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Da Bungalow

A blog by G and J in General

  • Entries

    19

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    139

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    38047

About this blog

Self build 2: The Sequel…

Entries in this blog

Da Bungalow

Demolition summary and costings…

The trouble with allowing contingency is that when you don’t need it then it feels like time wasted.   I guess it’s a bit of a drawing of breath really, much needed, but one’s natural bent (in my case anyway) is to automatically reach for my spade and start work - thinking not required.     Oddly, we aren’t in a rush, in fact, the faster we go the quicker we run out of money unless our house sells, which in this market is looking unlikely.   So taking time out is a good thing, it’s jus
Da Bungalow

Bungalow down! Bungalow down!

(There’s way too much verbage here - sorry - but it reflects the deep spring clean my head needed.  Will try to make time for a demolition summary in another post which would be far more useful for others).   Each Monday morning, since we started demolition on the 17th of March, at stupid o’clock, I shuffle round the kitchen getting breakfast ready trying to assess how my body is doing, physically.   Well, sort of.  What actually happens is I slowly get my knees and my back working whi
Da Bungalow

Last Dunny standing…

The week starts with the removal of the external walls on the rear half of da bungalow.  That’s the fun bit.  I’m armed with two chainsaws and a reciprocating saw (aka sabre saw, for some reason).  I bought the sabre saw as Steve the builder recommended one for demolition.   When I bought it I knew it would be useful, but I knew my trusty chainsaws would get more done quicker and easier.  It’s not easy working with someone who’s right every damn time.  Sigh.   So the chainsaws re
Da Bungalow

Bungalow recycling…

Week 13.   Or at least, my body thinks it’s week 13, whereas the calendar says it’s week 3.  It’s really odd looking back on the demolition.  Starting to strip tiles off seems so much longer ago than 20 days.  Most odd.   The week started with a tidy up day, as Steve wasn’t there.  Almost all of the wiring for da bungalow ran through the loft, and was set to be in the way so out came my new and wonderfully sharp side cutters.  About 5 minutes in they went back in my pocket and were rep
Da Bungalow

It’s so warm we’ve gone topless!

Da bungalow that is, not us mortals.  We carry on sweating in our hi vis.     We were pleased with how the timing worked out - planning to demolish during cooler months so all the neighbours will be wrapped up warm indoors away from the dust, plus it’s hard work so cooler temperatures help comfort.  So much for that plan with our mini heat wave!   Steve took pity on me by leaving me recovery time on Monday and Tuesday.  Good news from a site clearing and tidying point of view
Da Bungalow

The (not so) secret diary of two self builders, one aged 62 and a half…

After what feels like forever we finally started real works.  We’ve done lots to the plot, tree clearance, root removal, digging out beds, planting, etc. but little to da bungalow itself.   We held off stripping out ‘til we were sure the project was viable, which was über cautious but that’s us.  Selection of timber frame supplier wasn’t straightforward.  It came down to a local-ish company (ETE) who supply a panelised frame for manual erection on site or stick built on site under the
Da Bungalow

Skoobie joins an anxious team….

Introducing Skoobie, a Skoda Fabia and the newest member of the team.  Not the first purchase towards the build, we’ve already bought a twin battery Makita chainsaw and Trevor the trailer to help clearing trees, but they were back in January. Skoobie is not in the first flush of youth so fits in well with my (G’s) seventh decade creaking knees, but we are hoping she (yes, this Scooby is female) will do great service in pursuit of our new home.   So where is the project now?  We have full p
Da Bungalow

Action stations!

Back in ‘91 we self built the house we now live in.  Block, render and pantiles.  We were both working full time in those days and we did as much as we could, but that doesn’t include groundwork, blockwork, structural carpentry or plastering.  Rural location, fields front and back, nice big garden.   A third of a century later, at the end of September ‘23, we found ourselves in the back garden of a small, run down 1920s or 1930s timber framed bungalow.  It’s in easy walking distance of

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