Leaderboard

Thank you @Spinny. The debt collector will be along shortly 😆

Looks absolutely amazing, congratulations and well done. You must have worked so hard with huge diligence. A huge inspiration to all of us to keep on keeping on and eventually we will see off all the trials and tribulations. Amazing view through the bifolds (Although I love trees, it might perhaps be tempting to remove the central one to open the vista ?)

All very neat, methodical work. FYI you can't really sit stud walls down on to the thinner screeded floors, they need to go to founds over kickers, as you have, especially if there's any loads being transferred down from 'above'. No bullet dodging to ever be had there methinks so you're all good to just cut around these, and the lads are doing a sterling job of it too. Keep the bacon flowing, the grease keeps the elbows and knees lubricated

That looks like some really tidy work. Great to see people taking pride in the work they are doing.

It's got a nice ring to it but sadly it's not really fair on those who experience genuine bad luck that no amount of preparation which doesn't involve time-travel would have avoided. I'm thinking of those who bought, and largely paid for, a timber frame from a company that then went bust; those who planned their groundworks for the summer only to find that particular summer is the wettest on record (in contrast to us)... We can all think of plenty of similar examples. However, alongside Gary Player's gem: "The more I practice, the luckier I get", it's a great way to highlight that there's often more to apparent 'good luck' than meets the eye.

Very kind words but I am still expecting that we will hit the rails and run into the smelly stuff at some point, so let's see how we cope with that. In the meantime, the principal attribute of successful project management imo is "Be lucky". Not too big for a first tattoo Nick 😉

Really enjoying your blog. You're clearly doing a great job of the project management. I hesitate to ask, as you already have enough on your plate, but I'd be very interested if at some point when you have a minute to spare (🤣) if you shared some of your knowledge on how to do that well, what tools you use etc.

Defo best advice. We always buy a battered upvc door off gumtree etc local to the projects and only swap that out at the very last minute. Have one here atm covered in Passive Purple, so I doubt gumtree will work to get it sold back on now lol. For the sliders @Benpointer, I usually make a plywood shoe that sits over the threshold and keeps the slider open fully, making sure that trades step on that and not the shiny new threshold with muddy boots etc. You simply lift this on/off at the start and end of each day, and make yourself sheriff of the keys so no numpty can open it and wreck it for you. You need eyes in the back of your head as you get the niceties installed, as otherwise even a simple extension lead getting wound back through an open door or window will remove the paint off the frame.

Tried moving them about on my phone. Will tidy later on the desktop 👍

I'm so impressed on how efficiently things are running for you. Of course there are always things to think (and worry) about but tbh you are making great progress.

Thank you, thats nice of you to say. I went to a self build show at the NEC when we were waiting for planning permission. When talking to MVHR companies one of them took one look at our plans and said “get holes designed into those steels for your ducts”, which we duly did by making sure the timber frame company designed them in. I didn’t ask them to but they also designed the metal web joists so they all line up too. Bloody marvellous.

The bifolds are actually sliding doors. We did actually remove a smaller one to the right of it, and there is a tentative plan to remove a protuberance on the top left of the one that is left, but you can't see it in the photo. We have the field behind which we plan to plant replacement trees in for the 3 we have removed for the build (the walnut, a diseased horse chestnut, and the little tree).

Very well done to you both. You remain my inspiration, and valued source of “been there, made that mistake, here’s what I learned” advice. Looking forward to having a G&T on the glorious gin balcony!

Well, as a novice I am consoled by that thought, although I am sure some on here have said stud walls on screed was fine. Anyway, it's history for our build now - choices made and no going back - so onwards and upwards!

Wow! That does look lovely. Do you have a floor plan you can post? Great idea to make use of that beautiful walnut. What did you use to finish it?

No major constraints! There is one condition we're applying to have adjusted though. The existing planning is for a larger site as a whole all in one application, which includes a second plot and some barn conversions. It was previously all owned by one person, then they subdivided it. There's a planning condition that says no part of the site can be occupied until all access, parking, etc. for all plots is done. Our plot immediately abuts a public highway so we really shouldn't be constrained by other people sorting out their access. So we've submitted a S73 application to split up the conditions so that we can occupy ours as soon as our access/parking/etc. is sorted, and vice versa. Should be a straight forward change I hope!

“Luck is when preparation meets opportunity”.

May your luck be ever-flowing my good man So far so good is an understatement, you're doing a sterling job and have managed to find some great folk to help you achieve your goals.

Great advice re lift and slide door Nick. We'll lock it shut for now because there's currently a 500mm step up from the back and a 300mm step down inside to get in through that door, so it's not an ideal access anyway. We'll make the ply cover for when the screed is down - early September 🤞

Nice progress. Why the Aquabox? Shit water pressure/flow from the mains?

I'm saying nothing, that's half a pint down here lol.

Have you heard about my Wow! fines system. That'll be another £1 to collect towards the build cost 😁