jamiehamy

What's that?

It's lovely looking stuff. Shame I have no use for it. I'll keep some back for the garden.

This is rock!

That includes removal of spoil. I had another prices that was higher but in the same ballpark.

We'll be growing grass on top and having a couple of bee hives :-) The plan was to get our first colony thus year but think we will wait until next season. But yes, hopefully it'll be pretty much h invisible from the house

It's to dig out the garage which will be pretty much underground - so excavating 9m x 12m and around 2.5m down - think it's about £6k for that.

Okay, so I'm in London and got a series of alerts on the cam.... Geez!

I'm not really sure what's going on here. Whether you are getting a firm in to fit new windows or install a new roof, or build you a house, if you are DIY or Self Build, you are not responsible for CDM 2015. Whoever you bring in, whether a main contractor, one single contractors or a variety of contractors is responsible for ensuring they operate in a manner compliant with CDM 2015 and any other safety standards. If self builders start trying to 'appoint' people to roles incorrectly, not only are they going to confuse things but could create a legal mess should an event occur. It's the job of contractors, builders, joiners, decorators etc to ensure they work safely first and foremost. It's not our job to try do their job.

That makes sense - thank you! I had figured that when I was planning but *think* I'm okay. That's pretty much what I'm planning to do with the door stop to be fixed on. With nails..

In a nutshell.

Hopefully I'll be able to post some pics next week - a 30t is coming onsite to excavate the garage (And lift landscaping materials up the hill). We're digging the garge into the ground batcave style and think it's pretty much all rock. Should be interesting!

I'm lost - can we have some pictures please?!

I did ask about whether the finish would be good enough or we should have a skim coat - he was adamant that a proper 3 stage tape and fill using 6inch, 8 and then 10inch trowel will give just as good a finish. We're going to go room-by room - TnF the kitchen then paint it - if it turns out all right, the whole place will be done that way. Could save you a good few bob if you do it yourself... We couldn't afford every romo to be skimmed - I dread to think the square meterage of the walls!

Just got an email from Screwfix about this - which explains a lot. Ours kept blowing fuses or the thermal trip on the extension - I eventually stop using it. Turns out the thing is faulty. Posting an case anyone has one but maybe not registered with SF. Jamie PRODUCT RECALL NOTICE Space and Convector Heater Screwfix have been made aware that in some circumstances a very small number of products have shown excessive heat build-up in the plug, leading to scorching or deformation of the plug itself. Despite rigorous quality control procedures, Screwfix has identified a potential safety issue with these electric heaters. Due to the potentially serious nature of the risk and our commitment to safety, we have taken a precautionary decision to recall these products and have already removed them from sale. The products effected are: Code Product Description Barcode Model Number 1740P D030Y FREESTANDING SPACE HEATER 3000W 3663602911098 D030Y 2934P CONVECTOR 3000W TURBO + THERMOSTAT + TIMER 3663602910930 DL18A These products were offered for sale between 05/09/2016 and 29/03/2017. If you have purchased either product from us, please stop using it immediately and unplug it from the electricity supply. Please return it to your local Screwfix Trade Counter where you will be given a refund to the full value of your purchase. Alternatively, we can arrange collection of the item(s), please contact us on 03330 112 112 for a collection to be arranged and a full refund provided. If you have purchased either of these heaters for customers in the course of your own business, please contact them immediately, advise them to stop using the heater and make arrangements for it to be removed. Thank you in advance for your co-operation in this matter and we apologise for any inconvenience caused. Screwfix, Trade House, Mead Avenue, Yeovil, Somerset, BA21 3SR

BTW I'm getting ready to order the garage walls soonish - 100 XPS +250 core +100xps. Should be warm and bomb proof!

Ours was a bit odd because we were building inside the water tank. The end gables were perfect as they were build up in blocks with beams on top, then the icf. Along the length of the beams, the camber was slightly noticeable through the first courses of icf but it seemed to sort itself. In terms of windows, nothing matched the icf courses anyway so it was never really an issue. I'd you've got a rotary level and staff in centre of house you'll be fine. If the levels go a bit wonky it's not the end of the world - you'll be cutting the corners anyway and have corner braces, so not problem there. For Windows, it will take a couple of mins to trim the sill if not level and at the wall head you'll be measuring the concrete with the staff anyway to ensure its. I think Polarwall has to be be one of the most flexible products out there. Can built it anyway you want and very very forgiving if you get it wrong.

I initially used my power drill to make holes to fix the u-rails into - and discovered the wonders of an SDS drill! Although foaming them on first could be a good idea to stop any moving off line.

Oh they have - and othes have told me it's a nailer only job! Fairly comfortable with making up the lining - well, as comfortable as I will be until I've done a couple! Screwing it is I think - probably a bit more forgiving although plenty holes to full later. Although I might regret that later with the skirting....argh. Thanks for the mitre adhesive tip @Declan52 - that was my main worry about premaking - but this has made me much more comfortable. I'll report back in due course

Thanks - I'll maybe give them a go. I'm going to do a trial one in the next week or two as we start taping and filling. Whenever I mention to anyone I'll be fitting the doors,t hey almost always draw breath and raise their eyebrows...then again, the same people think I'm 'brave' fitting the kitchem despiet knowing we've build the whole house. lol.

HI all, We're not quite there yet but moving in that direction quickly. For fixing the door frames, am I better nailing this or countersink/screwing? We have grey doors (LPD Vancouver) and will be having painted while frame/architrave. I don't have a finishing nailer, so screwing/filling will be easier - and also I'm assuming a bit more forgiving to a first timer in that I can take it out again? If I need to get a nailer I will but for the sake of 14 doors. Although I suppose I have skirting too... Any other hints/tips all welcome! Thanks, J

So had our lesson tonight. No different where taper and normal edge meet - tape as normal and the first plaster skim will fill the gap and the following two will get wider each time until it's pretty much smooth.

I don't agree. "** CDM 2015 applies if the work is carried out by someone else on the domestic client’s behalf. If the householder carries out the work themselves, it is classed as DIY and CDM 2015 does not apply." applies to me. " Though in scope of CDM 2015, their client duties are normally transferred to: the contractor for single contractor projects the principal contractor for projects with more than one contractor However, the domestic client can instead choose to have a written agreement with the principal designer to carry out the client duties. ' Also applies to me. I'm with Jeremy here - CDM does not apply to Joe Public who is untrained and unqualified to enforce it. That's not to say there is zero responsibility but not in terms of CDM.

Here's a thought - if it's not already subject of talks at the Homebuilding and Renovation Shows this year, how can we get it on? DIY Selfbuilding, Project Managing Self Builder, Main Contractor Self Builder? I've never attended any but that's one I'd be interested in...who knows anybody who has anything to do with them?!

Looking brilliant! The Marley board really suits the house - and will never need maintained and stay that colour for years Good work!