Benpointer

We are now in that phase where we can see the finish line not far away but, bizarrely, the closer we get the more there seems to be to do. The list the jobs that yet need to be done is a bit depressing; reflecting on all we have achieved so far is much more uplifting. We are certainly in a significantly better position as we approach the end of the year than we expected to be when we started the project. Work has continued in the run up to Christmas and several trades have asked if they can work some days during the holiday period (er… yes please!). We have sadly suffered a family bereavement this week which has naturally led to reduced focus on the house, so apologies if this week’s blog is a bit rambling. We do find creating the blog helpful and therapeutic, so we’re inflicting it on you regardless! Cladding Alan and Chris have now completed the ash cladding at the front of the house and the scaffold is down - yay! The cladding looks quite dark at the moment but it should fade to silver over the next year where exposed to daylight. It will be interesting to see how the silvering graduates under the soffits which will presumably remain darker for many years. Kitchen Our carpenter Chris has started to install the kitchen, utility and pantry units. In the past we’ve installed kitchens ourselves but various circumstances have meant we’ve not been in a position to do this and Chris is undoubtedly doing a better job than we could do. The main kitchen is bespoke from Husk Kitchens in Bristol and uses ply drawer fronts faced with Fenix. Mrs P. is, as you would expect, Artistic Director and I defer to her on all colour choices (or else we would probably end up with beige/grey everywhere). We both really like the effect now that we see the kitchen beginning to take shape. Of course Mrs P. does have extraordinary good taste - she chose me after all! Our signature 'Wall of Ovens': Here's the utility room. Mrs P. may have allowed me free rein with the colours on this one - I know my place 😉 Electric second fix Darren has been progressing fixing of sockets switches and lights. First lights fitted! Our batteries and inverters have finally arrived and been connected, so the solar panels we had fitted in July(!) are now actually generating for us. Annoyingly, OpenReach still haven’t installed the fibre, so we can’t monitor our generation in real-time just yet - the geek in me will have to wait a bit longer for that. For those interested, we have 14.88kW of solar panels and 27.12 kWh batteries. Focus for the next two weeks: Obviously a quieter period than usual but we expect there will still be progress in a number of areas: Floor tiling - Steve should be back over the holiday period to fix the porcelain skirting tiles. Second fix electrics - More progress expected on lights and switches. That depressing list of things to do: Kitchen worktops Porcelain skirtings Finish bathrooms (x3) 2nd fix Commission STP Electric 2nd fix including lights, switches, heating wiring centre, CCTV, PIRs… Install fibre to house Internal door linings, architraves Internal doors Hatches to loft storage areas (x3) Fitted wardrobes Rear timber cladding Cladding front and rear canopy soffits Front landscaping, including level access, highway apron, parking and turning Rear landscaping, including level access and garden lighting Final airtightness test ‘As built’ SAP report Building Control sign-off VAT reclaim! + probably others we haven’t thought of. Dashboard: Contractor days on site this fortnight: 16.5 Contractor days on site since build start: 458 Budget: No change - over budget but within contingency. Plan: Breaking news! We are now aiming to move in at the end of February. So, a month earlier than previously planned. Issues and worries closed this fortnight: Kitchen units are substantially in so will be ready for worktop templating. Current top issues and worries: None.

It's impossible to cover every decision and get them all right. 'Mistakes, we've made a few, but then again... '

Further update from Octopus: "I’m sorry to hear that Royal Mail is taking some time to update their address database. Unfortunately, if we put through the request and the address is not updated with Royal Mail, it will be rejected on their end." Which begs a couple of questions: 1. Why do Octopus need Royal Mail's approval? 2. How did the current fictitious address come to be assigned to the meter? This is becoming Kafka-esque.

Indeed, and it's the sort of thing that can hold up a future house sale as the solicitors see a way to charge the buyer more money 'investigate further'.

Thanks for that info and link, very useful. I am currently trying to get Octopus to change the 'address' of our supply meter from a completely fictitious address made up be the plot vendor, to our actual 'approved by the council' address... I email the request as per the instructions on the Octopus website. They email back and asked for evidence that the council had approved the address, so I sent that. Then they came back and asked for a photo of the meter. Ok, I took one and sent it to them. Then they said: "I can process the address change for you, but first, please update your address with Royal Mail. Once you've done that, could you please send me a screenshot showing the updated address on the Royal Mail website?" Which of course RM have failed to do despite a request via their online form in June and two chasers since. So I have now sent Octopus a link to http://www.findmyaddress.co.uk in the hope they will pull their finger out and sort this. Octopus not covering themselves in glory here.

It's a 6 month window for VAT reclaims isn't it?

Interesting idea but I can imagine Mrs. P's reaction when I tell her I've opened a Velux for her to climb through. I suspect she'd tell me where to go ('go and get a hammer').

I have been messaging @craig about this and he has suggested possibly replacing the current striker latch for a day latch on at least one door. It doesn't look that straightforward but may be doable.

I've now found Dorset Council's policy, I assume other council will have their own similar policies. https://www.dorsetcouncil.gov.uk/w/new-build-properties In summary, once first fix is complete they can issue a Completion Notice allowing up to 3 months for 2nd fix. We are through first fix on our build but haven't had a completion notice yet so I am hoping that: a) their usual tardiness/backlog is delaying this, and b) they can't back date a completion notice.

I'm hoping that is not the case for Dorset Council - we registered our new address back in June, before the footings were complete. Still haven't heard anything about CT banding yet.

Get one of these: https://www.amazon.co.uk/TOPDON-TC001-Plus-Resolution-Maintenance/dp/B0D46K5CMK/?th=1 Worth the investment imo. Pics from our UFH on very low during the build.

Just to confirm, Protek say we are covered to live in the house until our Building Completion Certificate is issued, at which point our self-build insurance ceases and we need standard buildings insurance.

Just to add that I have checked our Protek site/build insurance and it doesn't really mention whether the cover persists if we occupy the house but there is an exclusion as follows: The Insurer shall not be liable under this Sub-section in respect of: 4 Occupation of the works Loss or Damage due to the use or occupancy other than as dwellings of any portion of the Contract Works by any owner, tenant or occupier other than as herein provided. But since we would be occupying as a dwelling, my reading is that we would continue to be covered (no contents cover though). I am going to give Protek a call and double-check.

Hi Hannah, We're in the same boat - also timber frame, timber cladding and zinc roof, aiming to move in in the spring, probably before a completion certificate is issued. We currently have build insurance that runs until November 2026 but I suspect it won't cover us if we're actually living at the site (need to check). A month or so ago I did a search on a comparison site (Money Supermarket I think) as if the house was occupied, and it came back with a couple of options in the £400 p.a. range, which didn't seem too awful and eased our insurance concerns but I haven't yet put anything in place. Good luck - do please let us know where you get to with this.

Left hand diagram looks very similar to our wall build-up. Right hand side: we haven't used an angled timber head drip but we don't have very much clad wall above the window, as single storey but I can't see any reason why your design won't work fine. IANAE though.