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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
G and J

G and J in Da Bungalow

4
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
G and J

G and J in Da Bungalow

7
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
G and J

G and J in Da Bungalow

6
Mar 2025

How long since the last entry !!!!!

I hadn't realised that my last entry was in Nov last year.  Where has the time gone.   As with many self builds, particularly those on a DIY basis we have been very subject to weather slowing things down, not that it could be much slower.   But, in fact compared with last year we have done loads.   The NOT wall (the side of the barn that was open) is now a wall.   This wall is 16m long, with 4 lots of French door gaps. double skin block with 150
LSB

LSB in Mar 2025

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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
G and J

G and J in Da Bungalow

4
Introduction

In the beginning…

Blog   So, where to start? I’d been talking to my wife about building our own house being a dream for the last 10 years or so. One day late last year, she woke up and said, “Why don’t we do it?”    So we spent a few weeks looking at plots, barns, and the like with planning but really struggled to find something in budget in the areas we wanted. At the same time, my parents had secured planning on the very barn we had our wedding reception in, and it had been on the market for
General

Window Installation

Weeks 24 to 27   Windows Installation   Choosing window style and supplier has been one of the hardest decisions.  We finally decided on Aluclad wooden windows from Norrsken.  It’s been a long journey and Norrsken have been with me on that journey since December 2022 to installation end of February 2025.  A big thank you to Nick at the window company for sticking with me on my numerous window quotes, that took over 2 years to finalise.   Due to my architect not thin
Susie

Susie in General

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first fix, insulation

Half Way to 1st Fix

Well, it's been a busy month. I'm taking weekly Pilates to keep my back in check and so far so good. This is the first week I've taken off without any incidents to progress the house. This is the list of what I'm managing currently just to tickle my brain in a years time! Plumbers due to start any day - prep bathroom fixtures - a lot of boxes onsite!  Met Electrician to get quote Electrician recommended kitchen design be finalized - booked appointment in showroom Wen
General

Roof slated and in roof solar installed

Weeks 18 to 23   So it’s been a while since the last update, but a couple of weeks ago the scaffolding came down and we can finally see our lovey slated roof and the solar.  I am very happy with the roofers who worked so hard in the cold and the wind, as we are quite exposed.  Anybody in the South West looking for a roofer I would be happy to recommend them.   On the inside I have started with the insulation between the rafters.  I am using Rockwool flexi slabs 140mm thick wi
Susie

Susie in General

1
condensation, window

Condensation Alert!

I've two last major areas to details for air tightness and insulation - this post relates to one of these - a single rear Oriel Window, an architectural feature that juts out from the rear of the building and is finished externally with a metal standing seam. The plan agreed was to create a 20mm lip of metal for the window to sit against. I was right about to commence work when I noticed dampness and beads of moisture and sure enough despite the window being surrounded by a later of insulation,
Off Grid

Off Grid Thoughts

Off Grid Challenges   Recently, there has been a few people talking about off grid living. This is an admirable and romantic idea, and something I would like to do myself. Then reality kicks in. First we must agree what we mean by off grid. To me it means not connected to main services, but usage of public services i.e. roads, domestic rubbish, healthcare, education, policing, food, clothing etc is allowed. Basically it comes down to water, waste and power. I have come t
SteamyTea

SteamyTea in Off Grid

7

Last of the Summer Whine

I have been developing a Ferdinand's Theory of Buildhub, which applies to everyone here, regardless of age or sex. That has to be read out with the same tones and empasis as "Herge's Adventures of Tintin". (*)   There was an Episode of Star Trek Voyager called "Tuvix" where a transporter accident (always a useful plot device) combined the officer Tuvak, and the cook Nelix into a character called Tuvix, who had a very complicated makeup job on set.   My theory is that all the
Ferdinand

Ferdinand

7

Home Protocols to control COVID-19

This is my attempt to think     As a person with diabetes, I have a higher chance of catching, and then being seriously damaged by, this thing.   How to manage contamination of the home   - Make the home a sterile - ie anything coming in is washed or wiped in such a way as to remove COVID.   - Give the virus time to become inactive.   Have 2 lots of things, and use on alternate days - eg 2 coats, 2 sets of gloves etc.     - Things
Ferdinand

Ferdinand

10
update

The Devils in the Detail !

I've been out with my back for a bit but now taking Pilates classes and everything feels fine so far. Been crawling around the new attic and installing the Intello membrane and taping for air tightness lying down and in difficult positions without issue. Phew!! I've put a call into the Plumber for first fix and will see when they are next available in 2025. Once they are available I'll book the Electrician.    Updates are as follows: Interior stud work for outside walls nearly
mike2016

mike2016 in update

0
General

Roof progress

The builders scaffolding came down and the roofers scaffolding went up all to plan. The new roofer has a good gang and they are working well on the roof. The weather hasn’t been great, we have had three storms Bert, Conall and Darragh luckily no damage to the build.  We are approx 615ft above sea level and about 2.5miles to the coast as the crow flies so we get a good breeze coming in off the Atlantic.  The wind has Brought with it some very cold spells that and the shorter daylight ho
Susie

Susie in General

7
Progress speeds up

Entry 10: Redundancy helps progress

So a quick recap - back in December 2023, what may be my last ever employer decided to ask me to leave. I had mixed feelings about this. I took several weeks to think about next steps and actually get around to writing a father of the bride speech which I'd been putting off. After the wedding in March (a great day and a great speech!) I started to look more seriously for a new job, but being the wrong side of 60 now, the IT industry is not a good place to be looking especially when so many other
BotusBuild

BotusBuild in Progress speeds up

7
Renovation

The ASHP install. Lots of heating on/heating off then fingers crossed.

After removing the old heating system a couple of weeks ago, the engineers arrived at 10am Monday morning last week - waiting for the delivery of all the 'bits'!  We'd installed a couple of electric oil filled radiators for mum and dad and luckily the weekend was mild.   The lorry arrived around 11am, things were unloaded and taken into the back garden, then the guys all disappeared to go and get the pipework..... So after lunch, back the 2 chaps came and installed the ASHP into the ba
TheMitchells

TheMitchells in Renovation

21
Final Touches

Snug and Dining room

More or less done these two rooms now, which after finishing the bathroom were basically just flooring and decorating, making a bit of furniture and then moving some other furniture I already had which was always destined for the dining room.   I’ve got planned some bench seating for the wall side of the dining table to make it more space efficient, but not any time soon.   I think this will be the first time, certainly in the last 10 years, where I have no outstanding ‘fille
MikeGrahamT21

MikeGrahamT21 in Final Touches

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General

Week 9 and 10 Roof OSB and internal walls

Week 9 and 10 The gable ladder is up, and the OSB 3 is installed over the rafters. The overhang supports are shaped for the secure attachments and put up. The South side of the roof gets its cross batten. The scaffolding comes down, unfortunately due to miscommunication between the director of the company in the office and the director working on site the scaffolding comes down before the North side gets battened.  The builder has given us the materials and refunded us an amount for th
Susie

Susie in General

4
Running Costs

12 Months living in The Windy Roost

I thought I'd publish some rough figures for the running costs for 12 months. Details. 85 Sq M bungalow. North Scotland -highlands All electric (heating/DHW/cooking and running * two self catering cabins) 4 kW South facing solar panels. 0.88 ACH EPC A103 Heating set to 20⁰C DHW set to 43⁰C    Year to date: Total Electricity usage 3300kWh ASHP usage 890kWh heat and DHW don't know if Samsung gen6 can split the usage?   Sola
Jenki

Jenki in Running Costs

4
first roof

Some progress - at last

Once again it's been much longer than it should have been since I last posted with my last entry being July, wow where has that time gone.   Back then we were building the walls for phase 1 and installing the window and door lintels.   Back then it was warm, unlike now and building could be done in shorts and T shirts       Once these walls were built then it was time to think about a roof, even though it is going to be a temporary one for now as the
LSB

LSB in first roof

3
General

Week 9 Roof windows delivered and start of veranda.

The Velux windows are delivered.  It pays to shop around for the windows as the prices vary.  As I wanted 4 of the lacquered pine, and they are less fashionable now, they are not kept in stock, so although I paid a good online price they were delivered straight from Velux.   The pallet contains 6 velux PK06 windows (apx 1m square) and in the middle are the fixing kits.  It looked like we were going to be playing a giant variant of Jenga as we had to carefully cut straps whilst holding onto the w
Susie

Susie in General

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