Canski

I was unable to complete the garden office which will serve as site office and canteen during the build due to trying to avoid it getting demolished for free.

Whilst waiting for the legal processes to go through I embarked on clearing the rear of the site and reducing the ground levels and building a 43 m long retaining wall. I made use of the digger to get the base in for the garden office. I actually built the garden office in sections one cold winters week in the living room of the house.

It has been a long and windy road up to this point. I bought the plot in February 22 and have had over a year of ecology surveys, useless solicitors including the county solicitor and a few changes of plans along the way before planning was granted earlier this year. The old house which was formerly housing for workers on the fruit farm had been used as site offices for a national house builder. When the builders left it looked like they just finished on a Friday and locked up and went home. There were 30 odd chairs and several desks in there. The filing cabinets were full of the site paperwork and then the kids had moved in and spread the contents around to make it look like the inside of a plasterers van. Finally we got the green light from the ecologists on Monday morning and with the help of have moved straight on to the demolition stage. I am enjoying this bit. 😀😀😀😀

And we are off !!!! Not one single bat discovered in the destructive survey and all birds have flown the nest.

‘Can you add the steel fixers invoice amount to yours so that you can pay him then we will pay you because he doesn’t pass our compliance checks. ‘ 15 people planning the Xmas party for 3 days, monthly re painting of the site hoarding etc. I did 2 sites for them and saw 3 subbies go bust. Things went downhill for me after I sent them a clean up notice after their assistant site manager installed a TV in the canteen leaving the mess all over the floor. This was after they stopped me working because my brick stacks weren’t plumb. Never ever again.

Exciting. Mine arrives today. 🕺🏻🕺🏻🕺🏻

Been there done that. Just about managed to keep my t shirt, periodically lost my sanity, lost my faith in the construction industry and the training capability of the CITB ….oh and tens of thousands of pounds. More invented jobs than the ecology scam. Biggest pile of ………. Oops did I ever mention that just reading their name winds me up ?

It’s time to Par teeeeeeee I’ve had 3 G and T’s now . All ready for tomorrow …the digger is sharpening its teeth. 2 swifts sighted overhead on a fly past and a few passing bats. 🕺🏼🕺🏼🕺🏼🕺🏼🕺🏼Both ecologists were accompanied throughout the survey.I’m so happy to have all this shit behind me Call me cynical if you like 😂😂😂I’m £7k down and counting.I can progress now, I can plan things !

How many loads of muck away did you have ?

My thoughts exactly. Potentially housing for 12 humans but because of 4 bats we can’t live in these 2 houses. Absolute madness just like the planning procedure when bats are involved.

Well here we are again. The previous survey was cancelled by the ecologists who now want 2 further surveys. Tonight is a survey to see if the swift that they claim to have seen enter the roof last April ( it didn’t and I know because I was there) returns. Also to see if all the bats have returned and formed a roost. The only bats spotted were in the 30 mins I wasn’t there. Nothing in the previous 12 hours of surveys but 25 mins after I left the site they reappeared. if I’m all clear tonight we move on to a nesting bird survey and a destructive survey for bats tomorrow and hopefully can progress to full demo after this. Fingers, legs, arms and even my nads are crossed for tonight.

That will be there for years to come I suppose 😉

I would say that if its in and flush to the face side of the wall you should be OK. Its not perfect but I doubt that you would get much in the way of damp issues for the bridged millimetre or two. Think of face brickwork where nobody wants to see the DPC sticking out of the wall and it is pointed over. Thousands of houses have been built like this without any problems. Otherwise i would say that the blockwork is of good quality, well thought out bonding and full joints. Just how I like it. The ties should be at 750 mm centres though and not 900 mm like those are.

that looks like DPC to me and not DPM

Yes two normal houses as an estate infill. Are you talking about building control or warranties?

Some great constructive comments on the layout. Maybe the plant room could be in the rear of the garage ? Personally I like the external elevations. I guess they are made to fit in with the street scene ? I prefer it to mine which I am not brace enough to post 😜

They recently quoted me double the LABC

Telehandler but a small one 4 - 6 m . We use small Manitous, JCB's etc. Cost is around £200 - £250 PW UK Forks have been good to us in the past . https://www.ukforks.com/product.php?id=1 Don't forget the golden rule though ! Get the materials delivered on pallets.

In this case I would go for a power float. There is a knack to this though.

If I have steps I pour some concrete to the lower level bit against the shutter first then let it start to go off as you pour the rest. Depends how long you are going to take I suppose.

I signed off the plans for beam and block last Monday and it was delivered Friday morning. It took longer to get a dolly to put them in.

Is it just me that’s confused here ?

Photos please.

Is it timber frame ?

I will be using LABC. They answer the phone and have been very helpful up to now. Half the cost of an independent and will come out at a days notice.