divorcingjack

After 6 years of planning battles, redesigns, engineer wrangling and evenings spent softly weeping .... Brendan and the crew are coming tomorrow morning. We met two of the lads this afternoon, Sean and Sean (easy to remember..), can't wait to get started tomorrow No point to this post really, we're just so happy! Any top tips for what we should keep an eye on during the slab install? Does anyone want/need detailed info or pics as we go along? Cheers, dj

Ours has NOT been popular, and we haven't even flaming started yet! A big, flat roofed. modern, zinc clad and white structure doesn't really match in with the medieval street round the corner. Despite the fact that it can't be seen from the street, we have had many people "mentioning" the "inappropriate use of modern materials", lack of pitched, slated roof, entry way from the street, etc etc etc. Also, just walking into the site when there's work going on! Past a tractor and 20 tonne trailer, just wandering about like someone with profound memory loss. When challenged, they said "but we just want to know what's going on? We're not doing any harm". Unbelievable. Lots of NIMBYs round our way. We should have just built a block of flats like everyone else and run away with the money.

We're renting, but it's cheap. I would second the advice to do as much of your planning as you can whilst ensconced in your cosy house. We sold, on the expectation that planning couldn't possibly take "that" long. We were quite catastrophically wrong on that point.... You also want to be as close to your site as possible, because an artic WILL arrive at 8am when you weren't expecting it til 12 and be unable to access the site. If it takes you 20 mins to get there, it's a real nightmare. Be aware that if you're in Scotland, many of the "standard" financing options are not available, which has caused us some major difficulties. We are lucky to be able to fund the build itself from our house sale and borrowing from family - we will mortgage the house on completion with a standard mortgage. I do remember that Ecology Building Society did some good-ish deals if you could comply with fairly strict environmental criteria. Prob worth a phonecall. If you manage to get a traditional self-build mortgage, try and tie your contractor payments into the funds release stages - then you hopefully won't be lumbered with a big bill, angry builder and no cash from the bank at the same time! Good luck - and be prepared for it to be more stressful that you could possibly imagine. Or perhaps that's just our build...

I'm guessing that all those opting for no warranty are in the enviable position of not needing a mortgage upon completion? We are funding the build ourselves from savings and loans from family, but will need to take a mortgage out to repay them when the house is finished. Every mortgage company that I've spoken to (well, those that I could get any sense out of, anyway) would insist upon a 10 year warranty to issue a mortgage.

Welcome Ed. Whereabouts in the country are you? We are spread all over the place.

I've gone for the Gumtree approach for miele applicances throughout. There's no way that I could have afforded them new, so my induction hob, oven, steam oven, coffee machine etc are all either ex display or barely used. The ovens etc are one series behind and the only hassle I had was making sure the fascias matched up as there is quite a variety of models. I bought a miele washing machine, which I'm using in my current rental and I have to say, it looks bombproof. My husband could practically lift the old (really cheap one) with one hand, but it took him, a burly friend and a lot of swearing to get the miele up the steps. It's taken me a while to build everything up, but the only thing I'm short now is an integrated microwave. I'd say, if you live either in london or the midlands, and have access to a van, there are many bargains to be had. I got a one year old, 900mm miele top of the range induction hob for £200. Not a mark on it, and it was nearly £3k originally.

Ok. So - what wording do I need to use to "contract" with this person, rather than "appoint" them? Is it about wording? Or is it the fact that PD is a legal duty holder, and I cannot "contract" with someone to do this role?

This has me wary, Jeremy. So, in my situation (needing a PD who is NOT my architect, due to a friendship), what would you do? @B52s, you're of the opposite opinion to @JSHarris and I did find your argument convincing. Have the HSE actually issued any documentation about not wanting to prosecute domestic clients? A proper minefield, and no mistake.

Ok. So, I would just leave it at the default. BUT, and this is the critical bit for us - we don't want to do that. Our architect is also a friend, and is uncomfortable with taking on the role, having told us as much. I don't want him to potentially be in trouble in a worst case scenario. Can he appoint a PD to take on his role? What if he appointed the person we're planning on using? Surely an architect is classed as "competent" and they are also a business. Would that work?

Ok. I thought I'd caught up here, but now the conversation has come around to a difficult conclusion for me. My architect does does not want to be PD, and to avoid this default responsibility falling on him, I asked someone else to do it. They agreed and we agreed a fee for the work. So, now apparently, I can't "appoint" them as PD, or I may be laying myself open to trouble. How can I contract with them so I have a PD (not my architect) but have not stepped outside the boundaries for being a domestic client? FFS!!!!

As far as I know, DIY only applies where YOU (as the self builder) are undertaking every single task with your own hands, and there are no paid contractors on site. Subject to updates later on, we are going to let each contractor on site be the "main contractor" for that stage. The issue comes when we have both an electrician and plumber on site at the same time. Who is PC for that stage? I can't see a normal contractor wanting to take responsibility for the work of a fellow contractor.

That is brilliant. Signs will be in production shortly.

Tempting.. but not in Scotland, I'm afraid! We think we'll just paint the garage footprint in massive letters saying "Stop parking here you knobs".

Definitely tempted by some of the ideas in that video, @recoveringacademic. We have our land fenced off with HERAS, but people are parking right tight up against it, which means that we can't get vehicles into the site. We bought a pair of garages that back onto the site and demolished them to allow us vehicle access, but a number of times we haven't been able to get skips/trailers in and out because of others parking there. The land is privately owned, by all the people that own garages - the rogue parkers are nearly always students that live nearby or tradesmen. Or visiting golfers. I left a sweary note for that one - a Mercedes AMG and BMW M5 parked at 90 degrees to each other, completely blocking our entrance. One of the drivers doors was actually touching the massive "ACTIVE BUILDING SITE! DO NOT PARK HERE" sign. Pricks. We had words when they got back. The local police have been very good at tracking down the owners and giving them a talking to, so far, but it's a right ball-ache when you've got a delivery of 20 tonnes of hardcore sitting waiting because some tight git refuses to pay 70p for parking.

Sounds good to me, @JSHarris, that was the plan before all this PD stuff started. Fair point about someone breaking in - we live in an area with a LOT of drunken students. The last thing we need is something to happen on a Friday night. Our main worry at the minute is keeping access to the site clear, we have a continual stream of very over-entitled people parking across our entrance. Does anyone know where you can buy those really annoying extra-sticky stickers that you can put on car windows? They are an absolute arse to get off.

No, this is where all the confusion came about initially. We are having MBC do the slab and frame and then we are subcontracting from there, so no-one really is suitable to be a PC as there isn't anyone (apart from us) that will be present throughout the build, which is why I thought we would be taking on the PC role. But, as we're not a business, apparently we can't do that, so it will go as default to the contractor in charge of the current phase. I think.

So, if I'm not employing sub-contractors (sparky, plumber, joiner etc), what am I doing? A domestic client isn't classed as an employer? This is an absolute minefield! Prefer trying to sort out the heating, and I'd rather have bowel surgery than do that at the minute.

Well, that escalated quickly! Thanks to everyone that put in such well-thought out and clear advice and opinions, it really has helped me (and I'm sure others) in a significant way prior to the start of our build. @recoveringacademic, I look forward to reading your post, and thank you for taking the time to do it. After speaking to another CDM company today, they also mentioned that the principal contractor is defined as a "business" and therefore a self-builder such as myself cannot qualify for the role. Confusingly, in the general HSE site (not the legislation itself) it says that a contractor is defined as anyone who EMPLOYS a contractor, NOT that they have to be a business. We are planning on following the recommendations on here of maintaining a phased plan, undertaking reasonable risk assessments, providing PPE/site security/first aid/refreshment facilities, but ultimately making the contractors on site fully responsible for their own H&S through a induction sign-up sheet and their provision of a risk assessment before they come on site. So, this is a straightforward approach when only one contractor is on-site - MBC for example, but what about when there are multiple contractors e.g. first fix electrics, plumbing, joinery? Who is classed as PC in that scenario?

Thanks for the replies all, much appreciated. @Vijay my local HSE office were VERY clear that they do not give any advice AT ALL to anyone, so that was that for me! I really want something in writing tbh. @Ian I've read that guidance over and over. The complexity for us comes because we are using multiple contractors but no main contractor, so we are taking on that role ourselves. So, as a domestic client, we basically appoint ourselves to carry out our own duties. That part is fine, and I understand it and the responsibilities that go with it. We have an architect, but he is not keen on taking on the PD role, and it is not that clear (to me anyway) whether we HAVE to appoint a PD. It looks to me that if we don't, that role also comes to us (as PC), but we do not have the skills and experience to meet the responsibilities. So, are they saying that self builders managing their own projects MUST have a PD appointed? @mvincentd - that sounds great, We have had a quote which was considerably higher than that one, so if you wouldn't mind sharing details of that independent, I would appreciate it. We have some experience in preparing risk assessments and dealing with H&S between us, and have a first aid qualification, but thank you for those course recommendations. Cheers, dj

Depends how nice a bathroom you'd like!

Can I ask who everyone is using as their Principal Designer for their project under CDM 2015? As we are using MBC and sub-trades for our build, the Principal Contractor role comes to us, but it's my understanding that normally an architect fulfils the PD role. I've already asked MBC, and they won't do it, as obviously they don't have control over the rest of the build when they're not on site. Our SE all doesn't provide this service. @Sensus, I'm sure that I've seen you mention using an independent company/individual for this role - could you share some details? Am I correct in my interpretation of the CDM 2015 HSE rules that a self builder is classified as a "domestic client", and therefore has the responsibility of appointing a PC and PD for the project? If not, does the project have to have a PD at all? Thanks, dj

That's what I thought tbh, Good to get a second opinion though, cheers.

Our architect is a saint. I honestly don't know how he's put up with us as clients. He is calmest chap I've ever met, and always, always, eventually right about things. God, I must be irritating to work with.

Ah I see. We had loads of trouble trying to get it in our own name, as we were not a contractor, but a client. I was amazed at how many people had not heard of it or denied that we needed it. Worrying, really. I hope you managed to get it sorted out OK.

Hi @MikeSharp01, Following with interest, as we're planning on a power floated concrete finish too for our MBC slab. They have agreed to let our contractor (farm sheds are his speciality!) work the slab after them to get the final finish. Have you asked MBC for a different mix or anything, or is it just the regular C35?