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OK thanks! It's a BC company rather than the council. Maybe they can make their own rules about this sort of thing.

Oh really? Just for storing things onsite? Yikes. Thanks.

Loft is complete; warm roof so insulation is in the roof, floor is boarded out and done. I think we're OK physically to store there.

I understand this was OK up until May 2024 and the rules have changed... but I can find no solid info to back this up. But honestly can't see why he would lie about this. I know other self builders that basically moved in prior to completion but all I want to do is store some stuff!

England. He said on another build the BC guy came round and said if he even saw a frying pan it was evidence someone was living there. And from May 2024 there were fines for 'moving in' prior to completion.

Quite possibly, but it's in his best interest that we put things in the house and move the whole process along! He said it was from May this year... that Stroma Building Control noted it on another build he works on. We have the same BC.

Hi All - has anyone used their house for storage prior to completion? Our loft is basically done and could provide valuable storage space to save costs of all of our belongings in storage. Once the electrician has done his stuff up there, we could put some boxes etc in the space and it wouldn't be in anyone's way. However, our builder has said that building control will come down on us (him) like a tonne of bricks and if even one item (he said a frying pan) is in the house, they will issue a fine. Thousands of ££. He can't point me to the legislation which says I can't do this but obviously I don't wish to incur any fines! Can anyone point me to the regs? I will not be moving in prior to completion! Just storing boxes.

@garrymartin thanks so much!

Sorry GarryMartin I wish I could figure out how to reply direct! Thank you so much, that's much more clear. Much appreciated.

OK I'm so sorry I am useless on here - yet again I find I can't figure out how to reply directly to people who kindly commented on my own post! To those who said yes, I am correct - I've now been told (architect) that if I started my build prior to the regs (foundations started July 2021) then I do not have to comply with those new regs. My friend Google seems to say I do though. Aargh, please advise as I trust you guys!

Hello All - am I correct that an EV charger is now required in any new residential build which has its own parking allocation? This is what I read from the regs, but the builder doesn't think it's true... he's our main contractor. Same builder has just installed two houses with just cabling and no actual charger. The electric installation team seems to be fine either way - we can install cabling for a future fit, or they'll do the EV charger now. We were avoiding it and just doing cabling as we don't have an EV ourselves. However - as I read the regs, we have to? I've referred to Approved document S for this. I had read there were fines possible for not including a charger and wanted to warn others who are self building in our area. Thanks!

Thanks, I'll take a look at this option. The architect has washed his hands of most of the tricky details, he's useless after he was paid the ridiculous sum for the job.

Have swift box elsewhere. This is a detail which is going to happen, I'm just looking for advice on a sheet product which might be useful. Thanks!

It's the choice of board - was just trying to find a more cost-effective option which isn't the Meteon board! The cutting of the star - the builder seems confident but any tips would be more than welcome. Thanks!

Hello! We have a detail on our roof edges in the V of the barge boards, which is a flat panel with a star cut out detail. As seems usual, it's one of those things the architect just said 'builders will figure it out on site' when asked his opinion on how to complete this. It has to be one solid sheet with as little future upkeep as possible. Builder has suggested a sheet of Trespa Meteon which we can cut the detail out of. Seems a good plan, is a little steep on costs and delivery of one sheet! Would anyone have an idea of how else this might be done? FYI The base of the triangle the star is in is approx 1.5m and the height approx 0.8m. Thanks in advance!

Just in case anyone look at this in the future for a 'case closed'! The GRP guy gave up immediately and has invoiced for the correct quoted figure. So thanks for all the advice to back me up! Much appreciated to all.

It's definitely a solid quote. I'd post it but at 58 pages long it's really just ridiculous. It's absolutely a quote though and clearly itemises all things included, there was nothing new on site added to the job.

There was nothing new at all, but the work just took longer than he thought it would. He said 4 days and it took over 10 days in total. However, nothing changed about the spec at all, it's crystal clear what we wanted included and that is entirely included on his quote. I agree he is chancing it; spoke to our project manager today and he has decided he agrees we should not pay more. The guy's own crew warned us he would try to get extra. So I think it's something he just tries! I would post pix but would not want the company concerned to see it's obviously me. I never know who might be lurking but probably being paranoid.

I am a domestic client, it's my self build and I asked him to quote for the job. He mentioned on site close to install time that the warm roofs were not included, I said they were, went home and double checked the quote, and warm roof work is mentioned 3x on his own quote. Certainly no extra was agreed at any time until now he is asking for £3,000. His company is nationwide apparently, and no one local knows him. Our project manager/builder says we could consider paying but are under no requirement to. I was surprised the builder said this so hence coming here for info; I thought a quote was a quote and final as no extra work has been done. He just said it was more work than he thought.

Oh I don't know why I cannot seem to reply to actual comments. SteamyTea said: "The sad thing is it an easy, but messy, fix. I suspect that they did not put enough resin into the first layer of mat. I hope they put a second one on, but may have not. Water will get in, will be absorbed by the unsaturated mat, freezing will happen, then it is just a matter of time before it fails." Oh wow, this is not great obviously. There is one layer of mat only. What is the fix? The company have already once sanded back the top coat, and redone that top coat. I have a 'lifetime guarantee' against it failing. What should they be doing to fix it please and where can I find the info - because they insist it's not a problem, and I cannot find anything online about pinholes in the top coat. Help! Please.

Thank you, Joe90. Hard to get another opinion - seems no one knows GRP, even our project manager or site manager say they are no experts. I might ask the tilers if they have ever done GRP, they seem an excellent crew. Thanks again, will hold firm and see how it goes.

Hello - I've had a GRP company in to do 2x flat roofs and 2x other areas on a self build. Quote was approx £11,000 for full job including warm roof/timber work etc. Company is now asking for £3,000 more as the job was trickier/took longer than they thought. We put up with delays from them, not turning up etc and just powered through to get it done. Final colour coat still has pinholes in one area (done twice now) but we have been told to live with it as won't affect performance. Ugh. We understand a quote is a final agreement and this is ridiculous to expect more. But others have said we could consider paying them. Any opinions out there? Thanks!

Thanks! Measured and they're 85/80mm supported so will have to see what the TF guy says about it!

Thanks very much for the advice, I'll get back onsite taking more photos and speak to the timber frame engineer. Much appreciated.

Thanks, George. The engineer is not coming to look at it, he's instructing from afar as he's the timber framer engineer. I'm suspecting it truly need him onsite to get a proper inspection done. We actually believe the house is 80mm bigger than it should be front to back, and this accounts for the 40mm discrepancy at either end of the steels. It's a bigger problem - but the steels' bearing is one aspect I need to add to my arsenal of info!