Hi John! I've just noticed your message, we are away on holiday atm (lucky you, it's cloudy today so I have time for Houzz :))). I'll try and answer your questions to the best of my knowledge, but before I even start, have a look at this ideabook - I gave some details on our system in the comment section there. https://www.houzz.com/magazine/warm-up-your-bathroom-with-heated-floors-stsetivw-vs~18303936 Ok, so we have a hydronic system throughout the house, no radiators at all. We agreed with the builder to use the original floorboards as the base and add joists/ beading on top to support the aluminium sheet and pipes (see the photos in the ideabook), as the height of the rooms could take a loss of some 10cm. In the (extended) kitchen and basement, they first laid down thick insulation boards, then the pipes, then poured screed on top. They insulated all the ceilings (or floors!!) and used plasterboard with foil on it to ensure maximum heat radiance. At our request, they also 'hung' pipes on the (basement) ceiling underneath the original Victorian mosaic tiles, so the entrance hall gets heated that way too. Except for one bathroom (where we used limestone) the other bathrooms, kitchen and basement have ceramic tiles. The limestone is cracked now, after 18 months since we moved in - fortunately it doesn't look too bad; no issues with the ceramic tiles. We went for engineered wood in the rest of the house - they used some special glue that allows movement. I have no idea how many zones we have, there are 18 thermostats in the house (I remember that from the invoice :)), each in every room and halls/ landings. I know that because our kitchen is quite large, they used two circuits to cover the room efficiently (but one controller/ thermostat), same in the master bedroom. At the time, we researched and discussed a lot about environmentally friendly alternatives to gas/ electric boiler - however, living in the middle of Cardiff with only 50sqm garden, we were very limited in our options. We also considered solar panels, but couldn't get planning consent, as we live in a conservation area. One more point: our last house was roughly the same size as this one, but heated with radiators on a combi boiler - our gas-electric bill is now two thirds less than it was in the old house. I'd say go for it! Research what works best for your house, discuss with the installers - some are very knowledgeable and helpful and do it! I honestly love our home and don't think I ever want to live somewhere with radiators again! Hope this helps - good luck!

My husband trusts me and prefers I make all those decisions. That said I always ask his opinion on large pieces. If I left it all to him he would lose interest before finishing! Design is so not his thing. But then I'm not interested in documentaries on outer space or Lego.... Best we stick to our own interests I think! ;)

Ironing. I don't. As others have mentioned, I also take clothes straight out of the tumble dryer and fold nicely. Since I finished with the city job, 10 yrs ago, am now resident in snowy N Yorkshire and run a small cheese making business I am lucky that I no longer have to wear shirts or ultra smart clothes for work, just a polo shirt, jeans and jumper. Actually no longer own an iron. Dusting too. Hate it. Also, my vacuum cleaner is afraid of heights so seldom makes it upstairs. Am beginning to think I am getting slovenly in my old age.

We had a relative stay in our home for one night as she was moving on after, we live at the side of a railway line in a two bed ( everybody starts from somewhere) but we are used to this, a train only takes 30 seconds to pass so don't really notice it, my wife and I left for the day to go to work and left our guest to lock up on leaving, we had cooked the evening meal the night before and left her instructions on where everything was for breakfast. We both thought that all was fine until talking to another relative and found out that she would never stay with us again as she got no sleep due to the trains, walls were so thin she could hear everything inc plumbing noises heating kicking in and so on, and to this day she has not been back!