Windows and doors may not meet the new building codes. The glazing in some is quite thin so may not be very efficient or even safe in some applications. Sure they can be repaired and have new glass, etc. but if you pay a carpenter to repair rotted timbers and replace glass for example, the cost of new unfortunately looks pretty good..... They would need repairing before they were allowed on site otherwise the builder will charge to fix up before he could use or they could hold up the whole job while they all wait for you to fix.... To have all windows and doors ready so they could be just picked up and installed would be the ideal process. Bricks are ok and can look great. No difference to a bricklayer but they would need to be cleaned of mortar and stacked, on pallets, etc. once on site. The recycled stuff looks great, something new items just can't compare. But theres always that $ figure attached to get them up to scratch. I'd say buy the most complete and best condition you can find that way theres less work for everyone.

A sliding door is just a big window, and if correctly built in (check if the glass is the correct sized for the door if a bit old) with the correct sized lintels this should not be a big problem as the loads would be transferred to the sides, allowing the door to slide easily. Silicon spray (being a Yachtie were we use this stuff everywhere), we now use silicone spray on all our windows in our 1930 home and the windows glide across with one finger before they used to tilt when trying to open them. I would place the door head up to line up with the others and one thing you might consider is placing a window seat, (rebate the bottom channels into the window seat) and have the window seat in and out, place a cushion over the entire seat, should be fantastic and if the deck is built, than no balustrade is required. If it is a stacker slider, i would do the seat for the entire length. So instead of looking a bit funny they will think it was supposed to be like that. We should all think outside the square more often. RAM

Many suppliers will put dry clean only on their curtains (including the custom made ones) to protect themselves from people mishandling the fabrics and if there's a block out backing on the curtain then this might not be washable. Linen will shrink if you put it into a hot washer or dryer but as Julia has indicated linen is a beautiful fabric to use if you do the right thing by it - if your wanting linen for the block out use a fabric backing rather than a linen that has a coating and make sure that the block out fabric can be separated from your linen fabric (curtain makers will hate it as it's a nightmare double handling, but if you're going to spend a lot of money on linen and for them to be made, it's not unreasonable to request this.

love the idea of rammed earth but would use it like reverse brick veneer clad with insulated steel siding