Jilly

We had one at our last house for the hob only, and it lasted for absolutely ages, years, I think.

I need to store my 47kg propane cylinders over acodrains along a wall (which lead surface water away from the house. From reading the 'Cylinder Storage info' above this is ok if I cover them and make them water tight for 2m in both directions (as I read it)? Any suggestions on how to do that? Could I fill them with gravel so water could still drain or do they make water proof/air tight covers?

Hello! Yes, its very friendly, tons of good advice.

I still haven't resolved my SuDS requirements, its a palaver. Some companies will provide the calculations if you buy their (expensive) soakaway creates. The Susdrain.org website is useful, but the calculations are for larger developments and not completely relevant. It might be worth looking on the planning applications of properties in your local council to see how they have discharged their planning conditions.

Getting the right people is crucial. My first builder gave me nightmares and serious stress, it's better now I have finally got good, reliable people. It's sooo stressful when people let you down and there's a chain of interdependent events. Hence it's easier and cheaper to build slowly, but the rent costs can spiral and be a significant hidden cost. Most self builders live on site ij a static to save money.

Nearly there. Just doing second fix/heating/decorating new floor soon.

I'm a fully vaccinated contrary bit of a hippy sometimes and occasionally get to worry about my PIR and Kingspan Kooltherm K103 off gassing. in the places where it will be near the surface in the house. The screed (I think) is really stinky. I keep airing the place and have bought a Dyson to analyse and collect the formaldehyde and dust from the air. (hopefully). Any other suggestions or thoughts?

You can discuss partial completion with BCO. I think they all have slightly discretionary criteria but I'm sure its been mentioned before, lots of self builders live in incomplete houses. You'll have to slum it a bit..

I filled out an f10 after the builders who did my superstructure and made sure my insurers knew I am now taking on subbies. Their H & S was shocking, I had nightmares. I regularly fill out Risk Assessments to make sure there is a paper trail. I updated my First Aid certificate, got plenty of first aid kit and a fire extinguisher and the relevant signage, including a covid policy. You will find compliance is the main issue. I remind them to think of PPE like a condom: it won't work in the cupboard. Makes them laugh and makes the point.

If you have the burn to start your own business, I would say go for it! An ambulatory practice is very cheap to set up as you say, and on your business model, I don't think you should rule out at least one site visit. If you don't have a binding out clause on your first job, you could start off with your own clients in your spare time. You will need to turn over more than £40k to pay for overheads like your PI, equipment and a vehicle, or you can claim tax relief on your mileage and when you are established you can bill this to the client, but in the early days you will be keen to find clients and jump through hoops, or stay local, which might p*** your employer off and depends if you have a binding out clause, how seriously you take it and if you want to stay friends. Something also to bear in mind is that self builders might be only building once, and nearly all successful businesses need repeat custom from existing clients, so you need them to sing your praises for further clients, or sell more to them in the way of BC drawings, surveys etc

I think the 'problems' are our steep learning curve which can make us 'difficult' clients, through our initial ignorance of the whole process (see any new post on the forum), until we gradually morph into an experienced mini developer, perhaps ready to do it all again. (I believe it's only 10 thousand hours, not 20 thousand BTW).

Isn't that what it's like for everybody in nearly every business, nowadays? People are killing retail by going to the shops then buying from Amazon to save a few pounds.

Ooo, I do love a good compromise, warms the cockles of my heart.

Don't take the angst personally, you should hear the things people say about my profession. I accept I will need to pay for someone's pencil chewing time, which can't be billed as an exact science. Self builders are a special breed, as we mostly come with zero experience but are often reasonably bright, to the point of obsessive and often have pencilled our dream house on the back of an envelope, so think it must be easy for you to change it to a planning drawing. A booklet or good website explaining what we can and can't expect and the limitations of each survey and set of drawings would have been great. I was so wet behind the ears, I didn't even realise that I needed a 'design and build' from the builder and hence I really struggled to get meaningful quotes.

I'm not being facetious to suggest that you might want to do a self build, it would make you understand the problems we face and would give you a chance to try things out and maybe go on a show as some more free advertising. As a first timer, I floundered without simple construction drawings, so that is something you could have 'sold' to me. I think there must be a market for simple-to-build inexpensive houses which look good. Maybe even write a book to market yourself. If I had known about a specialist self build architect, that would have appealed to me.

Is it worth appealing first?

Welcome and wow! There was a previous thread if you search on 'things I wish I had known' or some such.

I'm finding it really damp here in the east. The humidity as been >90% nearly all the time so I've used a small household dehumidifier after plastering and screeding. Seems to be ok. I found opening the windows was insufficient as the humidity is so high outside.

Have you got planning permission yet?

How much do I need to sand off, just the gypsum it self, the etched bits or the pink stained bits?

I have insurance for timber clad with Selfbuildzone

I did buy them but they didn't use them properly as I didn't know it was an issue ?. I'll do it for the last room but there's still plaster all over the place. Does really all have to be removed...?

Just had the very messy plasterers in (one more room to go!) and have noticed this morning that the screed has reacted with the plaster which has got splashed all over it and has become slightly pitted. I see after googling, it would have been better to do the jobs the other way round (yet another thing learned retrospectively!!). I have no idea what was in the screed, it was done by three Romanian lads, they hardly spoke any English, but it looked a nice job, but I'm guessing an anhydride mix. It was arranged by my helpful part time builder who works on a day rate. Is there anything I can do to stop the reaction, aside from wetting it? There are micro splashes of plaster all over the place.

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How much do you pay for 47kg LPG bottles?