Did you get a good deal on the ply? They must more of less give it away when removing hoarding on big sites?

Have you bought a digger yet. 

ps - site currently resembles the Somme

 

...and sadly probably will do until April+

 

Is there any scope for a rudimentary 'porch' outside the door (even if it's a free-standing 'shed') so you can have a good doormat and change wellies outside?

@flanagaj

Beware the plywood skirt preventing ventilation / adventitious airflow to any gas burning appliances.

 

Please tell me you have more than one CO1 detector in there? 
 

Oh, and congrats on being on site, just be safe! 

Well done on a big step! 

Best thing that happened on our site was putting down a good layer of MOT1 to control the mud. Thought it might have been an "unnecessary" expense at the time but very glad our groundworker did it.

I never got round to building a porch for the caravan and TBH don't miss it as much as I'd expected to, though I appreciate many others have done a porch and found it useful.

10 minutes ago, Dunc said:

Well done on a big step! 

Best thing that happened on our site was putting down a good layer of MOT1 to control the mud. Thought it might have been an "unnecessary" expense at the time but very glad our groundworker did it.

I never got round to building a porch for the caravan and TBH don't miss it as much as I'd expected to, though I appreciate many others have done a porch and found it useful.

+1

Mot, crushed concrete, terram.  Dig out the topsoil over footprint +2m and get rid.  Make a nice clean road in.

6 hours ago, Nickfromwales said:

@flanagaj

Beware the plywood skirt preventing ventilation / adventitious airflow to any gas burning appliances.

 

Please tell me you have more than one CO1 detector in there? 
 

Oh, and congrats on being on site, just be safe! 

We do only have one. It's on top of the cupboard that houses the boiler.  Where would you recommend I placed another one?

8 hours ago, flanagaj said:

We do only have one. It's on top of the cupboard that houses the boiler.  Where would you recommend I placed another one?

Near the beds, as a fail safe.

 

If the existing one is a few years old, replace it.

 

’vans rely heavily on the airflow through floor / lower wall vents, which most block up in winter, to allow gas appliances like cookers and fires to breathe / vent. 
 

Modern boilers are “room sealed” and have a coaxial flue to outdoors; smaller inner pipe ejects the fumes and outer pulls air in for combustion. Balanced flues need air from the room.

 

Stayed in a large static once, and it was like a colander lol. Wife was paranoid so refused to let me leave the gas fire on overnight in the living room (at night this was the adult / spare bedroom) and it was like a fridge once that got turned off.

13 hours ago, Nickfromwales said:

Near the beds, as a fail safe.

 

If the existing one is a few years old, replace it.

 

’vans rely heavily on the airflow through floor / lower wall vents, which most block up in winter, to allow gas appliances like cookers and fires to breathe / vent. 
 

Modern boilers are “room sealed” and have a coaxial flue to outdoors; smaller inner pipe ejects the fumes and outer pulls air in for combustion. Balanced flues need air from the room.

 

Stayed in a large static once, and it was like a colander lol. Wife was paranoid so refused to let me leave the gas fire on overnight in the living room (at night this was the adult / spare bedroom) and it was like a fridge once that got turned off.

On our first night (there was a frost) I was freezing with two duvets and a blanket.  Still, it should warm up in about 5 months time 😂

On 30/11/2025 at 17:23, Mr Punter said:

+1

Mot, crushed concrete, terram.  Dig out the topsoil over footprint +2m and get rid.  Make a nice clean road in.

This is exactly what I am planning on doing.  If I get the levels right, then the recycled concrete hardcore that sits outside the dwelling will be the sub base for the paths and patio that surround the house.

 

I was going to wait, but I might as well just get cracking.

Sorry if I missed this earlier but have you posted any info / plans etc. on your intended build?