gc100

100% start again. Same cost, quicker, better insulated, won’t rot, etc

You’ll need to lift it and put a concrete slab down if you want something strong. Not sure what kind of weights you are lifting with a jack are but just putting a 5m sheet of metal under the jack will solve that issue. For spillages there is not much aside from painting/expoxy but you’ll need to keep reapplying every now again as it wears. It also depends on the size of the aggregate in the tarmac - smaller the better for painting etc

Yes sorry typo!

I can’t imagine using my chainsaw with sharpening each time. There’s no way it would chop a tree up in one go otherwise. It’s just one of those things you have to do if use a chainsaw imo. Ask any Woodman.

Thermal expansion looks very minimal https://www.performancepanels.com/dimensional-stability-flatness#:~:text=Plywood and wood expand upon,exacting techniques for its measurement. as someone who built a few skateboard half pipes out of ply , I’ve never seen it buckle and that’s exposed to the elements

We didn’t . Not had any problems thus far in 2 years

yeah I some plans to get around the issue when I get time. I used to live in south of France and shutters and brise soleils are the norm .

I would have 100% designed in summer shading if the stupid planners/law would have allowed me. Being class q it was impossible so now I have a house that overheats in the summer and I have to use active cooling.

I think if you are doing a self build you need to have a much better understanding of everything involved. There are several books (like self build bible) - I think it best you have a read to get the basics. the only one in the list you have that is a must have is the structural engineer, however the others will depend on who doing the build and how etc

I lived in a house that subsidence - built on clay. It did my head in and sold it a few years later. Every winter thr cracks would open up and then close over the summer. not saying it is that, but where there’s smoke…

But arn’t we discussing solar gain through the glass? Or does your glazing face your neighbours garden? The roof should be insulated correctly so won’t get any solar gain

@Brix I might stating the bleeding obvious, but why not plant a couple of trees to catch most of the direct sunlight In summer months?

wasn’t aware of this since finishing my build 2 years ago. Ours definitely overheats in the summer due to large south facing windows but I knew it was going to. I wanted to put brise soleil Louvre externally but planning defo won’t pass due to class q amd going outside of original form.

Fischer Nails - 51 x 2.8mm Stainless Steel Annular Ring they are moon shaped heads

I think you need to realise that if you are doing a build of say 250-400k you will be spending way way more than your average builder who does extensions etc ina given year so could be potentially one of the BMs top clients. Go open a few accounts at each of your local builder merchants. Have a discussion with each of the managers at the store and say you’ve got a build on in the region of say 300k and are looking for competitive quotes and will be getting quotes from all the other BMs. For the the first few orders try and make them large and email them to the manager so he knows it’s you and see how they come back. We eventually found within a few months that one consistently started beating all the others and as your relationship builds you get better and better deals as you spend more and more money with them. You still need to keep them on their toes by getting quotes elsewhere and calling them out every now and then as they then realise you are keeping on eye on them and they don’t want to loose your custom. My builders who have been in the trade 30 years couldn’t believe the discounts I was getting.

Good price. Make sure those pipes are insulated in the loft area of a cold space

I did mine with a nail gun (stainless). No regrets.

You’re don’t need an airtight test if class Q . the only essential people you need are structural engineer, builders (brickie and/or carpenter ), electrician, plumber and you don’t get a choice for not having a building inspector unfortunately . The rest bring minimal value and only cost imo. No idea why you’d want a civil engineer for the treatment plant? We just brought one and builders installed with correct drainage. QS seem to have no grip on reality and day to day decisions made by the builder will have much bigger impact to budget and what you have negotiate at the building yards - always shop around for every time you do a biggish order- you will save thousands.

That’s fine - I want something to blend into the countryside- the older it looks the better. Just don’t want it to rot!

Black Barn Paint Woodtech BARNJACKET Acrylic Opaque Woodstain or Bedec (the original barn paint - more expensive though)

Does the wood still go off and grey up nicely? (I’m after something that will for a shed myself)

https://www.nfuonline.com/updates-and-information/creosote-update-find-out-more-on-the-2021-approval-review/

I think you are miss informed on that. If you are building in woods planning will always be refused unless it’s for forestry - however you still need permission and will need to prove activities etc. Normally anything over 30m2 needs building regs as well (fire, structural etc)

ps my house is painted in barn paint and it’s cheap, easy to go on and excellent finish with zero issues so far 2 years down the road as another option

Go oil based not water based - will last much longer.