1) When building my Helharjin*sp* Hearthfire house I can't seem to get the 'wrap around' balcony design without having a wooden fence/railing getting in the way (on the balcony), how do I build it so that it doesnt have this 'fence'? It feels completely random at times, sometimes its there, other builds its not!

2) How do I shorten my shout cooldown apart from the talos amulet and talos shrine?

Oh, just remembered one more question: I once made a potion which granted me over 300 fortify magicka (without exploits) but for the life of me I can't remember which ingredients I used for such a powerful potion, does anyone know this potion?

I've run into the same feature of the wrap-around balcony at Lakeview Manor. I don't think you can do anything about it, but that's ok. I just jump over it. I don't believe either of the issues you raise have any relation to the 1.9 patch.

Also I still have ash piles in riften, I thought 1.9 removed all this?

You need to build the balcony in either a west, north, east wing order or an east, north, west wing order.

Use the Fortify Restoration loop to make a powerful fortify restoration potion. Drink it, and then equip the Amulet of Talos.