ultramods

There will be paving all round the house level with the doorways, however this is a change from the original plan. So maybe as you say they were originally for steps.

The house has 8 external doors that I have highlighted yellow on the image below. Can anyone please tell me why do only 3 of the areas near a door have the extra protruding block work (circled in blue)?

@newhome @Hecateh anecdotes of doing dangerous things without being hurt is one thing, however I think our more risk aware/adverse society is progression and certainly doesn't make people snowflakes. Did you see in the news today that 18 people died making the new bridge in China, I suspect the death toll wouldn't be that much in the UK. When I was in my early teens I did a lot of dangerous things, looking back now i'm lucky not to have been severely injured or killed. This is the 12 year old driving the dumper truck

That's what I am thinking.

There will be a step down into the garage. I have spoken to building standards and they have said we will be OK not having a 2" fall. Builder has recommended going with a level floor if we will never be using it as a garage.

The builders are finishing our foundations today. I have asked them to put UFH and insulation in the garage floor as well, however still use just concrete rather than a screed. The builder has asked if I want the 2" fall in the garage floor to let water run out of the garage if there are cars parked in the garage. I will be using the garage as a gym so would never have a car in the garage, however if we sell the new owners may use it for a car. If I went with the 2" fall and at a later date converted the garage into a room would the UFH still be effective if the floor was then leveled (on top of the existing floor)? What should I go for, a level floor or one with the 2" fall?

Yes 12 east of Inverness must be only a few miles away from Inverness airport and quite close to Nairn, not my idea of remote. However I guess for a lot of the UK population the Highlands in general will be relatively remote. I still watch Impossible Builds each week, however I do cringe at the name, "Pre-Fab builds" would have been more accurate. Also I couldn't believe that they were letting their 12 year old son drive the dumper truck by himself, surely a serious accident waiting to happen.

I just bought a new (was used for a trade show) Bora BFIU on ebay today for £1900, RRP is £3100. All I need now is a house and a kitchen to put it in

@iSelfBuild Have you seen the log cabins at eagle brae? The appear to be at the higher end of the log cabin market https://www.facebook.com/EagleBrae/ What is the price for a log cabin psm and what are you getting for that? i'm also looking into building holiday rentals, I would be going for a design more like this https://www.thehideawayexperience.co.uk/location/angus-dundee/property/the-lovers. I think they may have come from http://www.fireflywood.co.uk/housedesigns.htm

Certainly we didn't see how the whole story played out behind the camera. However it was edited to look like the original architect could only offer changes that would provide minimal savings.

As a professional architect (software or house) they should know roughly how much it's going to cost or at least know which element s of the build are the most expensive and could be removed or changed.

I was "screaming" at the TV get rid of the cantilever and don't build into the hill. You do need to question the original architects motives/mentality/intelligence/sanity.

Consider adding a few features to your requirements that you wouldn't mind removing if you need to negotiate with the planners....... 2 turrets when you would be happy with just one.

On a more positive note, it looks like they got quite a lot of house for a build in London with a basement.

Thank you for all the comments, if this wasn't a hypothetical situation I would be passing them onto my friend.

@epsilonGreedy I'm not doubting that the house is a healthy place to be in, however they will be out of the house 30% of the time. The husband owns a national company so surely doesn't have to live in London.

What construction method would you go for this time?

Welcome. There are quote a few self builders on this forum from Aberdeenshire.

I did feel a bit uneasy with tonights episode. If the children has such extreme allergies and asthma surely it would be better to live out of the city. The children can't be inside the house all the time.

wouldn't provide the shared drive or wouldn't take revenge?

Just say I had a friend who bought some land from a developer/business man last year, during the negotiations the developer said that the old derelict house next to the plot (that the developer also owned) would be demolished. My friend was pleased with this as the house is unsightly. The developer said he had applied to the council to get permission to demolish the building because it's in a conservation area and was waiting on a decision. To ensure the house was demolished, if the developer got permission, my friend ensued that this was written into the missives also stating that the planning permission reference would be provided and included in the missives. The planning reference never materialized so my friend did some digging and found out that the developer had asked the council years previously if they could demolish the building but the council said no because it's in a conservation area. He kept pushing the developer for the reference, just before the purchase date the developer then said he couldn't get permission, he was still lying insisting that he had just found out from the council. My friend decided to continue with the purchase and removed the demolition condition from the missives. The sale was concluded October 2017. Part of the sale condition was that my friend would put in a shared drive for his plot and the cottage plot at his expense and then both plots would share ownership of the drive. Now suppose a year later the selling solicitors have now realized that the shared drive has not been included on the title deeds and is now asking friends solicitor to add it. Should my friend add it (if he has a choice)? My friend is an honest and honorable person, however given how the developer was trying to deceive him during the purchase he now wonders if this is karma and that he shouldn't provide the shared drive on his land.

Likewise PM me your email address

You certainly have a few options. However if you think you will need funding at a later stage in the build I would arrange the funding before starting, have you never watched grand designs before? It took us months to arrange our self build mortgage, best to start the process ASAP. Also the mortgage affordability calculations will take into account your outgoings during the build, so renting rather than living with your parents may reduce the amount you can borrow, clearly this will all be dependent on your household income so may not be an issue. Also if you will require external funding they will want to know that the house has been build correctly, which will mean they will insist on a professional such as a surveyor or architect signing off each stage of the build, again make sure you have this done from the beginning even if you start of using your own funds. If you don't you will need to pay considerably more for a structural warranty due to the increased risk.

that's not a spoiler. Telling you that part of the house fell off the lorry would be a spoiler.

I'm watching it now, the timber kit company Carbon Dynamic is in my home town of Invergordon. I hope my timberframe company have more accuracy with their nails!!!!!