Big Jimbo

Photo's are very deceptive. That garage base looks like a good size.

May not be a deal breaker, but you would defo need to sort out what they would expect from you with regards the lane at the end of your build.

Zoot the hoot. It is looking good fella. You are better able than a lot of people i see tackling things. Give yourself the odd pat on the back sometimes while saying "That ain't too bad"

I agree with Mr Punter above. That gear sets rapid quick. Don't laugh, butter and flower for your release. Works on bake off.

Be wary of the "private lane" when you have finished bringing all your heavy lorries up and down, they will want you to re do the private lane. New tarmac, sub base etc, could cost you thousands, and then some.

It's funny how time, and age changes you. (well it has me) I could have taken a few different paths in life. My 2 mates at primary school became armed robbers. Each ended up with 12 years. My nextdoor neighbour died from sticking too many needles in his arms. The lad a few doors up got refused entry to a nightclub one night. Went home, got a gun, went back to the club. Shot and killed the bouncer. A good pal (crook) was killed at 25. Most of my relatives were in building (now dead) but my dad was not keen in me following that path, which is how i ended up in banking for 12 years. Thats where i met my wife of 32 years. I would'nt change anything except perhaps robbing the bank that i worked at. (everybody else was). I did'nt know at the time, but internal fraud was so easy in the 70's and 80's. I had to laugh, when i found out later that the lad i used to work with dealing in foreign currencies was altering the exchange rates by 0.01%, and skimming £1000 a day in 1980. He owned up to me years later. I used to look after the money of crooks, ex presidents, presidents to be, dictators, and terrorist organisations. Most of them had no clue what i was doing and as Dell boy said "I could have been a millionaire" many times over had i not been so honest. (tough upbringing, but always taught to be honest) (If my parents were still alive, perhaps i would hold that against them.) But i am ok, just a bit sad that the lenders that basically fund the industry seem to be so far behind where we should be as a forward thinking nation. As i have said, if it sells, it sells. If not i'll get cracking with a standard new build in the New Year. In the meantime i shall certainly hang around to offer any help i can, and to annoy a few people like Pocster.

Don't worry, i won't vanish. I think this site is a great resorce, and at times can be fun. I actually think that doing the build might give me the kick up the butt i need, I would rather just sit it out for a while. If i get an offer, i'll take it from there.

I have given up on the thread...a bit like my proposed build for now. The whole thing has worn me down for now. I've given it to a small local agent at a get me out with a few quid price. If it sells, it sells. If it don't then i'll think about starting the build early next year. To be honest, i'd be happy to continue camping out on the dump that currently stands on site, but the Mrs would rather, either get on, or get out. I understands how she feels to be honest. I have defo changed in the last year Covid, and all that. I now have 3 grandchildren, that i didn't have before covid, and another due in a few weeks. When i bought the place 4 years ago, i still had some buzz. Frankly, now, i just feel a bit drained. Don't get me wrong, i should be able to make £300 k clear profit but, none of us have a date stamp behind our ears. We have substantially helped the 3 kids, so i don't feel the need at the moment.

I know. I build a crappy bog standard gaff, get some micky mouse EPC and airtest. But to give me a huge uplift in value, i'll stick some walk on glazing on the landing to sex the place up. If only i knew where i could get some ??

I could and might. Just seems such a shame. I just fancied trying to do something a bit better, hands on. I will either sell or just build to minimum standards, and get crap blockwork done by a buddy. It was never about making more money, frankly i'll make more just building the usual garbage.

So i can get an EPC that basically says whatever i want. The Airtest guy basically said the same "Tell me what you want, and i'll make sure the coputer spits that out" Frankly it's hard to find a reason to do anything better.

KXI. the blurb from nationwide says it all IMO. Brand new house, with a 10 year warranty, but you are still going to have to have a survey before we decide if we might lend. Just another reason for the potential buyer to buy the other new build down the road, built to minimum standards but no grief. Can't afford to build what i need because i have to look at getting my money back + some. Value of the plot is too high. So it's either a crappy house built trad, to just building regs, or not bother.

F-off Pocster you tart.

The developer actually give me the details previously of his guy who does the EPC's for his houses. When i spoke to the guy he didn't even want a set of plans. Simply said "Nobody understands the calcs, Just tell me what result you want, and i'll put it in the post" I've been on site when they have been stuffing insulation into the visible cavities because the building inspector was due on site. No insulation in the rest of the walls. And our kids are expected to pay up, and get 30 year mortgages on the crap we currently build.

Yep, if i carry on it will be concrete foundations, blockwork rendered, with hardi plank on the top half. loads of trickle vents. No MVHR. Gas central heating. minimum building regs. As the developer i know said. Cheap as i can build it.

If i was willing to be stuck with it, then perhaps brave. If i was willing to live in it for the rest of my days, then very brave. But, having a view that i will not have a need, or want to keep, then not brave i'm afraid.

Because i wanted to try and do something better for the enviroment etc. If i do build i will just do trad. Tons of concrete, minimum building regs etc. One of the points is where will that leave our major house builders ?

The trouble is Onoff, i've got a projected 18 month build time. I doubt anything will change in that time, so i could end up with a very expensive house that i can't sell. I can't afford that risk unfortunately. I think it's going to have to be either a trad build, or i just don't bother. Spoke to a developer i know who builds about 150 houses a year. "don't bother trying to be smart. Just build to minimum standards, cheap as you can. Nobody gives a $hite" That is the future of our housing i'm afraid.

So. Got my plans drawn, and my build method, and costings sorted. Keen to move forward from trad methods, so i have got a foundation system which is screw piles, and metal frame on top, metal floor, insulated well 0.1 ready for underfloor heating pipes, and 55mm liquid screed. Walls constructed on site by me from 300mm wood i beams. Clad on the outside with a combination of hardi-plank cladding, and renderboard. 300mm walls filled with warmcell. U value of walls 0.13 . Truss roof U value 0.9. So all good so far. Covid has defo changed me. I've got three lockdown grandchildren, and i am just not going to need a 4 bed, 4 bath house to live in when it is just me and the better half left. So basically if i build, i expect to sell when completed. Although i have tried to be good by putting no concrete in the ground, walls etc, i feel i have hit a stumbling block. To be on the safe side, i rang 4 different mortgage brokers....... 1. Don't do it, non standard construction, you will struggle to sell.....2. Stick a block skin on the outside, and you will be fine !.....3. Timber frame ? out of the 68 mortgage providers i have on my books, you have just knocked off 64 of them.....4.Nobody who currently has a mortgage, and would want port it onto your property will be able to do so, so you have just taken it out of the market to 9 out of 10 potential buyers. When is England going to move forward. ?????? They seem to be as bad as planners. lets just build using old methods and, (planners) make it look like all the other houses from the 1930's. So i either have to go back to costing, with blockwork, and tons,of concrete, or just give up on the idea, sell up and bugger off. Sick of it frankly. We talk about climate change, but it seems we don't actually care. A couple of years ago i spent a day down at the building research establishment. About 50 houses, and i don'r remember a single one being brick or block. You wonder why they bother if all of the mainstream mortgage providers are not interested.

No idea about the second method, but i like the idea of the first one. That has got to have a serious low u value. best of luck in your retirement. My old dad always spoke very highly of the polish who fought in the second world war.

Looks fab. Well done you. Now time to enjoy.

It's a shed, and while i am not saying the above is not right, 20 years ago a mate asked me about something very similar. He had no money, so basically i tapped them from inside and ouside to level them up as best i could. gave them a bit of a clean with a bit of sandpaper. squirted a tube of silicone around and through the holes from inside. Went outside, and smeared them almost to the profile of the old tin, but left the silicone a bit proud. Bought a small tin of that ruberised type roof repair, and daubed it over the outside. I have just rang him. Over 20 years later, he tells me it is still good, and has never leaked.

The ground was prob lower back in Roman Times .

To be fair, i have found Thompsons waterseal does a good job, and is also breathable i believe.

I do like a bit of Roger. That gear looks good.