Lincolnshire Ian

Hi all We have bought a plot in rural fenland Lincolnshire. We will need a foul water treatment plant, and previously, we have been able to get permission to discharge the treated wastewater into an adjacent water course. This time, we don't have a directly adjacent watercourse, but we do have one just across the very narrow, infrequently used road that our house sits on. The road also has storm drains that run alongside our plot and into the watercourse. If possible, we would like to avoid installing a drainage field. It would work well for us to discharge either into the storm drain, which then flows into the watercourse, or even dig up the road and install a pipe and discharge directly into the watercourse. Both options will require lots of permissions, engineering work, large costs, etc, but I was wondering if anyone had done something similar to avoid the need for a drainage field. Thanks

Hi We have permission to demolish and rebuild on a rural plot. We are going down the timber frame route, but we will need a structural engineer to design the foundations (lots of trees, etc.) and other non-frame structural engineering stuff. Has anyone had experience/recommendations working with a structural engineer in Lincolnshire (Spalding/Boston/Sleaford/Bourne area)? Thanks Ian

Hi all We are getting ever closer to finalising our timber frame design with Fleming Homes. As we enter the planning phase we will be asked what our building will be clad in. We live in Lincolnshire which is quite conservative in taste and so we probably want to either use render boards and render or build a brick outer skin. We would prefer brick, but we assume this could be much more expensive than render. If anyone has crunched the numbers would would appreciate some advice. Thanks Ian

We haven't quite landed on a final design. Next week the designer is converting layout and front elevation drawings into 3D drawings, as soon as I have these I will share. We are building near Donington, Spalding. Thanks for the offer of help.

Hello to everyone We are just about to complete our purchase of a derelict 1960's bungalow for demolition on a very overgrown plot. We have completed some fairly large renovation projects in the past, but this is our first self-build. Thanks in advance for any help we will get, and as our project progresses we hope to contribute answers to peoples questions as well as mining for information.

Hi We have bought a plot with a grotty 1960s refab bungalow that will be demolished (sorry, disassembled, lots of asbestos) and a new house built on it. We are hoping to move the house on the plot, but this will mean foundations where the old septic tank is located. We will get a foundation engineer to design the foundations; we've also got lots of trees to contend with, but what about the septic tank? The demolition teams that have given us quotes favour digging the concrete septic tank out and levelling it with site soil/rubble. I'm obviously concerned that my foundations will run directly over the old, removed septic tank. I suppose another option might be to just fill the septic tank with concrete and build atop it. What should I be considering here? TIA Ian

Hi We have purchased a plot with an electric pole in the garden. We will want to install an electric supply at some point, but I'm a bit bamboozled by the potential options; as I see it, they are (feel free to add any I've missed): Install a temporary supply for the build, remove it, and install a permanent supply in the house. Install a supply for the builders in the garden, but make it robust enough (maybe brick built with a roof) and then run a supply from the meter to the house when the time comes. Use a generator during the build and install the electric into the house in one move. I have started talking to National Grid about prices, and they seem pretty steep. The old bungalow on the plot had an existing power supply, National Grid wanted to charge me nearly £1200 to remove the wire from the pole to the bungalow (8 metres). Luckily, we had a storm, a tree blew down, snagged the wire, and National Grid removed the connection for free :). We are building a timber frame house which will be "wind and watertight" within 3 weeks. What have other people done, or if you could do it again, what would you do? Also, can the "permanent" supply be put into the house as soon as it is "wind and watertight"? Thanks Ian