mjc55

Tell me more? Aren't the specs for for thermalite better than they were back then?

I'm probably a bit old-fashioned tbh, but I guess that one of the advantages of self-build is that you can be idiosyncratic about how you build. I am interested that you say that it looks to hard on your own, is that from a physical perspective, because with lightweight block my perception was that it decreases the physical effort required!

I have had a search on here but there doesn't seem much on the topic! I have been thinking about thin bed mortar option on our project. On the face of it this seems to be a relatively good idea. We want to use block on both leaves, with front and sides to be timber clad and rear to be a lot of glazing with render to the rest. I am thinking of doing the blockwork myself, I have laid bricks before and given that timescales are not at the top of the priority list, any speed issues are probably outweighed by reduction on cost due to self-build. Any thoughts on the subject welcome, especially if this is something that you have done similar on your project, thin-bed not particularly self laid. Thanks

I seem to remember you saying that you built using masonry walls (please ignore if wrong) in which case what did you use for wall ties?

Saw that article earlier and must admit that I was troubled by the price comparison, just not clear what they are comparing.

Anyone gone for triple glazed, if such a thing exists?

Just thinking back to our first flat and that was 30m2 (mind you I do weigh about 25% more than in 1981!) and that was more than adequate for us then! It also included a bath not a shower!

Hmm. Must admit that we were wrangling with the idea of how big it is. Trouble is I don't particularly want to make it much bigger.

Is that a cabin that will stay there permanently? How is it divided between living/sleeping/sanitary functionality? (if you don't mind me asking)

So, one of the options we are considering is to use a separate office/outbuilding as accommodation during the build process. It is attractive for a number of reasons, no more rent to pay saving £1000 a month and living on site so at the sharp end during build process being the prime reasoning. We will be doing as much of the work as possible so it really makes sense. Current plan is for main house with a separate office/summer house at the back of the garden. The "summer house" would end up with a "sleeping area" for those times our eldest comes back with his mates to climb down at Portland. Internal area would be around 24m. and would contain bedroom, shower room and kitchen/living room. The plan would be to make the bedroom a storage area accessible from outside once house is finished. My question is really about what we draw on the plans for this and whether we would have issues with building control when it becomes obvious we are living there temporarily? Obviously we would build the Summer house first, it's what happens when the BCO sees this I guess would be the point at which we could have issues. It would be connected to water and electricity supplies and main drainage. Any thoughts welcome.

What was the opening size?

No heat loss calcs yet, just in the design phase.

So we are currently planning the main part of our build but are also pretty sure that we will build a office/store in a separate structure. This we will use to live in while we build the main house. I don't know an awful lot about ASHP but we are planning to use as our heating system. The question of heating the "temporary" living accommodation is one that I haven't really sorted but I was wondering if it is possible to install ASHP by the office/store (where we would want it ultimately anyway) approximately 15 m. or so from main house. Main house will be around 130sq. m., single storey, office/store around 25 sq. m. or so. Could we then "throttle down" the ASHP to heat only temp. accommodation for the duration of the build and then connect it to main house on completion? Any thoughts most welcome.

Sorry, I wasn't suggesting that I was thinking of moveable panels just thinking out loud I suppose.

In the position I am thinking about there would be no shading at all.

To be honest it makes absolute sense that the angle isn't fixed. The Sun is at different angles at different times of the year so ideally moveable panels would be the best but obviously that would be an expensive option.

Was definitely thinking sloped roof. I thought optimal angle was 30 degrees???

Plot is below, in correct orientation. House will be to the East, front roughly lining up between houses on either side. Summer House to West of plot so walkway will run near Northern boundary from East to West, hence can orient panels to the South.

Thanks, will have a look at that.

The "walkway" would run E/W (house to the East, Summer House to the West) so panels could be oriented to the South.

Just trying to work out options for pv. Not even at planning stage yet for newbuild but plans are for single storey, flat roof, house with a smallish "summer house" down the garden. Not favouring panels on flat roof at the mo given potential problems down the line with fixings. We are planning on a "walkway" between the house (To the front of the plot) and the summer house (at the rear of the plot). I was wondering if there would be any issues with creating a "roof" for the walkway which would support solar panels? Would be something like 10+ metres of walkway between the two so enough room? It would be South facing and the property to the South is a bungalow and is also far enough away for overshadowing of panels to be an issue. Putative plans have plant room on the Southern side of the house so quite a distance, don't know whether this would be an issue! Any thoughts welcome.

The site was originally part of a larger plot belonging to the House to the North (now owned by Salisbury Diocese). This was sold in 2003 and the plot we have bought kept by original owners. Before the house there was a pub on the site that burned down in early 60's, so in all probability something to do with the original Victorian pub. The wall/fence was built when the diocese bought property and there looks to be another chamber on the other side of the nearby fence. It's a little difficult doing anything there as the vicar would prefer us to deal with Diocese directly. Yes, there is a vertical pipe under the water. There are no drains on our side so a little difficult to investigate. It is definitely something to investigate further down the line as potential build is not close to the septic tank.

Water looks clear

So we have started clearing our site of at least 20 years of growth, reached parts of it not trodden on for many years. We found an old septic tank on the boundary of the house to the North, it was covered with a very thick concrete block which I managed to move and it looks reasonably solid. May well have been there since the pub (which burned down in the 60's) was on the site. Since then the pub was replaced with a house which was subsequently bought by Salisbury Diocese and turned into vicarage. Our site was split off at that point (about 20 years ago) and a wall was built then between our site and the house. As far as I can tell there is another manhole about a meter or so away on the other side of the fence. I don't know when main drains were brought into the village but foul drains now run around the vicarage (to the North of it) and we will have to install drains into the lane next to our land. My question is regarding what we should do with the septic tank? I suppose we could just leave it but we were thinking of building a separate small "pod" to the West of the septic tank (the house will be to the East and next to the lane where foul drains will be connected. If we were to try and decommission the tank how much of a problem (and cost) could it be. It could be complicated as this could just be an overflow tank from the main septic tank next door! Any advice or experience welcomed.

Have you asked the SE or is that not possible?