Leaderboard

This was one of the days that I was most excited about, the raising of the roof trusses. Our joiners used our trusses as a template for constructing the gable end panels. The trusses then just went in one by one. 3 lengths of Kerto were spiked together to form our central ridge beam. The middle section of the 1st floor is being hand cut on site by our joiners. Our children will have a room on each gable. The middle section on one side will consist of a cupboard and WC. The other side will be partly vaulted above the living room and this required a steel beam which was fitted by our joiners.

Planning Permission Granted! After trying to ring the planning department on the day of decision at around 4pm and not getting through I resolved to wait until the next morning. At 5:03pm I get an email indicating that planning had been granted. I'd forgotten I'd subscribed to any activity on my planning application! Now, I've still to see the official notification letter with conditions etc but thankfully it was plain sailing. No objections, no requests for information. I took the planning site notice sign down yesterday (could've taken it down 3 weeks ago if I'd realized) just as a nice woman and her two young children was checking out what it said! Anyway, that task is now done, stage 2 finally over! I've an appointment to meet with the Architect again in August as that's the earliest due to holidays etc. I used https://www.estimators-online.com to get a quote just to see what costs I'll be looking at. I know there will be some differences, not least exchange rates but my last Quantity Surveyor estimate is over two years old at this stage. Plus estimators give a much more detailed breakdown which allows me to see quantities so I can replace standard plasterboard with Fermacell for instance and work out the difference. They email you the report as a PDF but you can grab the Excel from their website afterwards and make adjustments if required. Cheap enough and gives me something to prepare against before August. My main worry in building next year is the increased costs - materials and labour keep going up. Will I be able to build the house I want or just enough of a shell to convince the bank its habitable so I can move in and upgrade as I go? I can get a revised window quote as I've opening sizes from the PHPP. There's a few timber frame companies, some just do the frame, some can do everything. Brexit may play a part though with the timing of the build commencing after March next year most likely. So if I have a NI or UK based supplier, SunAmp, MBC, Kibroney etc lined up I'll have to have a plan B just in case, like most businesses! MBC pulled out of the Irish market but I spoke with someone there on Friday and he said they have started requoting again. There's a small irish timber frame company called Shoal timberframe that the Architect recommended. Not seen their stuff and it's a small outfit. Not sure they do foundations though. Anyway, this is where it gets detailed and interesting! I've a lot to think about as I need to decide what elements I'm happy to do and what I'll leave to the builder. Part F of the regulations in Ireland are under review and ventilation may have to be installed by a "competent person" so can I do the MVHR and ducting or will I have to pay someone else? As time slips you bump into these changes and have to adapt your approach. So my site is shown to the right of the red border above. I'll have to shunt the metal shed out the back (painful) about 3 feet to the left. The other two sheds are being demolished. I'll be bringing some of the services onto the site before I sell the house in advance of the build. Electricity should run all the way past the front of the site but I'll want to confirm this. ESB here don't do temporary supplies in Ireland unfortunately. Water is the one I may have to get done as there's a hydrant to the right of the tree in the bottom left corner but after I sell the house I want to be sure I can access it. The pipework may not go much farther. Broadband sweeps though the garden of the house in the bottom left of the photo. I'll bring that onsite and see if I can get it tested so there's no need to dig things up again after I sell the house. The driveway will be split and a new double one created on the front garden of the existing house to maximize the site space I'll be keeping. It all adds to cost unfortunately. I'm not sure if I'll get insurance for those groundworks as getting public liability on the site itself (after I sell the house) to cover me until the build starts will likely be expensive so having a full self build policy for a 12 or 18 month term would make more sense. So, the next few months are about the figures and seeing if I can afford to build with the funds available. Added to that are: Further Architect fees (2 stages plus Assigned Designer, Assigned Certifier regulatory stuff) Development contributions (@ €10K) Legal Costs associated with selling house, discharging old mortgage, taking out new one etc Service Charges (Electricity €2K, Water €2K, Sewage €3.7K, Broadband €120) Initial Groundworks in advance of self build mortgage (credit union loan) Self Build Insurance & Structural Warranty (€1-2K/€3K) There's a good self build exhibition in September in Dublin so it will be interesting to have more serious discussions with some of the exhibitors there this time. One of the factors I'll have to watch out for is the maximum self build mortgage I can access. Most banks will only lend you 80% of the build costs. Now I'll own the site so I hope this will cover that 20%. Some banks also want to see a 15% contingency fund in place. The bank will determine how much a 3 bed detached house is worth in my area and after taking my salary x 3.5 I'll either be able to afford the build or be way off it! Also I've to get permission from my current mortgage bank to sell the house minus the side garden..... I'll be holding off any groundworks until this is all clear to me and how much maneuver room I have. There's no point doing the new driveway etc if next year I'm told our costs have gone up another 5% by the builder and I'm left swinging! Anyway, I'll have to sit on my hands a bit longer and do as much due diligence as possible and see if any builders come back interested from the tender process before making up my mind. I've always thought that until the first wall panel goes up I won't actually believe this is real. It's all paper and numbers and has been for so long. Here's hoping if it's to be it's to be and thanks to everyone on this site for their advice and support!

More progress! Physically cutting things really isn’t taking that long once I got the jigs sorted. Actually deciding the marks are in the rights place is proving to be very time consuming. Now the big question is do I start the next set of strings and house them into this newel on the bench OR do I get the lower part all glued, screwed and fitted and then try to fit the rest while this bit is in situ...... bench sounds the sensible option but I just don’t know. Also I make a pretty clever dowel making set up. First I cut a 11mmx11mm stick on the table saw. Mount that in a cordless drill and spin it through this very crude looking “thing” then i I beat that through this 10mm hole I drilled in this drill bit. Seems to be working ok so far. Also made a jig for cutting the wedges but that bit doesn’t look very impressive. The little screw at the back is for “adjustment”. back to work ?

Ok, excellent debate folks, but the thread has now been sufficiently derailed for me to go dizzy, so I don my sheriffs badge. Battery storage from now on please, anything else goes bye-bye. Mods

You've aged a year already - best get a crack on

I'm off to do some bacon testing for me breakfast whilst contemplating the joys of battery storage for my new build.

The only time that 'hitting rock bottom' puts a smile on your face

Following on from @newhome's post earlier, here's another good news story.... We had our soil survey done today, so it finally feels like we are getting started after two years of buying the plot and getting planning permission for our plot which sits in the curtilage of a listed building. I went out to four or five structural engineers nearby who could do the survey - prices ranged from £620 + we supply the digger and driver to almost £4K!! We went with the £620 one - his response was professional, they were a local firm and our groundworker knew of him and, I have to say, we weren't disappointed in how today went. The groundworker turned up just after 8am, unloaded his little Kubota digger, grubbed up a few bushes to make access easier and was on site within half an hour. The structural engineer turned up as promised at 9am, took his geological map out, looked at the area and said "I expect to hit sandstone at about one and a half metres down" He then said to the digger driver "Dig a hole there...." The groundworker is a bit of a JCB artiste, so we had a hole almost exactly one small bucket wide. We stopped about a metre down so the engineer could have a look and take some photos. After another half a metre there was a clank as we hit the expected solid stone. A few more photos, the engineer looked over what we dug out and said he knew exactly what we had, so need need to go any deeper Another hole dug at the back of the plot (there are some large poplars at the end of the plot) - same process again, dig a metre, stop, have a look and keep digging until the "clank" happens as we hit stone at about one and a half metres down. There are a few roots from the poplars among the mix of soil, light clay and stone, but nothing to worry about. Looking at what comes out of the holes, Structural engineer says no need to take "shear vane tests to estimate safe bearing pressure in clay soils" and no need to spend an extra £250 on further soil testing "if clay soils are apparent" - the bits in quotation marks are what was mentioned in his quote to us. Groundworker fills the holes in. You'd hardly know he had been there. We now wait for the structural engineer's report, but foundations should be fairly straightforward which is a big weight off any self builder's mind - you can plan for everything once you get out of the ground. Had a walk round with the groundworker and found the water - running in a straight line along the pavement a couple of feet from the front of the plot - as expected from the DigDat data that I had got earlier and then spotted the mains sewer (with a manhole we may be able to tap in to) in the middle of the road, again, exactly as expected from the DigDat data. Two more good outcomes..... Meeting the timber frame company on site to look at access later on today - hope that goes as well as this morning has gone. Here are some photos ....... The moment that ground was broken Let's see what we've got here ...... .... and after the second hole was filled in.

Nor me, not had a TV since 1994. I do watch the Construction Channel sometimes.

I'm too old for childbirth too lol

We all get to the stage we wish we hadn’t started but as we are on our third self build I think it’s a bit like childbirth, you forget all about it once it’s done ?

I don't watch TV really either. Attention span is too low for most TV programmes . Youtube is fine as that's generally only 5 mins a shot .

TBH I don’t really watch a lot of tv. I spend most of my time on Youtube or similar, but why would I make Faye watch a smaller screen if I dont have to ?

Personally I can put up with a lot if the price is right and the end result gets me what I want . And don’t forget, most people write reviews when they have bad service, not many take the time to write them for good service.

You know blokes never compromise on size . Nothing comes between a bloke and his big ...... tele! ? or the bloody TV remote!

If you could let me know...I've forgotten...being 61 and all that!

That's a good idea to use the truss as a template for the gable frame. I came up with the same idea shortly after realising that my roof and my gables didn't quite match. Oh well, I'll get it right on the next one

Chisel is the manufacturers recommended method - they create a weak point in the sinks to allow for this. The sink material isn’t tough enough in the centre to take a drill bit and it may wander and a grit edge hole saw will skip on the glaze and scratch it ...

MKM are cheaper than kitchen warehouse for multi panel ... ? QS Supplies are reasonable until you need after sales and then it is a bit hit and miss tbh. Just ordered from BBC in Bradford and only issue was a late delivery as the courier damaged the tray before it got to me - swapped on to a next day delivery and no issues. By wall hung do you mean semi pedestal basins ..? You can get a wide range from Solutions in Sutton In Ashfield and they have a trade range that is very good and on par with Wickes etc for pricing. Don’t be tempted to go B&Q as quality is shocking ....! Just have a look at the ones on display carefully and you can see even glaze colours don’t match ...

@newhome I have it on good authority that @Nickfromwales loves working in attic spaces at this time of year - something to do with a diet .... As @JSHarris said though, needs a decent route to get to it and the filters may not need cleaning if it hasn’t been run ..! you may hear something from the exhaust fan as that will project noise outwards - the intake may well be quieter. And as for tracing wires, you know who’s best at that ..!

One small hole with ceramic drill bit then use a diamond abrafile to cut the hole. IF there are any weaknesses in the manufacturing the Chisle method will find them spectacularly. The Diamond saw method is so much lower energy and controllable.

Scratch that, it’ll balls up where I plan to put the tv, which also makes the decision on whether to have the top newels come all the way to the floor, I knew it was a good idea to go to the pub.

Interesting, as my building inspector asked for a commissioning report that showed that it had been installed, tested and all airflows measured and balanced in accordance with the regs - my guess is that there's an inconsistent approach to applying the regs... You do need to get access to at least be able to regularly check/clean/change the filters. I find that the intake filter on ours is full of crud after 6 months, and I probably need to get into the habit of cleaning it more regularly. One reason the building regs insist that there be easy access to these units is because of the regular servicing requirement, so boarding out a pathway to it would be a good idea.

Decision made, I’m making the lot before I get any glue out. I have also decided this is far too complicated for a sober person so I’m going to the pub for some thinking juice. Let’s hope there isn’t anyone else there as I really do intend to only have a couple, possibly an early dinner.

there is zero chance of me wandering round in a bikini, in the loft or otherwise! ? ? ?

"Only" 20 degrees here in Aberdeenshire but cracking weather for roof work!

When working in oz the lads would be on a roof at 5 in the morning 2 pm time to go fishing.

Couldn't agree more with everything that has been said, and I sympathise entirely with the post as I've already had moments like that and we're not out of the ground yet. I'm sure that there will be many, many more once we are out of the ground. If BH is a gold mine, posts like this are diamonds as experiences of someone who is new to this type of thing raises issues and questions that probably wouldn't even occur to professionals because, well, they aren't problems to them. Another lot of thanks for the really useful post.

Bloody fancy pants. Top knotch that is bud. I take my hat off to you.

No it didn’t, it’s fairly straightforward tho.

Yeah right! Whilst out picking up the tile cutter SWMBO rang to inform me the clutch on her Peugeot has gone! So I've had to come home via the motor factors!

My garage is going to be my workshop too and for me it's a no brainer to put in UFH. I want to be able to go in there and work without thinking of having to preheat the space. It's well insulated so I'm hoping heating requirements will be minimal.

I’d use an air to air heat pump (ie aircon) as it can cool as well as warm. You can get a self install split unit for £350 and it would be easier and quicker to get the place warm.

My 1st thoughts was for the sake of £100 of pipe just stick it in and worry about it later.

I would definitely install it even if you leave it disconnected until it may be used for proper living accommodation. We did that for our planned extension. Put the slab in and the UFH pipes but it wasn’t connected until the extension was built some years later. When you say ‘on all the time’ you can just have it running at a much lower temperature outside the times you intend to use it presumably plus a bit beforehand to allow it to get up to temperature? Presumably a gym can also run at a much lower temperature than normal living accommodation?

No brainer imo. If it is integral, then imo do it ufh and make it a separate zone. Family did that 15 years ago and have not regretted it. People who converted mine n theory did that for the future conservatory but did not finish everything so we ended up with electric ufh just to have someth8ng in place. Think about levels and liveability. And also take the time to think through lighting and electrics. And make sure you record where everything is placed ? . Others will comment on the slab. I would also make sure that it is big enough to be considered a real garage, and that you have enough spaces outside to still be more than adequate if it is converted in the future. You could even convert it for a value boost when you sell in x years. F

Says tomorrow for me. So the question: how much in the sticks is Lancashire?

No issue with adding more over the existing stuff - just keep it away from the edges. If its 100mm it’s probably 12m long rolls so just put it out over bedrooms etc that you use - assuming you can see the ceiling joists to stand on first ..!

If you hire one for the time it will take it will be about £4k..... ?

Joe90 a gentleman you are, thanks/ just as I would do, a photo of a sketch much easier to visualise than a pc image. All makes alot more sense now I can see this & sort of what I thought of after your suggestions. I think this (sketch B) might be just the ticket: but others' opinions would be welcome before I go with this as final idea. What I'll do is pass this onto my builder.. he'd never heard of groundscrews, at a guess maybe a recent 'invention' of sorts for him. He & I could do easily I'm sure.. but prefer if a pro on board with me/ alot (in my world anyway) being at stake to sit ontop.

@Cambs it's a great feeling to get some certainty over the foundations. I remember it was pouring when ours were done.

Here are the long awaited photos of that floor. Battens, UFH and start of the biscuit mix And the oak flooring laid More pictures on the blog, look for the entry "Under Floor Heating and Oak flooring"

Yes! And the recycler in you will be glad to know that someone at work is going to have it to use for the base for his stables after I made a passing comment about the numpties that drove an hour to collect it in a 4x4. Turns out he was about to buy some.

If you've never actually been in the loft then how do you know they're really there? Shrodinger's cat etc...

Yes, the batteries are a lot larger and heavier, and ideally need an automatic watering system, so are best placed in an outhouse. The lithium packs, like the Pylontech units, can be mounted in a standard 19" electrical rack I think, their dimensions seem to indicate they will. I've seen several suppliers for the Sofar charger/inverter and Pylontech battery combination, like these: http://www.thesolarpeople.co.uk/shop/sofar-solar-4-8kwh-energy-storage/ https://thinkrenewables.co.uk/sofar-solar-48kwh-battery-storage-system The last link seems suspiciously cheap to me, at £2,412 inc VAT and shipping, as that's about £500 cheaper than the same system was a couple of weeks ago. The first link is still the same price as before, £2,795 inc VAT and shipping, At £2,412, with an expected battery life of 12 years (according to their info) then if you could self-consume 75% of the total capacity every day, then you could possibly get back close to £200 a year, which is getting close to breaking even on the capital outlay, assuming 15p/kWh through life. Add in the convenience of having up to 3 kW of emergency back up supply, from a dedicated emergency outlet that's included with this system, and it's looking pretty close to making sense to buy one. Easy to install, too, according to the instructions. I will admit to being tempted by the Sofar offering, if only to give us security of supply during power cuts. Subtracting the cost of a 3 kW emergency generator from the system cost makes the economics look more favourable.

I have done this before, as you said coil it up neatly and hang it on a nail on the pole.

Yes and your suggested solution was the creation of a definitive single source of truth for global warming presumably sanctioned by the State or supranational organization. This is the type of science what the French tried in the early 1700's, it failed and the industrial revolution began in Britain. The very notion that someone, who considers himself aligned with science, should reach for the Regime Ancien and its scientific dictatorship indicates you do not understand the philosophical foundation of science. You want to stifle free speech on global warming and force feed your truth on the deplorables. This never ends well, the end result is either more Donald Trumps or the Elite staring up at the blade of a guillotine when the deplorables get angry.

Bang tidy mate!

Fanbloodytastic ! Some seriously class carpentry going on there mate.

The pets parts. Bet it looks stunning when its done.