. Kevin has a strong interest in sustainable building and his company Hab Housing's core aim is to construct beautiful, environmentally friendly housing. He's joining us in his role as ambassador for the Great British Refurb Campaign, which is committed to rallying the Government and business to help make every home in Britain as energy efficient as possible. The campaign is supported by Knauf Insulation, which has provided all the insulation products used in the campaign's eco-refurbishments to date.

Kevin is happy to answer questions on how you can green-up your home and eco-home design as well as chatting about his life as a campaigner, designer and broadcaster. So whilst we try to spruce up MNHQ, you put the date in your diaries to join us on the 20th. If you're not around at 1pm, please send your questions to Kevin in advance to this thread.

[Anteater]

do you prefer the clash or the orchestral version of the magnificent seven?
What is the one thing you would like builders to change during construction?
What is your perfect tent?

[bethelbeth]

Hello Kevin :) I have a nice topical query for you that might help a lot of folk out in this current financial climate:

We've bought a house from a company that went into administration, and so did the necessary hellish struggle to find another company to finish it etc.

We got a lot more house for our money but the finish is just not up to the standards of the original company that went bust and the company that took on the work (very reputable and well thought of) are trying to wash their hands of it all.

It could work out as another big expense for us that we hadn't accounted for if they don't fix their errors.(eg: scratched windows, hideous not to spec fireplace,cheap fittings, chipped woodwork, horrible fitted wardrobes that weren't requested, radiators in odd places (right next to fireplace) )

When buying a new house I would have expected that all these things would be ironed out but we've been given no guarantee at all that anything will be fixed. In fact it's pretty much impossible to get to the bottom of who makes the decisions what with having to contact the administrators, the builders, the contractors and now finally the independent contractors who we've had to hire to fix everything.

In your opinion, should we just take it on the nose and be glad that we got a smashing property cheaper than we should have in the first place or do you think it's worth persevering with? The new builders are basically saying that as they weren't the original architects/builders etc that they have nothing to do with any of it.

Also- all of this is your bloody fault as we are Grand Designs addicts. Shame on you!

[Pinkjenny]

sigh I love Kevin.

[GetOrf]

I love Grand Designs and I am a huge fan - it is pretty much on constantly on More 4 and me and DP watch it all the time.

It is a truly excellent show, despite disagreeing fundamentally with some of the designs you never sneer or look down on the housebuilders. DP is a builder and holds you in high esteem.

Question - which is your all time favourite house design, whether from actual innovative design of the house, or because the people were so lovely. My favourites are the young couple who converted what was a 30s electricity sub station and did all the work theirselves, and also the lovely man who built a house in the middle of a wood.

Also, I am hugely interested in architecture, your Grand Tour programme was excellent. What i would love to watch would be a sort of UK architecture through the ages programme, going from old settlements, normans, medieaval cuildings and churches, tudor, jacobean, grand georgian structure, regency, victorian, edrwardian, modern day. I would love that.

[GetOrf]

shameful crush here as well

[Pinkjenny]

My favourite was the episode where the husband died, which is a little morbid

The house was so beautiful and so bright.

[crispyseaweed]

Hi Kevin,
Really enjoy Grand Designs, havnt got any questions for you as I rent a house, but just want to say you are a fantastic presenter and a really nice person who clearly exudes bundles of good vibes.
Best Wishes
Jenny

[EssexBonBon]

Hi Kev,

Why is conserving energy top of everyone's agenda but my sister-in-law was not allowed to replace single glazed timber windows with new double glazed wooden ones? From her point of view, the builder and the architects they looked the same but as they are in a conservation area, article 4, they had to keep the existing. Seem nuts!

My husband is in the timber window business so I get to hear about this all the time.

[Fimbo]

Hey stop spamming Kevin's thread. . You need to pay to advertise on MN. Have reported.

[TheMotherOfAllDilemmas]

My question is... would you marry me?

[Damn, I think I have just proposed to a married man ]

[redhappy]

Hi Kevin
I have just got a tv after a few years without one, and I'm totally addicted to Grand Designs.

I'm a newly single parent on a low income, and I'm VERY excited about the houses you are building very close by me in Stroud. My question is how do I get one?! Is there a list I can join or criteria I need to fill?

[spowell]

Hi Kevin,

Big fans of the show andwanted to ask: We live in a two bedroom terrace and the loft is our main storage space. I?m considering insulating it as I?ve heard how much I can potentially save on energy bills but I?m concerned that I?ll lose my main storage area if I do. Do you have any advice?

[Baronetdawntigga]

::Gushes quietly::

What is the single mistake that people who self build continually make (apart from under estimating the budget and generally being muppets who shouldn't be let near a hammer)?

BTW Mr Tigga and I went and had a look at La Maison De Paille as it was affectionately known by the French postman we asked directions of, we thought it faced the other way the views were stunning but we though it faced the other way and would be bigger. Mr and Mrs Sampson were out so we had a quick nosey outside left

Mr Tigga has a question - he'd like to know the area in France you think is best value to buy in land wise.

It'sNOTASecondQuestionAsIt'sFromMrTiggaTiggaxx

[Zizo]

Hi Kevin,
Secondary double glazing for older properties, cheaper, flexible, far more aesthetic, no loss of original fabric, reversible, and draft proof, so why is this not being promoted instead of Upvc replacement glazing? Who are the best suppliers? Is this a gap in the low carbon/heritage market? Discusswww.mumsnet.com/te/1.gif

Thanks Kevin.
Keep up the good work and I'll talk lime mortar with you next time! www.mumsnet.com/te/4.gif

[Spirael]

I can't believe no-one has asked this yet... What's your favourite biscuit, Kevin?

[QuintessentialShadow]

Kevin, I have done one self build beyond the arctic circle, do you want to follow in the footsteps of Michael Palin, come to Tromsø and document my next project?

I want to build a plumbing-free cottage/summerhouse overlooking the fjords, with no connection to mains electricity, and with an incinerating toilet, etc.

[missmakesstuff]

Hi Kevin, we love GD and you in this house, I have lots I would love to ask, as we have been doing up our house for what feels like forever and are still not finished , with lots of major structural work to do, and plans to buy somewhere else as soon as it is done, however the burning question my husband would like to ask is:

Have you ever felt the urge to roar loudly 'I am Kevin McCloud of the clan McCloud, AND I AM IMMORTAL!!'

(I married a highlander fan)

[Al0uiseG]

What would you consider a fair price per square metre for a single story extension? Dh thinks that it should be between £750 - £1250 tops but our numerous quotes start at around £1600 and go up to £3000. None of them want to break down the labour costs either! Is that acceptable?

[tropicalfish]

My favorite grand design program was the chap that built his house out of hay bales built in the forest.
This was probably best for style but not for comfort or luxury.
What did you think was the best grand designs home for homely comfort?

[GetOrf]

Lovely photo of you on the MN homepage...

Do you realise Kevin that you are crush-fodder for an alarming number of women?

[SoloIsAHotCougar]

Spam, spam, spam, spam.

[CountThalim]

Grand Dresigns has done a couple of series abroad (either chasing mad ex-pats, or the Aussies) do you find that it is easier to build a Grand Design abroad than in the UK?

And not just for the fact that Greece and Italy have... interesting planning permission rules.

CT