Ben100

Cheers guys. I guess the strength and width will be set out by the architect and/or the SE too.

Hi, I’m considering different building methods and was wondering about the difference in concrete block costs. Why are some blocks £1 and others £7 per block? Some blocks say they can be used for cavity, below ground and above ground. Is this a good option or should I go for specific blocks for each area? Cheers, Ben

Out of interest, how did the ICF build go?

Thanks, I’ll check them out. I was also considering making up my own panels on-site to save money. Basically just buying the timber from a timber yard.

Reading this has left me more confused than before!

Simple answer is design. We like the look of cladding and it’s very traditional for this part of the uk.

Hi all, I'm new to this group and this is my first post, but I expect to post many more... I've just been given my planning permission to build a large extension to my 1860's red brick Victorian house, and now I'm at the stage of construction method choice and building regs design. I'm planning to do most of the work myself as I'm an advanced DIYer and want to keep costs down. The extension is quite large at around 95m2 over 2 stories, and I plan to finish with timber cladding and have a large amount of glass (bi-fold doors, etc). I have the most experience working with timber and no experience with block work. Timber frame seems to be the obvious choice for me, but what are the pros and cons? How do costs compare to other construction methods? and does timber frame lend itself to single person self-builders? Are mortgages hard to get for timber frame? anything else? Thanks for the help in advance! Ben