Spiralling cost of AA Battery

[Cappodimonte]

Whilst luxuriating in the Conservatory of Chez CDMonte and admiring all that I own, knowing it’ll need mowing, cutting back and cleaning. The Fence I did last year with concrete posts and new panels leading to a crucified back and left hip. Suddenly a loud bang from above made me jump spilling coffee over my lap and fast exit to bathroom to cool down jewellery.
Coming back down iinitially I couldn’t see anything out of order until I got to panel 3 of the polycarbonate roof to see a hole, looking around on the lawn I saw an AA Battery, I fixed the hole at which point Mrs CDMonte said how about we change the roof to one of these highly insulated and tiled roofs.
So, we asked a number of different roof installers to come and quote of which only one made any sense but it would require change of the Double glazing units and doors we have as like the roof they are 20 years old and a heavier roof may have an adverse affect on them..
Bugger thought I, that’s the budget shot, when we received the quote it was more than the first house I ever bought. So, a cheap AA Battery is going to cost me a load of dosh, the pay off is it will give us another room we can use all year round.
MrsCDMonte has stated the Honda will not be parked in it.

[McCabe-Thiele (Ted)]

Our conservatory was a Mahogany framed one built in 1987 across the back of our house that was 120F in the summer & -10 F in the winter so we bit the bullett about 7 years ago replacing it with what they called a Warm Roof design - a couple of Velux windows in the roof with two layers of 2" Kingspan type insulation & a plastered ceiling etc. All new spec double glazing.

It cost us £18,540 in 2015 using the existing base - I've installed radiators off our existing central heating system we use the room all the year round. Made me gulp when I first had the quote as our first house was only £10,250 in 1978. Fortunately I had an unexpected lump sum due to a commutation error when I retired to soften the blow.

[Cappodimonte]

Hi Ted,
Ours faces North so it doesn’t hit the 120 degrees in summer but winter does hit pretty hard even though we have a radiator out there. Sounds like yours is pretty much the same as ours, it started as 8’x10’ but swiftly migrated to 10’x22’. It has a brick bottom half with double door in the middle so really could be called a summer lounge. I think having seen your reply we’ll go for the change even though the budget has been well and truly shot.
I’m leaving the fitting to the experts as having recently put an outside composite door into the kitchen  I think I hit my zenith, plus Mrs CDMonte gave me that look that any husband knows is tantamount to ‘Don’t even bother unless you want a resting position UNDER the patio’

[McCabe-Thiele (Ted)]

My brother just had insulated panels fitted into where the Polycarbonate sheets were I think it cost him around £8k in 2020  keeping his old windows etc.

[Cappodimonte]

If that’s the one’s promoted by Anna Ryder-Richardson I have heard they are not worth the money and don’t perform anywhere near as good as replacement roofing. As our doors and windows are 20 years old now the surveyor did say that there would be a need to support what is there but for the £5000 added to the bill the latest up to date totally Carlos Fandango windows and doors have glass which deflects heat in during winter and deflects excess heat in summer and the frames are already reinforced to accept the heavier roof weight. To me it seemed a no brainier to do the lor and be completely up to date, even if my pockets will be emptied.

[McCabe-Thiele (Ted)]

No local double glazer did it who fitted the windows some years earlier. My tiles are a lightweight metal variety.

[Cappodimonte]

Went to the company we’ve been dealing with where her nibs saw a conservatory which had double glazed heat retentive glass double hipped roof. Guess what! Mrs CDMonte took one look muttered ‘Very Pretty’ and the budget has been shot,massacred,blown to bits. So no Chrissy pressies for me this year. Just a big hole in my pocket.

[McCabe-Thiele (Ted)]

Do it once do it right - then she who must be obeyed will be happy.

[Cappodimonte]

You’re right Ted doing it right is the way to please Mrs CDMonte.

[Cappodimonte]

Just to rub salt in the wounds, the engine in our car has blown up never rains but pours.☠️👹😱

[Primus]

Had our 10'x10' with 3 pitched sides done last year. £10k but has made a world or difference as it is now used as a normal room.  I needed smelling salts when we first got the quote, but when I saw the amount of work involved, it made it a little easier.  So glad we had it done now.

Paul

[Cappodimonte]

Won’t let on how much ours is going to cost, but smelling salts, defibrillator and a medical team on standby.

[McCabe-Thiele (Ted)]

Just to rub salt in the wounds, the engine in our car has blown up never rains but pours.☠️👹😱

Touch wood I've not had an engine failure since 1970 - I thought my Jeep WK1 (2005) was a gonner last December when the EML fault turned out to be the swirl motors (Merc V6 Diesel) eventually decided against spending at least £2k to replace them (Jeep is worth less tha that).

Found a firm who did the software work around for £150 incl VAT - passed the emisions test a couple of months ago.

What vehicle is it?

[Cappodimonte]

Seat Toledo 1.9tdi 110 ps, we had her from new in 2003, when I took the engine cover off and peered through all the oil I saw broken ally in the undertray. With high powered light and mirror there’s a great big hole in the front of the sump. I think a big end has given up so it’s terminal as the old girl isn’t worth much money wise. We’ll be sad to see her go

[K2-K6]

Don't they use sintered conrod on those ?

Usually they're reliable motors though, commiserations as not good to see the insides on the outside.

As Ted though, can't remember losing an engine in ones I've looked after in family.